Heartland Community College vs Prairie State College
Heartland Community College and Prairie State College, both esteemed institutions of higher learning, offer diverse educational opportunities to students in the heart of Illinois. Heartland, with an acceptance rate of 100%, welcomes students from all backgrounds, while Prairie State's selective admissions process results in an acceptance rate of 88%. Heartland's student body is predominantly female (58%), while Prairie State boasts a more balanced gender ratio (51% female, 49% male). Both colleges offer a wide range of programs, with popular majors including Business, Health Professions, and Liberal Arts. However, Prairie State excels in Engineering and Computer Science, while Heartland shines in Culinary Arts and Hospitality Management. With graduation rates of 25% and 30% respectively, both colleges are committed to student success. Explore the detailed comparison table below to discover more distinctions and make an informed decision about your academic journey.
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![]() Heartland Community College |
![]() Prairie State College |
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Overview |
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Location | Normal, Illinois | Chicago Heights, Illinois |
Campus setting | Suburb: Midsize | Suburb: Large |
College type | 2 year | 2 year |
Control/business model | Public | Public |
Calendar system | Semester | Semester |
Degrees offered | Undergraduate | Undergraduate |
Students retention rate | 69.0% | 53.0% |
![]() |
No | No |
Religious affiliation | ||
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Admission |
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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 |
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Tuition and Fees |
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Sticker price |
In state:
$22,914
Out of state:
$27,654
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In state:
$25,562
Out of state:
$27,284
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Average net price | $9,465 | $7,059 |
Tuition |
In state:
$9,480
Out of state:
$14,220
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In state:
$8,610
Out of state:
$10,332
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Room & board | ||
Available payment plans |
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Financial Aid |
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Students receiving financial aid
(Grants & scholarships) |
48.0%
Average amount $5,720 |
60.0%
Average amount $6,684 |
Students receiving federal student loan |
13.0%
Average amount $4,807 |
5.0%
Average amount $5,749 |
Students taking out private loans |
1.0%
Average amount $5,930 |
0.0%
Average amount $0 |
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Students and Campus |
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Undergraduate students |
4,697
Men 42.8% Women 57.2% |
2,618
Men 34.9% Women 65.1% |
Graduate students | N/A | N/A |
Racial/ethnic diversity |
Low
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Moderate
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Out-of-state students | 0.9% | 2.1% |
International students | 0.8% | 1.4% |
Campus local/setting | Suburb: Midsize | 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 Texas Indiana | Illinois Indiana Missouri |
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Academics |
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Popular study areas |
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Students to faculty ratio | 17:1 | 10:1 |
Institutional accreditation | Higher Learning Commission | Higher Learning Commission |
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Outcome |
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Graduation rate | 41.5% | 16.9% |
Dropout rate | 33.8% | 51.8% |
Transferred out | 13.5% | 20.1% |
Alumni salary by major (Top 10) |
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Associate's Degrees)
Biological and Physical Sciences (Associate's Degrees)
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities (Associate's Degrees)
Computer Systems Networking and Telecommunications (Associate's Degrees)
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Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Associate's Degrees)
Dental Support Services and Allied Professions (Associate's Degrees)
Health/Medical Preparatory Programs (Associate's Degrees)
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities (Associate's Degrees)
Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions (Undergraduate Certificates or Diplomas)
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Associate's Degrees)
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