Prairie State College vs. Shawnee Community College

Comparable Facts

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

Prairie State College is larger than Shawnee Community College based on total student enrollment (2,953 students vs. 1,156 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Prairie State College is located in Chicago Heights, IL (Large Suburban setting); Shawnee Community College is in Ullin, IL (Remote Rural setting).
• Prairie State College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Shawnee Community College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Prairie State College 12:1; Shawnee Community College 15:1.

Prairie State College vs. Shawnee Community College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Prairie State College or Shawnee 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 Shawnee Community College ($5,317 vs. $5,369).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Shawnee Community College are 16.2% lower than at Prairie State College ($6,300 vs. $7,516).
• Prairie State College is 29.8% more expensive for in-state tuition than Shawnee Community College (about $2,142 more per year; $9,342.00 vs. $7,200.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 47.5% higher at Prairie State College than at Shawnee Community College (about $3,564 more per year; $11,064.00 vs. $7,500.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Shawnee Community College than at Prairie State College (86% vs. 68%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Prairie State College students is 10.5% larger than aid received by Shawnee Community College students ($8,470 vs. $7,662).

Prairie State College vs. Shawnee Community College Admissions comparison

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

Prairie State College vs. Shawnee Community College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Prairie State College and Shawnee 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 $4,000 more per year than Shawnee Community College graduates about ten years after starting college ($33,000 vs. $29,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.

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.