Parkland College vs. Prairie State College

Comparable Facts

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

Parkland College is larger than Prairie State College based on total student enrollment (6,014 students vs. 2,953 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

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

Parkland College vs. Prairie State College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Parkland 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 Parkland College ($5,317 vs. $7,681).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Prairie State College are 20% lower than at Parkland College ($7,516 vs. $9,400).
• Parkland College is 3.2% more expensive for in-state tuition than Prairie State College (about $300 more per year; $9,642.00 vs. $9,342.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 19.9% higher at Parkland College than at Prairie State College (about $2,202 more per year; $13,266.00 vs. $11,064.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Prairie State College than at Parkland College (68% vs. 51%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Prairie State College students is 16.9% larger than aid received by Parkland College students ($8,470 vs. $7,244).

Parkland College vs. Prairie State College Admissions comparison

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

Parkland College vs. Prairie State College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Parkland 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 Parkland College earn a median of about $1,000 more per year than Prairie State College graduates about ten years after starting college ($34,000 vs. $33,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Parkland College graduates have a $2,232 lower median loan debt than Prairie State College graduates ($8,000 vs. $10,232).
• Among borrowers, Parkland College graduates have an estimated $23 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Prairie State College graduates ($82 vs. $105).
• More Parkland College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Prairie State College students, three years after graduation. (32% 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.