Highland Community College Tuition & Completion (2026)
Highland Community College is a public community college in Freeport, Illinois, enrolling about 931 students. The college offers associate degrees, career certificates, and transfer pathways to four-year universities. Typical net price after grant aid is about $5,713 for students who receive it, compared with published tuition near $4,936. Student demographics in federal data include White (67.0%) and Black or African American (12.5%) among the largest enrollment groups.
Key Facts
- 2024 Undergraduate Tuition: $4,936
- 2024 Average Net Price: $5,713 After Financial Aid
- 2024 Acceptance Rate: N/A Moderate Selectivity
- 2024 Enrolled Students: 931 57.6% Full-Time
- 2024 Graduation Rate: 44.93%
- Carnegie Classification: Associate's Colleges: Mixed Transfer/Vocational & Technical-High Nontraditional
- First-Generation Students: 48.4%
- Tuition trend: In-state tuition increase of 1.6% from 2022 to 2023 (College Scorecard).
- Net price trend: Average net price increase of 0.5% from 2022 to 2023 (College Scorecard).
- Full-Time Faculty: 50.8%
- Undergraduate Enrollment: 2,938
- Room & Board: $5,950 annual estimate
Highland Community College: what the data shows
Common questions about Highland Community College, answered from College Scorecard and IPEDS in this repository.
Where is Highland Community College?
Highland Community College is located in Freeport, IL (ZIP 61032-9341).
Is Highland Community College public or private?
Highland Community College is a Public institution.
How much does Highland Community College cost?
Published tuition: $4,936 in-state, $7,360 out-of-state.
Average net price after aid: $5,713.
| Family income band | Avg. net price |
|---|---|
| Family income $0–$30,000 | $3,598 |
| $30,001–$48,000 | $5,256 |
| $48,001–$75,000 | $6,045 |
| $75,001–$110,000 | $10,242 |
| $110,001+ | $13,161 |
Sticker tuition × four years (estimate, no room/board): $19,744.
How big is Highland Community College?
Total enrollment: 931 students.
Undergraduate enrollment: 2,938 students.
About 58% enroll full-time in our extract.
What is the graduation rate at Highland Community College?
150%-time completion rate: 44.93%.
First-year retention: 69.6%.
What do graduates of Highland Community College earn?
Median earnings: $33,425 six years after entry; $37,928 ten years after entry (College Scorecard).
How much debt do students have?
Median federal loan debt among completers: $8,029.
31.63% of students receive Pell grants.
What is Highland Community College known for?
Largest IPEDS program completions at this institution:
- Liberal Arts and Sciences/Liberal Studies (159 completions)
- Truck and Bus Driver/Commercial Vehicle Operator and Instructor (123 completions)
- Nursing Assistant/Aide and Patient Care Assistant/Aide (118 completions)
- Biological and Physical Sciences (60 completions)
- Child Care Provider/Assistant (30 completions)
- Welding Technology/Welder (25 completions)
- Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse (19 completions)
- Accounting Technology/Technician and Bookkeeping (14 completions)
- General Studies (11 completions)
- Agricultural Production Operations, General (10 completions)
See ROI & Programs for more.
Is Highland Community College a good school?
We do not score schools on opinion. Federal data in our extract show completion rate 44.93%; median earnings $37,928 at 10 years; net price $5,713. Compare these figures to your cost, aid, and career goals.
Tuition & Cost
Tuition Costs
$4,936
2024 Undergraduate Tuition
In 2024, the cost of tuition at Highland Community College was $4,936.
Tuition comparison with similar institutions.
Average Net Price
$5,713
2024 Value
In 2024 Highland Community College had an average net price — the price paid after factoring in grants and loans — of $5,713.
Average net price comparison with similar institutions.
Total Cost of Attendance
$22,852 Estimated 4-Year Total Cost
$5,713 Average Annual Net Price (after aid)
$19,744 4-Year In-State Tuition
$29,440 4-Year Out-of-State Tuition
$5,950 Room & Board (annual, on-campus estimate)
$725 Books & Supplies (annual estimate)
$11,611 Estimated Annual Sticker (tuition + room/board + books)
$46,444 Estimated 4-Year Sticker (before aid)
4-year total cost breakdown for Highland Community College.
Financial Aid by Income Level
31.63% Undergraduates Receiving Financial Aid through Grants
5.19% Undergraduates Receiving Financial Aid through Loans
Financial aid distribution by income level.
Student Loan Default Rate
0.00%
3-year cohort default rate (College Scorecard)
The published 3-year cohort default rate for borrowers at Highland Community College was 0.00%.
