Illinois vs. Harper

Should I go to University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign or Harper College? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Illinois or Harper is the better college for you. The CollegeSimply comparison tool allows side-by-side comparison of 50+ statistics and facts for over 2,500 colleges and universities.
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University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign vs. Harper College comparison
University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign Harper College College 3 College 4
University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign Harper College
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Overview

 Illinois Harper
Location Champaign, IL Palatine, IL
Setting Small City Large Suburban
Enrollment 56,916 12,434
Type Public 4 Year Public 2 Year
National Ranking #106
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website illinois.edu harpercollege.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

 Illinois Harper
Tuition (In State) $12,474 $3,204
Tuition (Out of State) $30,446 $11,184
Room & Board $12,720 $15,360
Avg Net Price $14,544 $8,065
Avg Grant Aid $16,552 $5,097
% Receiving Grant Aid 54% 68%

Admission

 Illinois Harper
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 63,257 -
Admitted 28,354 -
Acceptance Rate 44.8% Open
Enrolled % 28.1% Open
Avg High School GPA 3.79 2.94
Typical High School Grades A- B-
Admissions Standards Exceptional Unavailable
Applicant Competition Low
ACT Range 29/34
SAT Range 1320/1510
Submit Test Scores Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
Application Deadline Jan 5, 2025

Academics

 Illinois Harper
Student to Faculty Ratio 21:1 18:1
Popular Majors
  • Engineering (16%)
  • Business (13%)
  • Social Sciences (10%)
  • Communication (8%)
  • Psychology (7%)
  • Health Professions (36%)
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (24%)
  • Business (12%)
  • Work and Family Studies (5%)
  • Mechanic and Repair Technologies (5%)

Outcomes

 Illinois Harper
Graduation Rate 82% -
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $66,500 $40,500
Making Student Loan Payments 78% 46%
Median Student Loan Debt $20,500 $10,000
Median Loan Payment $211 $103

Diversity

 Illinois Harper
% Men 54% 44%
% Women 46% 56%
Racial Diversity Very High High
HBCU No No
% White 48% 57%
% Black 6% 4%
% Hispanic 10% 22%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 3% 3%
% International 16% 1%
% Unknown Race 1% 2%

Students

 Illinois Harper
% In-State 71% 98%
% Out-of-State 11% 1%

Campus

 Illinois Harper
Campus Housing Yes No
Freshman Dorm Required Yes No
Meal Plan Yes No
Weekend/Evening Classes No Yes
Daycare Facility Yes Yes
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign is larger than than Harper based on total student enrollment (56,916 students vs. 12,434 students)

Illinois vs. Harper Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Illinois or Harper?

  • University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign is 33.1% more expensive to attend than Harper for in-state tuition ($12,474.00 vs. $9,372.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 172.2% higher at Illinois than Harper College ($30,446.00 vs. $11,184.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Harper College than Illinois ($8,065 vs. $14,544)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign are 20.8% lower than costs at Harper College ($12,720 vs. $15,360)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Harper College than University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign (68% vs. 54%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign students is 224.7% larger than aid received Harper College ($16,552 vs. $5,097)

Which college is harder to get into, Illinois or Harper? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between Harper or Illinois .

  • Accepted freshman Illinois students have a 0.85 point higher average high school GPA (3.79) than students at Harper (2.94)

Illinois vs. Harper Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Illinois or Harper? Graduation rate, salary and amount of student loan debt are indicators of a college which offers better outcomes for its graduates. Compare the following outcomes facts between Harper and Illinois.

  • Graduates from University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign earn on average $26,000 more per year than Harper graduates after ten years. ($66,500 vs. $40,500)
  • Harper College students graduate with a $10,500 lower median federal student loan debt than Illinois graduates. ($10,000 vs. $20,500)
  • Harper graduates are paying $108 less per month on federal student loans than Illinois graduates. ($103 vs. $211)
  • More Illinois graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Harper students, three years after graduation. (78% vs. 46%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/