Highland Community College
- Graduation Rate
- 45% D+
- Lower completion rate than most colleges
- Earnings (10yr)
- $37,928 C-
- Below average for college graduates
- Net Price
- $5,713 A
- 67% less than the typical college
- Enrollment
- 931
Bottom line: A C+ overall grade — average outcomes for a U.S. college. 38.5× return on investment — every $1 spent returns $38.5 over 20 years.
Every $1 spent returns $38.5 over 20 years — debt pays back in ~under a year. Net gain: $856,153.
What The Data Says
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A C+ overall — outcomes above the typical U.S. college.
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Graduation of 45% — 20% below the national average.
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Every $1 invested returns $38.5 over 20 years — an exceptional return.
Why Highland Community College Matters
Highland Community College is a public college in Freeport, IL and its outcomes are not an accident. They are driven by an above-average alumni network. The result: measurable returns for the students it serves.
Interpretation generated from this school's federal outcomes, research, and mobility data.
Institutional Profile
- Institution Type
- Public College
- Carnegie Class
- Associate's College
- Enrollment
- 931
- Setting
- Rural
- Primary Strengths
- Humanities, Health Professions, Transportation, Business & Marketing
Why students choose Highland Community College
CollegeRanker Report Card
Graded on outcomes, against every U.S. college.
Each grade is this school's national percentile on a real outcome — earnings, value, mobility, and more.
How we grade →Admissions
This school does not report a competitive admit rate — most qualified applicants are admitted.
Check your odds →Net price + aid
Students pay about $5,713 a year after grants and scholarships — 67% below the typical U.S. college. See net price by family income below.
See cost & aid →Earnings + debt
Graduates earn a median of $37,928 ten years after enrolling — 7% below the typical college, against $8,029 in median debt.
See outcomes →Mobility + social capital
Strong cross-class social capital — an economic-connectedness score of 1.07 (Opportunity Insights).
See mobility →Overview
Highland Community College serves a diverse student body of 931, emphasizing practical education with a strong focus on key fields such as Health Professions and Business. The affordable net price of $5,713 makes it accessible for many, particularly those seeking a hands-on approach to learning without incurring significant debt.
Graduates from Highland Community College earn a median salary of $37,928 ten years after enrollment. While the graduation rate stands at 45%, the college focuses on essential programs that align with workforce needs, which can support students in achieving better economic outcomes. This offers a pathway for upward mobility, particularly for those starting from lower-income backgrounds.
Students who thrive here are often those seeking career-oriented education, especially in sectors like Transportation and Precision Production. The college’s commitment to affordability is reflected in the median debt of just $8,029, allowing graduates to enter the workforce with less financial burden. With 32% of the student body receiving Pell Grants, Highland Community College remains a viable option for students aiming to achieve their educational and professional goals without overwhelming financial stress.
Rankings
Can I Get In?
How selective Highland Community College is — and how your numbers stack up.
Tool
Will I Be Accepted?
Enter your credentials to see your chances at this school.
Academics & Admissions
Is It Hard to Get Into Highland Community College? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
As a public institution in Freeport, Illinois, Highland Community College enrolls students across a range of programs. The graduation rate is roughly 45%.
- Retention Rate
- 70%
- Full-Time Faculty
- 51%
- Faculty Salary (mo)
- $10,991
- Student–Faculty Ratio
- 11:1
- Diversity Index
- 0.53
- First-Gen Students
- 48%
Can I Afford It?
What you'll actually pay after grants and aid — not the sticker price.
Cost & Financial Aid
How Much Does It Cost to Attend Highland Community College? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at Highland Community College is $7,360, but few families pay that. The number to watch is net price, what students actually pay each year after federal grants and institutional scholarships. Here it averages about $5,713. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $3,598 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $8,029 in federal student loans.
- In-State Tuition
- $4,936
- Out-of-State
- $7,360
- Avg Net Price
- $5,713
- Median Debt
- $8,029
- Pell Grant Rate
- 32%
- Federal Loan Rate
- 5%
What Families Actually Pay
- Family Income $0–$30K
- $3,598
- Family Income $30K–$48K
- $5,256
- Family Income $48K–$75K
- $6,045
- Family Income $110K+
- $13,161
What Happens After?
Earnings, debt, and where graduates actually land.
Students Like You
Tell us a little about yourself to see what students like you have typically experienced at Highland Community College — the net price for your income, your admission odds, and the outcomes that follow. These are patterns from federal data, not predictions.
