Prairie State College vs. Sauk Valley Community College

Comparable Facts

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

Prairie State College is larger than Sauk Valley Community College based on total student enrollment (2,953 students vs. 1,467 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Prairie State College is located in Chicago Heights, IL (Large Suburban setting); Sauk Valley Community College is in Dixon, IL (Rural Fringe setting).
• Prairie State College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Sauk Valley Community College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Prairie State College 12:1; Sauk Valley Community College 14:1.

Prairie State College vs. Sauk Valley Community College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Prairie State College or Sauk Valley 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 Sauk Valley Community College ($5,317 vs. $9,141).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Prairie State College are 30.4% lower than at Sauk Valley Community College ($7,516 vs. $10,798).
• Sauk Valley Community College is 24.6% more expensive for in-state tuition than Prairie State College (about $2,298 more per year; $11,640.00 vs. $9,342.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 16.6% higher at Sauk Valley Community College than at Prairie State College (about $1,836 more per year; $12,900.00 vs. $11,064.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Prairie State College than at Sauk Valley Community College (68% vs. 62%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Prairie State College students is 34% larger than aid received by Sauk Valley Community College students ($8,470 vs. $6,319).

Prairie State College vs. Sauk Valley Community College Admissions comparison

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

Prairie State College vs. Sauk Valley Community College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Prairie State College and Sauk Valley 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 Sauk Valley Community College earn a median of about $600 more per year than Prairie State College graduates about ten years after starting college ($33,600 vs. $33,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Sauk Valley Community College graduates have a $4,732 lower median loan debt than Prairie State College graduates ($5,500 vs. $10,232).
• Among borrowers, Sauk Valley Community College graduates have an estimated $49 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Prairie State College graduates ($56 vs. $105).
• More Sauk Valley Community College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Prairie State College students, three years after graduation. (58% 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.