Parkland College vs. Northwestern College

Comparable Facts

Compare Parkland College in Champaign, IL with Northwestern College in Oak Lawn, IL on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Parkland College is larger than Northwestern College based on total student enrollment (6,014 students vs. 464 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Parkland College is located in Champaign, IL (Small City setting); Northwestern College is in Oak Lawn, IL (Large Suburban setting).
• Parkland College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Northwestern College is a private, for-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Parkland College 14:1; Northwestern College 12:1.

Parkland College vs. Northwestern College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Parkland College or Northwestern 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 Northwestern College are 13.8% lower than at Parkland College ($8,100 vs. $9,400).
• Northwestern College is 89.6% more expensive for in-state tuition than Parkland College (about $8,638 more per year; $18,280.00 vs. $9,642.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 37.8% higher at Northwestern College than at Parkland College (about $5,014 more per year; $18,280.00 vs. $13,266.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Parkland College than at Northwestern College (51% vs. 0%).

Parkland College vs. Northwestern College Admissions comparison

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

• Parkland College reports an open admissions policy.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Parkland College - Open admission; Northwestern College - Not reported.

Parkland College vs. Northwestern College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Parkland College and Northwestern 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 Parkland College earn a median of about $2,000 more per year than Northwestern College graduates about ten years after starting college ($34,000 vs. $32,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Parkland College graduates have a $19,000 lower median loan debt than Northwestern College graduates ($8,000 vs. $27,000).
• Among borrowers, Parkland College graduates have an estimated $197 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Northwestern College graduates ($82 vs. $279).
• More Parkland College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Northwestern College students, three years after graduation. (32% vs. 22%)

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.