SWIC vs. Waubonsee

Comparable Facts

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

Southwestern Illinois College is larger than Waubonsee based on total student enrollment (8,492 students vs. 8,305 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Southwestern Illinois College is located in Belleville, IL (Rural Fringe setting); Waubonsee Community College is in Sugar Grove, IL (Rural Fringe setting).
• Southwestern Illinois College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Waubonsee Community College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Southwestern Illinois College 17:1; Waubonsee Community College 21:1.

SWIC vs. Waubonsee Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, SWIC or Waubonsee ? 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 Southwestern Illinois College than Waubonsee ($10,147 vs. $12,754).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Southwestern Illinois College are 47.5% lower than at Waubonsee Community College ($11,910 vs. $22,700).
• Waubonsee Community College is 21.3% more expensive for in-state tuition than SWIC (about $1,650 more per year; $9,390.00 vs. $7,740.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 55.9% higher at Waubonsee than at Southwestern Illinois College (about $3,757 more per year; $10,477.00 vs. $6,720.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Waubonsee Community College than at Southwestern Illinois College (75% vs. 55%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Southwestern Illinois College students is 0.3% larger than aid received by Waubonsee Community College students ($6,073 vs. $6,055).

SWIC vs. Waubonsee Admissions comparison

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

SWIC vs. Waubonsee Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for SWIC and Waubonsee ? 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 Waubonsee Community College earn a median of about $4,800 more per year than SWIC graduates about ten years after starting college ($34,900 vs. $30,100), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Waubonsee Community College graduates have a $475 lower median loan debt than SWIC graduates ($6,500 vs. $6,975).
• Among borrowers, Waubonsee graduates have an estimated $5 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than SWIC graduates ($67 vs. $72).
• More Waubonsee graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former SWIC students, three years after graduation. (43% 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.