Cohort default rates account for borrowers who default in the first three years.
Tuition tracker
Published tuition and average net price by reporting year come from the College Scorecard institution file. Values are not adjusted for inflation; missing cells mean the field was not reported or was suppressed for Highland Community College in that year.
Reporting years in the table below: 2013–2023 (Scorecard labels refer to the institutional submission cycle).
| Year | In-state tuition & fees | Out-of-state tuition & fees | Average net price |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | $3,159 | $5,031 | $5,535 |
| 2014 | $3,231 | $5,151 | $6,066 |
| 2015 | $3,423 | $5,415 | $6,037 |
| 2016 | $3,663 | $5,751 | $6,106 |
| 2017 | $3,999 | $6,279 | $5,649 |
| 2018 | $4,167 | $6,519 | $6,413 |
| 2019 | $4,302 | $6,654 | $6,637 |
| 2020 | $4,494 | $6,846 | $6,670 |
| 2021 | $4,494 | $6,846 | $6,446 |
| 2022 | $4,624 | $7,048 | $5,333 |
| 2023 | $4,696 | $7,120 | $5,359 |
Sticker tuition and net price over time
Where the institution reported separate in-state and out-of-state tuition, both appear. Gaps mean the value was not reported for that year.
College Scorecard reporting-year fields (not inflation-adjusted).
Net price by family income
Brackets follow Scorecard definitions for the series shown (public vs private institution).
Latest income-band net prices available in the processed extract.
Acceptance Rate & Admissions
Acceptance Rate
Acceptance rate data is not available for this institution.
Acceptance rate compared to national average.
Test Scores
Test score data is not available for this institution.
Average SAT and ACT scores for admitted students.
Academic Requirements
GPA requirements are not published by this institution. Contact the admissions office for specific academic requirements.
Estimated GPA and test score ranges.
Enrollment & Student Demographics
Highland Community College reported total enrollment of about 931 students in the latest College Scorecard extract. The student body is about 39% male and 61% female. Enrollment by race and ethnicity includes White (67.0%), Black or African American (12.5%), and Hispanic or Latino (7.5%). About 31.63% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants. Roughly 48.4% of students are first-generation college students.
Full-Time vs Part-Time Enrollment
57.6% Full-Time Enrollment
The total enrollment at Highland Community College in 2024 is 931 students.
Undergraduate enrollment is about 2,938 students.
Full-time vs part-time enrollment comparison.
Retention Rate over Time
69.6%
2024 Retention Rate
Retention rate measures the number of first-time students who began their studies the previous fall and returned to school the following fall.
Retention rate over time compared to similar institutions.
Enrollment by Race & Ethnicity
The largest enrollment share in our College Scorecard extract is White at 67.0%.
Shares are for total enrollment (undergraduate and graduate combined when reported).
College Scorecard student demographics.
Graduates & Outcomes
Time to Complete
33.48% 100% Completion Time
44.93% 150% Completion Time
In 2024, 33.48% of students graduating from Highland Community College completed their program within 100% "normal time".
Completion rates over time compared to similar institutions.
Completions by Sex (Top Programs)
- Liberal Arts and Sciences/Liberal Studies: 35% male / 65% female
- Truck and Bus Driver/Commercial Vehicle Operator and Instructor: 93% male / 7% female
- Nursing Assistant/Aide and Patient Care Assistant/Aide: 8% male / 92% female
IPEDS completions by sex for the five largest programs (aggregate CIPs excluded).
Completions by Race & Ethnicity
Combined IPEDS award counts across reported programs; largest group: White.
Summed across program completion records in our extract.
ROI & Programs
Financial value and program information for Highland Community College.
Return on Investment
$8,029 Median Student Debt
$37,928 Median Annual Earnings (10 years)
21.17% Debt-to-Earnings Ratio
1559.72% Return on Investment
2.1 years Estimated Payback Period
Financial value analysis for Highland Community College.
Top Programs by Completions
10 largest programs by IPEDS completions (of 29 reported codes; aggregate/unknown CIP buckets excluded).
1. Liberal Arts and Sciences/Liberal Studies: 159 completions
2. Truck and Bus Driver/Commercial Vehicle Operator and Instructor: 123 completions
3. Nursing Assistant/Aide and Patient Care Assistant/Aide: 118 completions
4. Biological and Physical Sciences: 60 completions
5. Child Care Provider/Assistant: 30 completions
6. Welding Technology/Welder: 25 completions
7. Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse: 19 completions
8. Accounting Technology/Technician and Bookkeeping: 14 completions
9. General Studies: 11 completions
Most popular programs at Highland Community College.
