Oakton College vs. Frontier Community College

Comparable Facts

Compare Oakton College in Des Plaines, IL with Frontier Community College in Fairfield, IL on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Oakton College is larger than Frontier Community College based on total student enrollment (8,329 students vs. 2,364 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Oakton College is located in Des Plaines, IL (Small City setting); Frontier Community College is in Fairfield, IL (Rural Fringe setting).
• Oakton College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Frontier Community College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Oakton College 14:1; Frontier Community College 31:1.

Oakton College vs. Frontier Community College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Oakton College or Frontier Community College? Published tuition is the sticker price; many students pay less after aid (see average net price below).

• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Frontier Community College are 18.4% lower than at Oakton College ($7,338 vs. $8,994).
• Oakton College is 13.8% more expensive for in-state tuition than Frontier Community College (about $1,266 more per year; $10,446.00 vs. $9,180.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 10.8% higher at Oakton College than at Frontier Community College (about $1,212 more per year; $12,462.00 vs. $11,250.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Oakton College than at Frontier Community College (62% vs. 0%).

Oakton College vs. Frontier Community College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Oakton College or Frontier Community College? Typical SAT and ACT scores (same estimates as in the table above), middle 50% test ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between Frontier Community College and Oakton College.

• Both colleges report an open admissions policy; selectivity can still vary by program or major.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Oakton College - Open admission; Frontier Community College - Open admission.

Oakton College vs. Frontier Community College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Oakton College and Frontier Community College? Graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt are common indicators. The bullets below summarize the same federal outcomes fields as the comparison table (College Scorecard / IPEDS where applicable).

• Graduates from Oakton College earn a median of about $11,300 more per year than Frontier Community College graduates about ten years after starting college ($42,100 vs. $30,800), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Oakton College graduates have a $507 lower median loan debt than Frontier Community College graduates ($5,867 vs. $6,374).
• Among borrowers, Oakton College graduates have an estimated $5 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Frontier Community College graduates ($60 vs. $65).
• More Oakton College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Frontier Community College students, three years after graduation. (55% vs. 44%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.