Rend Lake College vs. Frontier Community College

Comparable Facts

Compare Rend Lake College in Ina, IL with Frontier Community College in Fairfield, IL on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Frontier Community College is larger than Rend Lake College based on total student enrollment (2,364 students vs. 2,015 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Rend Lake College is located in Ina, IL (Distant Rural setting); Frontier Community College is in Fairfield, IL (Rural Fringe setting).
• Rend Lake College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Frontier Community College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Rend Lake College 19:1; Frontier Community College 31:1.

Rend Lake College vs. Frontier Community College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Rend Lake 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 37.2% lower than at Rend Lake College ($7,338 vs. $11,678).
• Frontier Community College is 17.7% more expensive for in-state tuition than Rend Lake College (about $1,380 more per year; $9,180.00 vs. $7,800.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 44.2% higher at Frontier Community College than at Rend Lake College (about $3,450 more per year; $11,250.00 vs. $7,800.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Rend Lake College than at Frontier Community College (78% vs. 0%).

Rend Lake College vs. Frontier Community College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Rend Lake 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 Rend Lake College.

• Both colleges report an open admissions policy; selectivity can still vary by program or major.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Rend Lake College - Open admission; Frontier Community College - Open admission.

Rend Lake College vs. Frontier Community College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Rend Lake 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 Frontier Community College earn a median of about $900 more per year than Rend Lake College graduates about ten years after starting college ($30,800 vs. $29,900), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Rend Lake College graduates have a $2,874 lower median loan debt than Frontier Community College graduates ($3,500 vs. $6,374).
• Among borrowers, Rend Lake College graduates have an estimated $29 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Frontier Community College graduates ($36 vs. $65).
• More Frontier Community College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Rend Lake College students, three years after graduation. (44% vs. 40%)

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.