College of Lake County vs Prairie State College

College of Lake County and Prairie State College, both esteemed community colleges in Illinois, offer diverse educational opportunities to students seeking higher education. While they share similarities, each institution possesses unique characteristics that cater to different academic aspirations and preferences. College of Lake County boasts a higher acceptance rate, welcoming a broader range of students, while Prairie State College maintains a slightly smaller student body, fostering a more intimate learning environment. Both colleges offer a wide array of programs, with College of Lake County excelling in liberal arts and sciences, and Prairie State College specializing in career-oriented programs such as nursing and engineering. Explore the comprehensive comparison table below to delve into further details about these institutions, including graduation rates, student demographics, and popular majors, to make an informed decision that aligns with your academic goals and aspirations.
College of Lake County logo

College of Lake County

Prairie State College logo

Prairie State College

Overview

Location Grayslake, Illinois Chicago Heights, Illinois
Campus setting Suburb: Large Suburb: Large
College type 2 year 2 year
Control/business model Public Public
Calendar system Semester Semester
Degrees offered Undergraduate Undergraduate
Students retention rate 72.0% 53.0%
Common app member No No
Religious affiliation

Admission

Acceptance rate Open Admission Open Admission
Application fees
SAT range N/A N/A
ACT range N/A N/A
Students submitting SAT score
Students submitting ACT score
Total number of applicants
Total number of admissions given out
Admitted students who chose to enroll
Yield rate
Test scores (SAT/ACT) Not required Not required
High school GPA N/A N/A
Recommendation letters N/A N/A
High school transcript N/A N/A
English proficiency test (e.g. TOEFL) N/A N/A

Tuition and Fees

Sticker price
In state: $25,732

Out of state: $28,924
In state: $25,562

Out of state: $27,284
Average net price $5,486 $7,059
Tuition
In state: $9,016

Out of state: $12,208
In state: $8,610

Out of state: $10,332
Room & board
Available payment plans
  • Tuition payment plan
  • Tuition payment plan

Financial Aid

Students receiving financial aid

(Grants & scholarships)

47.0%
Average amount $5,459
60.0%
Average amount $6,684
Students receiving federal student loan 2.0%
Average amount $4,486
5.0%
Average amount $5,749
Students taking out private loans 0.0%
Average amount $6,000
0.0%
Average amount $0

Students and Campus

Undergraduate students 12,117
Men 41.7% Women 58.3%
2,618
Men 34.9% Women 65.1%
Graduate students N/A N/A
Racial/ethnic diversity
Moderate
Moderate
Out-of-state students 0.4% 2.1%
International students 1.5% 1.4%
Campus local/setting Suburb: Large Suburb: Large
Dormitory capacity N/A N/A
First year students are required to live on campus? N/A N/A
Top 5 states where most U.S. students come from Illinois Wisconsin Iowa Idaho Illinois Indiana Missouri

Academics

Popular study areas
  • Liberal Arts
  • Health Professions
  • Automotive Technology
  • Multidisciplinary Studies
  • Culinary and Personal Services
  • Liberal Arts
  • Health Professions
  • Computer and Information Science
  • Automotive Technology
  • Law Enforcement and Firefighting
Students to faculty ratio 15:1 10:1
Institutional accreditation Higher Learning Commission Higher Learning Commission

Outcome

Graduation rate 28.5% 16.9%
Dropout rate 37.1% 51.8%
Transferred out 15.9% 20.1%
Alumni salary by major (Top 10)
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Associate's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $61,377
  • Year 2: $57,920
  • Year 3: $64,022
Dental Support Services and Allied Professions (Associate's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $55,123
  • Year 2: $59,350
  • Year 3: $61,433
Biological and Physical Sciences (Associate's Degrees)
  • Year 1: N/A
  • Year 2: $21,964
  • Year 3: $38,658
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities (Associate's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $27,907
  • Year 2: $22,116
  • Year 3: $31,282
Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies (Associate's Degrees)
  • Year 1: N/A
  • Year 2: $41,565
  • Year 3: $29,884
Culinary Arts and Related Services (Associate's Degrees)
  • Year 1: N/A
  • Year 2: $26,353
  • Year 3: N/A
Teaching English or French as a Second or Foreign Language (Undergraduate Certificates or Diplomas)
  • Year 1: $49,107
  • Year 2: N/A
  • Year 3: N/A
Legal Support Services (Undergraduate Certificates or Diplomas)
  • Year 1: N/A
  • Year 2: $37,208
  • Year 3: N/A
Legal Support Services (Associate's Degrees)
  • Year 1: N/A
  • Year 2: $29,685
  • Year 3: N/A
Criminal Justice and Corrections (Associate's Degrees)
  • Year 1: N/A
  • Year 2: $28,598
  • Year 3: N/A
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Associate's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $58,132
  • Year 2: $56,867
  • Year 3: $60,449
Dental Support Services and Allied Professions (Associate's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $48,414
  • Year 2: $53,697
  • Year 3: $57,487
Health/Medical Preparatory Programs (Associate's Degrees)
  • Year 1: N/A
  • Year 2: $23,649
  • Year 3: $24,160
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities (Associate's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $29,171
  • Year 2: $26,353
  • Year 3: $24,036
Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions (Undergraduate Certificates or Diplomas)
  • Year 1: $37,124
  • Year 2: N/A
  • Year 3: N/A
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Associate's Degrees)
  • Year 1: N/A
  • Year 2: $17,950
  • Year 3: N/A

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