Employment Outcomes
Employment outcome data is not available for this institution.
Earnings outcomes for Highland Community College graduates.
Operations
Instructional staffing and expenditure indicators for Highland Community College from College Scorecard (not a full IPEDS finance statement).
Instructional Resources
- Full-time faculty share: 50.8%
- Average faculty salary (Scorecard): $10,991
- Instructional expenditure per FTE: $10,460
Endowment and detailed non-instructional staff counts require IPEDS Finance/HR surveys and are not in this extract.
Scorecard instructional metrics where reported.
About
Highland Community College is a public institution located in Freeport, IL, classified as Associate's Colleges: Mixed Transfer/Vocational & Technical-High Nontraditional. In the latest IPEDS completions in our extract, the largest programs by awards were Liberal Arts and Sciences/Liberal Studies, Truck and Bus Driver/Commercial Vehicle Operator and Instructor, Nursing Assistant/Aide and Patient Care Assistant/Aide. Enrollment is approximately 931 students. Student body composition includes White (67.0%), Black or African American (12.5%), Hispanic or Latino (7.5%). The 150%-time completion rate is 44.93%. Approximately 31.63% of students receive Pell Grants. About 48.4% of students are first-generation college students.
Institution Type
Public
Carnegie Classification: Associate's Colleges: Mixed Transfer/Vocational & Technical-High Nontraditional
Location
Freeport, IL 61032-9341
Region: Great Lakes
Insights and Analysis
Highland Community College provides educational opportunities for students seeking higher education. Prospective students should carefully evaluate all factors including costs, outcomes, and program offerings when making their enrollment decisions.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Highland Community College located?
Highland Community College is located in Freeport, IL.
How much does Highland Community College cost?
Reported tuition is $4,936 and average net price is $5,713 in the latest College Scorecard data. On-campus room and board is estimated at $5,950 annually.
What is the student body demographics at Highland Community College?
Highland Community College reports undergraduate enrollment of about 2,938 students, White (67.0%), Black or African American (12.5%) in federal College Scorecard data.
How many first-generation students attend Highland Community College?
About 48.4% of students at Highland Community College are first-generation college students.
What do graduates of Highland Community College earn?
Median earnings are $33,425 six years after entry and $37,928 ten years after entry.
What is the graduation rate at Highland Community College?
The 150%-time completion rate is 44.9% for the cohort reported to the College Scorecard.
How much debt do Highland Community College students have?
Median federal loan debt among completers is $8,029.
Is Highland Community College public or private?
Highland Community College is a public institution located in Freeport, IL.
Is Highland Community College an HBCU?
No. Highland Community College is not flagged as an HBCU in the IPEDS institutional directory.
Is Highland Community College a tribal college?
No. Highland Community College is not flagged as a tribal college in IPEDS.
Is Highland Community College a Hispanic-serving institution (HSI)?
Using a 25% Hispanic enrollment threshold on College Scorecard demographics, Highland Community College does not meet that proxy (reported share 7.5%).
Is Highland Community College religiously affiliated?
No religious affiliation is reported for Highland Community College in IPEDS institutional characteristics.
Data Sources
This page uses data from the following sources:
- College Scorecard - U.S. Department of Education
- Institutional characteristics, costs, completion rates, and earnings data
- Data years: 2015-2024
- Source: collegescorecard.ed.gov
- Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)
- Employment and wage data by occupation
- Latest data: May 2024
- Source: bls.gov/oes
- O*NET Online - U.S. Department of Labor
- Occupational skills, knowledge, abilities, and work activities
- Database version: 28.0 (August 2023)
- Source: onetcenter.org
- IPEDS (Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System) - National Center for Education Statistics
- Institutional data, completions, enrollment, and financial aid
- Data years: 2015-2024
- Source: nces.ed.gov/ipeds
- Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS)
- Demographic and workforce data
- Latest data: 2023 ACS 5-Year Estimates
- Source: census.gov/acs
- Related geography & profiles
- Illinois college costs
- Illinois colleges by ROI
- Illinois trade schools profile
- Great Lakes regional profile
- All state profiles
- Regional profiles
- National benchmarks
- School directory
- All schools in Illinois
Data Processing: All data has been processed, cleaned, and aggregated for presentation. Where specific data points are unavailable, estimates are based on available data and clearly marked.
Last Updated: Data reflects the most recent available information as of January 2025.
Methodology
Data for this profile is sourced from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard dataset, which provides comprehensive information on institutions of higher education in the United States.
All financial figures are adjusted for inflation and represent the most recent available data. Graduation rates and completion times are calculated according to federal standards.