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Is Highland Community College worth it?
A first pass affordability and outcome read for Highland Community, using national average inputs. Run your own numbers for a personalized score.
Worth-It Score
Stretch
Highland Community sits in the stretch band for a typical family. The long-run earnings picture at $37,928 helps, but median debt of $8,029 plus yearly net price of $5,713 creates a tighter path. For context, Highland Community's net price is about 27% below the typical 2-year, public school. It can work, but the financing plan has to be deliberate.
Is the price fair?
Compared to 791 similar 2-year, public schools
This school
$5,542
/yrAverage school like this
$7,555
/yrThis helps your Worth-It Score
You'd pay about $2,013 less per year than the typical student at a similar school. Over 4 years that's roughly $8,000 in savings.
Score breakdown
The public version of the score weighs affordability, after graduation outcomes, and repayment burden.
Affordability
40% weight
The yearly net price sits in a range that leaves more room for family cash flow and lower borrowing.
Outcome
40% weight
The outcome data does not create enough margin to fully offset the cost.
Repayment
20% weight
Median debt stays in a more comfortable repayment range for a typical graduate.
The numbers behind the score
Median net price per year
$5,713
Median earnings 10 years out
$37,928
Median debt at graduation
$8,029
Graduation rate
45%
At Highland Community, a typical graduate carries about $8,029 in student debt and earns roughly $37,928 ten years after enrolling. On a standard 10-year repayment plan, that works out to about $91 per month, or 3% of pre-tax income. That sits inside a borrower comfort range for many graduates.
What this means for your family
Highland Community is a two year school in Freeport, IL. For many families, the real question is not just sticker price but what this path unlocks next, whether that is direct employment, transfer, or a lower cost route into a four year degree.
Similar schools worth comparing
These schools share a similar sector, geography, or price range.
2-year
Elgin Community
Elgin, IL
Worth-It Score: 61/100
Median net price: $6,026
2-year
Rock Valley
Rockford, IL
Worth-It Score: 60/100
Median net price: $5,242
2-year
Morton
Cicero, IL
Worth-It Score: 60/100
Median net price: $5,191
2-year
Oakton
Des Plaines, IL
Worth-It Score: 60/100
Median net price: $5,183
2-year
City Colleges of Chicago-Wilbur Wright
Chicago, IL
Worth-It Score: 60/100
Median net price: $6,375
Common questions about Highland Community
The median net price at Highland Community is $5,713 per year. That is the average yearly price after typical grant aid for students in the public federal data, not the published sticker price.
Get your personalized Worth-It score
National averages are a starting point. Plug in your actual aid offer, intended major, and family situation to get a score that reflects your specific picture.
Looking at community colleges options in Illinois? See the most affordable community colleges in Illinois →
The Worth-It Score weighs affordability (40%), after graduation outcomes (40%), and repayment burden (20%). Underlying data points come from publicly available federal higher education reporting. See full methodology →