Parkland College vs. Harper

Comparable Facts

Compare Parkland College in Champaign, IL with William Rainey Harper College in Palatine, IL on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

William Rainey Harper College is larger than Parkland College based on total student enrollment (13,988 students vs. 6,014 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Parkland College is located in Champaign, IL (Small City setting); William Rainey Harper College is in Palatine, IL (Large Suburban setting).
• Parkland College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. William Rainey Harper College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Parkland College 14:1; William Rainey Harper College 21:1.

Parkland College vs. Harper Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Parkland College or Harper? 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 Parkland College than Harper ($7,681 vs. $12,145).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Parkland College are 34% lower than at William Rainey Harper College ($9,400 vs. $14,251).
• William Rainey Harper College is 4.4% more expensive for in-state tuition than Parkland College (about $420 more per year; $10,062.00 vs. $9,642.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 11.7% higher at Parkland College than at William Rainey Harper College (about $1,392 more per year; $13,266.00 vs. $11,874.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at William Rainey Harper College than at Parkland College (55% vs. 51%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by William Rainey Harper College students is 1.7% larger than aid received by Parkland College students ($7,368 vs. $7,244).

Parkland College vs. Harper Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Parkland College or Harper? 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 Harper and Parkland College.

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

Parkland College vs. Harper Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Parkland College and Harper? 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 William Rainey Harper College earn a median of about $6,500 more per year than Parkland College graduates about ten years after starting college ($40,500 vs. $34,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Parkland College graduates have a $2,000 lower median loan debt than Harper graduates ($8,000 vs. $10,000).
• Among borrowers, Parkland College graduates have an estimated $21 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Harper graduates ($82 vs. $103).
• More Harper graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Parkland College students, three years after graduation. (46% vs. 32%)

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.