Prairie State College vs. Frontier Community College

Comparable Facts

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

Prairie State College is larger than Frontier Community College based on total student enrollment (2,953 students vs. 2,364 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Prairie State College is located in Chicago Heights, IL (Large Suburban setting); Frontier Community College is in Fairfield, IL (Rural Fringe setting).
• Prairie State College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Frontier Community College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Prairie State College 12:1; Frontier Community College 31:1.

Prairie State College vs. Frontier Community College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Prairie State College or Frontier Community 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 Frontier Community College are 2.4% lower than at Prairie State College ($7,338 vs. $7,516).
• Prairie State College is 1.8% more expensive for in-state tuition than Frontier Community College (about $162 more per year; $9,342.00 vs. $9,180.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 1.7% higher at Frontier Community College than at Prairie State College (about $186 more per year; $11,250.00 vs. $11,064.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Prairie State College than at Frontier Community College (68% vs. 0%).

Prairie State College vs. Frontier Community College Admissions comparison

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

Prairie State College vs. Frontier Community College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Prairie State College and Frontier 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 $2,200 more per year than Frontier Community College graduates about ten years after starting college ($33,000 vs. $30,800), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Frontier Community College graduates have a $3,858 lower median loan debt than Prairie State College graduates ($6,374 vs. $10,232).
• Among borrowers, Frontier Community College graduates have an estimated $40 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Prairie State College graduates ($65 vs. $105).
• More Frontier Community College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Prairie State College students, three years after graduation. (44% 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.