SWIC vs. Highland Community College

Comparable Facts

Compare Southwestern Illinois College in Belleville, IL with Highland Community College in Freeport, IL on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Southwestern Illinois College is larger than Highland Community College based on total student enrollment (8,492 students vs. 1,360 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Southwestern Illinois College is located in Belleville, IL (Rural Fringe setting); Highland Community College is in Freeport, IL (Distant Town setting).
• Southwestern Illinois College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Highland Community College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Southwestern Illinois College 17:1; Highland Community College 13:1.

SWIC vs. Highland Community College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, SWIC or Highland 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 Highland Community College than SWIC ($5,393 vs. $10,147).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Highland Community College are 50% lower than at Southwestern Illinois College ($5,950 vs. $11,910).
• Southwestern Illinois College is 7.3% more expensive for in-state tuition than Highland Community College (about $524 more per year; $7,740.00 vs. $7,216.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 9.5% higher at Highland Community College than at Southwestern Illinois College (about $640 more per year; $7,360.00 vs. $6,720.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Highland Community College than at Southwestern Illinois College (73% vs. 55%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Highland Community College students is 17.4% larger than aid received by Southwestern Illinois College students ($7,127 vs. $6,073).

SWIC vs. Highland Community College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, SWIC or Highland 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 Highland Community College and SWIC.

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

SWIC vs. Highland Community College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for SWIC and Highland 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 Highland Community College earn a median of about $300 more per year than SWIC graduates about ten years after starting college ($30,400 vs. $30,100), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Southwestern Illinois College graduates have a $525 lower median loan debt than Highland Community College graduates ($6,975 vs. $7,500).
• Among borrowers, SWIC graduates have an estimated $5 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Highland Community College graduates ($72 vs. $77).
• More Highland Community College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former SWIC students, three years after graduation. (41% vs. 34%)

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.