Graduate Outcomes
Is Highland Community College Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Highland Community College report median earnings of $37,928, a figure worth comparing against the cost of attendance before enrolling.
- 6 Years After Entry
- $33,425
- 8 Years
- $34,984
- 10 Years
- $37,928
- Debt-to-Earnings
- 0.21x
- Earning > $25K
- 44%
Earnings Trajectory
Graduation by Timeframe
- 100% (62)
- 23%
- 100% (62)
- 23%
- 100% (62)
- 23%
- 100% (62)
- 23%
How Highland Compares
Dot right of center = above national average.
Net Price by Family Income
What families actually pay after aid, by income bracket.
College ROI Calculator
Is Highland Community College Worth It?
A data-driven look at the return on your educational investment — using real federal data.
Yes — for most students, Highland Community College delivers a positive return. Over four years, the typical net price is $5,713/year ($22,852 total). Graduates earn $37,928 at ten years, and over a 20-year career we project $879,005 in total earnings — a net gain of $856,153 (38.5× your investment). The median debt is $8,029, which takes less than a year to pay back at typical earnings. With a 45% graduation rate, the path to that return is well-tested. This is a exceptional ROI compared to national averages.
- Total Cost (4yr)
- $22,852
- Projected 20yr Earnings
- $879,005
- Net Return
- $856,153
- ROI Multiple
- 38.5×
- Cost Per Year
- $5,713
- Median Debt
- $8,029
- Debt Payback
- Less than 1 yr
- Graduation Rate
- 45%
Does It Change Lives?
Mobility, social capital, and innovation — does it move people up?
Institutional Finances
Data: NCES IPEDS
- Investment Income
- $72,173
Top Programs
The fields Highland Community College awards the most degrees in, by share of completions. Where federal field-of-study data exists, we show what graduates in that major earned early in their careers. Each links to its degree guide — or see what someone with your income, scores, and major would pay and earn here in the Students Like You simulator.
- Humanities 33%
- Health Professions 21% $63,565 early-career
- Transportation 8%
- Business & Marketing 5%
- Precision Production 5%
- Mechanic & Repair Tech 2%
- Education 1%
- Culinary & Personal Services 1%
Early-career median earnings by major (typically 1–2 years after completion, bachelor's level where available), in today's dollars (CPI-adjusted). Source: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard field of study. Distinct from the school-wide 10-year median; suppressed for small programs.
Top Careers
Where these majors tend to lead — common career paths for Highland Community College's most popular programs, ranked by median pay with our proprietary scorecard insights.
- CChief Executive Officer$189,520 · 3% growthAdaptable 64
- C+IT Manager$169,510 · 15% growthAdaptable 52
- CHR Manager$136,350 · 5% growthAdaptable 64
- CPetroleum Engineer$135,690 · 2% growthResilient 72
- CSales Manager$135,160 · 4% growthAdaptable 64
- CPurchasing Manager$131,350 · 5% growthAdaptable 64
- CAerospace Engineer$130,720 · 6% growthResilient 72
- B+Nurse Practitioner$129,480 · 40% growthResilient 96
Frequently Asked Questions
Is It Hard to Get Into Highland Community College? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
As a public institution in Freeport, Illinois, Highland Community College enrolls students across a range of programs. The graduation rate is roughly 45%.
How Much Does It Cost to Attend Highland Community College? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at Highland Community College is $7,360, but few families pay that. The number to watch is net price, what students actually pay each year after federal grants and institutional scholarships. Here it averages about $5,713. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $3,598 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $8,029 in federal student loans.
Is Highland Community College Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Highland Community College report median earnings of $37,928, a figure worth comparing against the cost of attendance before enrolling.
How Connected Is Highland Community College? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks
Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs above average at Highland Community College. Its economic connectedness score is 1.07, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias sits near the middle of the range (0.07). Around 7% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Similar Schools
Schools with similar outcomes, selectivity, and student profiles to Highland Community College.
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- Fort Scott Community CollegeFort Scott, KS · Close peer34% grad $37,213 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar size · similar net price
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- Spoon River CollegeCanton, IL · Close peer42% grad $38,386 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
- Nicolet Area Technical CollegeRhinelander, WI · Close peer45% grad $38,643 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
Social Capital
Data: Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas
How Connected Is Highland Community College? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks
Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs above average at Highland Community College. Its economic connectedness score is 1.07, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias sits near the middle of the range (0.07). Around 7% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Research Note