SWIC vs. Parkland College

Comparable Facts

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

Southwestern Illinois College is larger than Parkland College based on total student enrollment (8,492 students vs. 6,014 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

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

SWIC vs. Parkland College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, SWIC or Parkland 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 Parkland College than SWIC ($7,681 vs. $10,147).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Parkland College are 21.1% lower than at Southwestern Illinois College ($9,400 vs. $11,910).
• Parkland College is 24.6% more expensive for in-state tuition than SWIC (about $1,902 more per year; $9,642.00 vs. $7,740.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 97.4% higher at Parkland College than at Southwestern Illinois College (about $6,546 more per year; $13,266.00 vs. $6,720.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Southwestern Illinois College than at Parkland College (55% vs. 51%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Parkland College students is 19.3% larger than aid received by Southwestern Illinois College students ($7,244 vs. $6,073).

SWIC vs. Parkland College Admissions comparison

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

SWIC vs. Parkland College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for SWIC and Parkland 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 Parkland College earn a median of about $3,900 more per year than SWIC graduates about ten years after starting college ($34,000 vs. $30,100), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Southwestern Illinois College graduates have a $1,025 lower median loan debt than Parkland College graduates ($6,975 vs. $8,000).
• Among borrowers, SWIC graduates have an estimated $10 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Parkland College graduates ($72 vs. $82).
• More SWIC graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Parkland College students, three years after graduation. (34% vs. 32%)

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.