Prairie State College vs. Triton College

Comparable Facts

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

Triton College is larger than Prairie State College based on total student enrollment (9,842 students vs. 2,953 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Prairie State College is located in Chicago Heights, IL (Large Suburban setting); Triton College is in River Grove, IL (Large Suburban setting).
• Prairie State College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Triton College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Prairie State College 12:1; Triton College 21:1.

Prairie State College vs. Triton College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Prairie State College or Triton 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 Triton College than Prairie State College ($4,648 vs. $5,317).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Prairie State College are 24.6% lower than at Triton College ($7,516 vs. $9,970).
• Triton College is 29.4% more expensive for in-state tuition than Prairie State College (about $2,748 more per year; $12,090.00 vs. $9,342.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 38.6% higher at Triton College than at Prairie State College (about $4,266 more per year; $15,330.00 vs. $11,064.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Triton College than at Prairie State College (69% vs. 68%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Prairie State College students is 9.8% larger than aid received by Triton College students ($8,470 vs. $7,716).

Prairie State College vs. Triton College Admissions comparison

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

Prairie State College vs. Triton College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Prairie State College and Triton 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 Triton College earn a median of about $3,800 more per year than Prairie State College graduates about ten years after starting college ($36,800 vs. $33,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Triton College graduates have a $4,132 lower median loan debt than Prairie State College graduates ($6,100 vs. $10,232).
• Among borrowers, Triton College graduates have an estimated $42 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Prairie State College graduates ($63 vs. $105).
• More Triton College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Prairie State College students, three years after graduation. (39% 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.