SWIC vs. LLCC

Comparable Facts

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

Southwestern Illinois College is larger than LLCC based on total student enrollment (8,492 students vs. 5,677 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Southwestern Illinois College is located in Belleville, IL (Rural Fringe setting); Lincoln Land Community College is in Springfield, IL (Midsize City setting).
• Southwestern Illinois College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Lincoln Land Community College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Southwestern Illinois College 17:1; Lincoln Land Community College 17:1.

SWIC vs. LLCC Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, SWIC or LLCC? 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 Lincoln Land Community College than SWIC ($3,959 vs. $10,147).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Lincoln Land Community College are 19.8% lower than at Southwestern Illinois College ($9,549 vs. $11,910).
• Southwestern Illinois College is 9% more expensive for in-state tuition than LLCC (about $636 more per year; $7,740.00 vs. $7,104.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 55.7% higher at LLCC than at Southwestern Illinois College (about $3,744 more per year; $10,464.00 vs. $6,720.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Lincoln Land Community College than at Southwestern Illinois College (61% vs. 55%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Lincoln Land Community College students is 37.9% larger than aid received by Southwestern Illinois College students ($8,373 vs. $6,073).

SWIC vs. LLCC Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, SWIC or LLCC? 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 LLCC 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; LLCC - Open admission.

SWIC vs. LLCC Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for SWIC and LLCC? 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 Lincoln Land Community College earn a median of about $2,600 more per year than SWIC graduates about ten years after starting college ($32,700 vs. $30,100), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Southwestern Illinois College graduates have a $2,525 lower median loan debt than LLCC graduates ($6,975 vs. $9,500).
• Among borrowers, SWIC graduates have an estimated $26 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than LLCC graduates ($72 vs. $98).
• More LLCC 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.