Oakton College vs. Rend Lake College

Comparable Facts

Compare Oakton College in Des Plaines, IL with Rend Lake College in Ina, IL on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Oakton College is larger than Rend Lake College based on total student enrollment (8,329 students vs. 2,015 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Oakton College is located in Des Plaines, IL (Small City setting); Rend Lake College is in Ina, IL (Distant Rural setting).
• Oakton College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Rend Lake College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Oakton College 14:1; Rend Lake College 19:1.

Oakton College vs. Rend Lake College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Oakton College or Rend Lake 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 Oakton College than Rend Lake College ($5,401 vs. $11,427).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Oakton College are 23% lower than at Rend Lake College ($8,994 vs. $11,678).
• Oakton College is 33.9% more expensive for in-state tuition than Rend Lake College (about $2,646 more per year; $10,446.00 vs. $7,800.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 59.8% higher at Oakton College than at Rend Lake College (about $4,662 more per year; $12,462.00 vs. $7,800.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Rend Lake College than at Oakton College (78% vs. 62%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Rend Lake College students is 2.7% larger than aid received by Oakton College students ($6,250 vs. $6,085).

Oakton College vs. Rend Lake College Admissions comparison

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

Oakton College vs. Rend Lake College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Oakton College and Rend Lake 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 $12,200 more per year than Rend Lake College graduates about ten years after starting college ($42,100 vs. $29,900), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Rend Lake College graduates have a $2,367 lower median loan debt than Oakton College graduates ($3,500 vs. $5,867).
• Among borrowers, Rend Lake College graduates have an estimated $24 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Oakton College graduates ($36 vs. $60).
• More Oakton College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Rend Lake College students, three years after graduation. (55% vs. 40%)

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.