SWIC vs. Oakton College

Comparable Facts

Compare Southwestern Illinois College in Belleville, IL with Oakton College in Des Plaines, IL on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Southwestern Illinois College is larger than Oakton College based on total student enrollment (8,492 students vs. 8,329 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Southwestern Illinois College is located in Belleville, IL (Rural Fringe setting); Oakton College is in Des Plaines, IL (Small City setting).
• Southwestern Illinois College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Oakton College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Southwestern Illinois College 17:1; Oakton College 14:1.

SWIC vs. Oakton College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, SWIC or Oakton 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 Oakton College than SWIC ($5,401 vs. $10,147).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Oakton College are 24.5% lower than at Southwestern Illinois College ($8,994 vs. $11,910).
• Oakton College is 35% more expensive for in-state tuition than SWIC (about $2,706 more per year; $10,446.00 vs. $7,740.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 85.4% higher at Oakton College than at Southwestern Illinois College (about $5,742 more per year; $12,462.00 vs. $6,720.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Oakton College than at Southwestern Illinois College (62% vs. 55%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Oakton College students is 0.2% larger than aid received by Southwestern Illinois College students ($6,085 vs. $6,073).

SWIC vs. Oakton College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, SWIC or Oakton 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 Oakton 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; Oakton College - Open admission.

SWIC vs. Oakton College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for SWIC and Oakton 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 Oakton College earn a median of about $12,000 more per year than SWIC graduates about ten years after starting college ($42,100 vs. $30,100), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Oakton College graduates have a $1,108 lower median loan debt than SWIC graduates ($5,867 vs. $6,975).
• Among borrowers, Oakton College graduates have an estimated $12 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than SWIC graduates ($60 vs. $72).
• More Oakton College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former SWIC students, three years after graduation. (55% 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.