Prairie State College vs. Heartland Community College

Comparable Facts

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

Heartland Community College is larger than Prairie State College based on total student enrollment (4,855 students vs. 2,953 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Prairie State College is located in Chicago Heights, IL (Large Suburban setting); Heartland Community College is in Normal, IL (Rural Fringe setting).
• Prairie State College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Heartland Community College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Prairie State College 12:1; Heartland Community College 18:1.

Prairie State College vs. Heartland Community College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Prairie State College or Heartland Community 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 Heartland Community College ($5,317 vs. $11,165).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Prairie State College are 34.9% lower than at Heartland Community College ($7,516 vs. $11,550).
• Heartland Community College is 13.4% more expensive for in-state tuition than Prairie State College (about $1,248 more per year; $10,590.00 vs. $9,342.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 18.5% higher at Heartland Community College than at Prairie State College (about $2,046 more per year; $13,110.00 vs. $11,064.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Prairie State College than at Heartland Community College (68% vs. 67%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Prairie State College students is 28.3% larger than aid received by Heartland Community College students ($8,470 vs. $6,601).

Prairie State College vs. Heartland Community College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Prairie State College or Heartland Community 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 Heartland Community College and Prairie State College.

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

Prairie State College vs. Heartland Community College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Prairie State College and Heartland Community 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 Prairie State College earn a median of about $2,500 more per year than Heartland Community College graduates about ten years after starting college ($33,000 vs. $30,500), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Heartland Community College graduates have a $3,482 lower median loan debt than Prairie State College graduates ($6,750 vs. $10,232).
• Among borrowers, Heartland Community College graduates have an estimated $36 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Prairie State College graduates ($69 vs. $105).
• More Heartland Community College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Prairie State College students, three years after graduation. (41% 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.