Oakton College vs. Prairie State College

Comparable Facts

Compare Oakton College in Des Plaines, IL with Prairie State College in Chicago Heights, IL on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Oakton College is larger than Prairie State College based on total student enrollment (8,329 students vs. 2,953 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Oakton College is located in Des Plaines, IL (Small City setting); Prairie State College is in Chicago Heights, IL (Large Suburban setting).
• Oakton College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Prairie State College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Oakton College 14:1; Prairie State College 12:1.

Oakton College vs. Prairie State College Cost Comparison

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

• The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Prairie State College than Oakton College ($5,317 vs. $5,401).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Prairie State College are 16.4% lower than at Oakton College ($7,516 vs. $8,994).
• Oakton College is 11.8% more expensive for in-state tuition than Prairie State College (about $1,104 more per year; $10,446.00 vs. $9,342.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 12.6% higher at Oakton College than at Prairie State College (about $1,398 more per year; $12,462.00 vs. $11,064.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Prairie State College than at Oakton College (68% vs. 62%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Prairie State College students is 39.2% larger than aid received by Oakton College students ($8,470 vs. $6,085).

Oakton College vs. Prairie State College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Oakton College or Prairie State 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 Prairie State 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; Prairie State College - Open admission.

Oakton College vs. Prairie State College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Oakton College and Prairie State 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 $9,100 more per year than Prairie State College graduates about ten years after starting college ($42,100 vs. $33,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Oakton College graduates have a $4,365 lower median loan debt than Prairie State College graduates ($5,867 vs. $10,232).
• Among borrowers, Oakton College graduates have an estimated $45 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Prairie State College graduates ($60 vs. $105).
• More Oakton College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Prairie State College students, three years after graduation. (55% vs. 28%)

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.