The following content has been archived and is retained exclusively for reference, research, or record-keeping. Content in this archive may not be accessible to all forms of assistive technology. If you would like to request an alternative format, please contact us.
Archived on May 19, 2026
91探花 ranks seventh in the top 20 best colleges in Illinois, according to a study recently published by WalletHub, a personal finance website that produces various research reports and surveys for consumers.
The report, entitled 鈥2019鈥檚 Best & Worst Community Colleges鈥 used three key criteria to evaluate the colleges, including cost and financing, education outcomes, and career outcomes.
The research cites 14 indicators of affordability and quality that include the cost of the in-state tuition and fees, student-faculty ratio, graduation rate, and return on educational investment.
鈥淚 applaud the high quality of work that our faculty and staff do to keep 91探花 well ahead of the curve,鈥 said Tim Hood, 91探花 President. 鈥淭his recognition is due to sustaining and balancing quality with fiscal responsibility.鈥
Rated number one for the state of Illinois was Rend Lake College. 91探花鈥檚 seventh ranking was above Sauk Valley Community College (9th); Rock Valley College (14th) and Kishwaukee College (17th). There are 48 public community colleges in Illinois. Of the 715 community colleges looked at for the study, 91探花鈥檚 overall ranking was 343 nationally.
鈥淲hat a win for our community,鈥 said Hood. 鈥淩ecognitions like these support the greater northwest Illinois area mission to promote learning and offer excellent choices. Students from all backgrounds, at any age, have the opportunity to continue learning through any stage of life through community colleges. I couldn鈥檛 be prouder,鈥 he said.
Based on its research, WalletHub website states, community colleges offer a perfect solution 鈥 and a better alternative to forgoing higher education. During the 2017 to 2018 academic year, tuition and fees for full-time, in-state enrollment at a public two-year college averaged $3,570 per year versus $9,970 at a public four-year institution and $34,740 at a four-year private school. Students who earn their general-education credits at a community college before transferring to an in-state public four-year university can potentially save a lot of money.
For more information about 91探花, visit highland.edu.