Prairie State College vs. Waubonsee

Comparable Facts

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

Waubonsee Community College is larger than Prairie State College based on total student enrollment (8,305 students vs. 2,953 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

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

Prairie State College vs. Waubonsee Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Prairie State College or Waubonsee ? 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 Waubonsee ($5,317 vs. $12,754).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Prairie State College are 66.9% lower than at Waubonsee Community College ($7,516 vs. $22,700).
• Waubonsee Community College is 0.5% more expensive for in-state tuition than Prairie State College (about $48 more per year; $9,390.00 vs. $9,342.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 5.6% higher at Prairie State College than at Waubonsee Community College (about $587 more per year; $11,064.00 vs. $10,477.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Waubonsee Community College than at Prairie State College (75% vs. 68%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Prairie State College students is 39.9% larger than aid received by Waubonsee Community College students ($8,470 vs. $6,055).

Prairie State College vs. Waubonsee Admissions comparison

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

Prairie State College vs. Waubonsee Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Prairie State College and Waubonsee ? 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 Waubonsee Community College earn a median of about $1,900 more per year than Prairie State College graduates about ten years after starting college ($34,900 vs. $33,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Waubonsee Community College graduates have a $3,732 lower median loan debt than Prairie State College graduates ($6,500 vs. $10,232).
• Among borrowers, Waubonsee graduates have an estimated $38 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Prairie State College graduates ($67 vs. $105).
• More Waubonsee graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Prairie State College students, three years after graduation. (43% 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.