Match #1
College of Lake County
Grayslake, IL
Profile closeness80/100
Admit rate—
- 9,420 students
- Public
- Suburb: Large
- Enrollment 9,420 students, close to 9,313
- Average net price $7,280, close to $10,058
The colleges most similar to William Rainey Harper College are College of Lake County, Illinois Central College, and Elgin Community College. William Rainey Harper College has an average net price of $10,058 a year; 7 of its 10 alternatives cost less, in the CollegesRef 2026–27 edition.
Profile closeness (0–100) compares graduation rate, size, admit rate, net price, Carnegie class, and control with William Rainey Harper College. The order also uses CollegesRef matching tiers, so a later match can score higher. Admit-rate bars use a 0–100% scale.
Top 10 alternatives to William Rainey Harper College
Row-wise results ranked by similarity. No curated AI list exists for this school.
Match #2
Illinois Central College
East Peoria, IL
Profile closeness78/100
Admit rate—
- 5,052 students
- Public
- Suburb: Large
- Graduation rate 33%, close to 38%
- Average net price $10,829, close to $10,058
Match #3
Elgin Community College
Elgin, IL
Profile closeness75/100
Admit rate—
- 6,648 students
- Public
- City: Midsize
- Graduation rate 43%, close to 38%
- Enrollment 6,648 students, close to 9,313
Match #4
McHenry County College
Crystal Lake, IL
Profile closeness75/100
Admit rate—
- 4,691 students
- Public
- Rural: Fringe
- Graduation rate 32%, close to 38%
- Average net price $11,434, close to $10,058
Match #5
Oakton Community College
Des Plaines, IL
Profile closeness72/100
Admit rate—
- 6,072 students
- Public
- City: Small
- Same Carnegie classification
- Same control type (public)
Match #6
Moraine Valley Community College
Palos Hills, IL
Profile closeness70/100
Admit rate—
- 7,490 students
- Public
- Suburb: Large
- Graduation rate 34%, close to 38%
- Enrollment 7,490 students, close to 9,313
Match #7
City Colleges of Chicago-Wilbur Wright College
Chicago, IL
Profile closeness69/100
Admit rate—
- 4,372 students
- Public
- City: Large
- Same Carnegie classification
- Same control type (public)
Match #8
Heartland Community College
Normal, IL
Profile closeness67/100
Admit rate—
- 2,997 students
- Public
- Suburb: Midsize
- Graduation rate 42%, close to 38%
- Same Carnegie classification
Match #9
Southwestern Illinois College
Belleville, IL
Profile closeness67/100
Admit rate—
- 5,675 students
- Public
- Suburb: Large
- Average net price $7,555, close to $10,058
- Same control type (public)
Match #10
Waubonsee Community College
Sugar Grove, IL
Profile closeness65/100
Admit rate—
- 5,721 students
- Public
- Rural: Fringe
- Graduation rate 33%, close to 38%
- Same control type (public)
Questions about William Rainey Harper College alternatives
What colleges are similar to William Rainey Harper College?
The closest matches to William Rainey Harper College are College of Lake County, Illinois Central College, Elgin Community College, McHenry County College, and Oakton Community College. CollegesRef ranks them on admissions, cost, graduation rate, size, and campus profile using IPEDS and College Scorecard data.
Which William Rainey Harper College alternatives cost less?
7 of the 10 closest alternatives have a lower average net price than William Rainey Harper College ($10,058 a year), including Waubonsee Community College ($2,551), Moraine Valley Community College ($3,887), and Oakton Community College ($3,948). Net price is what first-time, full-time students paid after grants; your own price depends on family income.
