
At Highland Community College, students have the opportunity to make the most of their associate’s degree. As a public two year institution that allows for transfer between its campuses, it has a number of different offerings that appeal to students. It’s main campus is located in Freeport, Illinois, a middle sized town with a population of 25,638 at the time of the last census. A fun fact about the city is that it is known as the “Pretzel City” for the pretzel company that was founded shortly after the first settlers came to the region nearly 200 years ago. The city itself is rather quaint, but it has a number of parks and other smaller attractions that make life there more enjoyable.
Highland Community College offers associate’s degrees at the normal two year intervals, and currently has an enrollment of 3,702. In state and out of state costs are very similar, with the former being $3,792 in 2012 and the latter being $3,984. In the prior year, both were the same number, which indicates almost no discrimination between in and out of state tuition, something that is very attractive to out of state students. There are a wide variety of majors and programs to choose from, including:
- Law Enforcement
- Nail Technician
- Social Sciences
- Health Sciences
- Fine Arts
- Engineering
- Industrial Manufacturing
- Cosmetology
- Computer Science
- Business
- Agriculture
- Wind Turbine Technician
With many on campus offerings, including a bookstore, student organizations, activities, events, and sports teams, Highland Community College is a very popular choice for younger students. There are also a wide variety of scholarships offered: more than 100 in all, which help students from all backgrounds to afford the wonderful opportunity found at Highland Community College.
Estimated Costs & Financial Aid
The average "out of pocket" cost of attendance, after any grants and scholarships are considered, is around $5,900. In order to calculate a more accurate and detailed cost of attendance check out their cost calculator here. The figures listed below are for informational purposes only and do not represent current or future tuition, fees, and expenses.
Tuition & Fees Information
- Tuition estimates per year:
- State Residents: $3,000-$3,500
- Out-of-State: $4,900-$5,933
- Part-time students are charged:
- In-State: $120-$150 per unit
- Out-of-State: $210-$250 per unit
Financial Aid Details
The table below breaks down the types of financial aid, the percent of students receiving aid, and average amount of aid per student per year.
Percent of Students | Average Amount | |
---|---|---|
Any Financial Aid | 79% | - |
Receiving Grants & Scholarships | 74% | $4,202 |
Receiving Student Loans | 19% | $4,077 |
Admissions, Academics, & Student Services
Student Services
To help students and alumni, Highland Community College – Freeport may offer services like those listed below:
- Online classes
- Classes offered on nights and weekends
- Remedial instructional courses
- Academic counseling for students
- Student employment
- Helping students find work after graduation
- Child care
Graduation & Transfer Rates
Students who attend a community college will be able to choose from a variety of programs that will lead to an associate's degree or transfer to a four year institution. The following list shows graduation and transfer-out rates for Highland Community College – Freeport compared to community colleges in Illinois, which can be useful for determining which community college to attend.
Highland Community College – Freeport | Stephenson County | Illinois | |
---|---|---|---|
Graduation Rate | 36.6% | - | 23.9% |
Transfer-out Rate | 21.1% | - | 26.6% |
Programs Offered
The program list below is organized by areas of study. The programs that have a link will direct you to the program's profile page where you can learn more about education requirements and career pathways.

Get more information about the programs offered by Highland Community College – Freeport by clicking the request information to the right.
(C) Certificate or Award | (A) Associate's | (B) Bachelor's | (M) Master's Degree | (D) Doctorate (PhD,...)
Agriculture Operations
- Equine Studies (A, C)
- Horse Husbandry, Equine Science and Management
- Agricultural Production Operations
- Agricultural Business and Management
Business and Marketing Studies
- Bookkeeping (C)
- Accounting (A, C)
- General Office Occupations and Clerical Services (C)
- Administrative Assistant
- Business Administration
- Retailing and Retail Operations
Communication Technology
- Prepress , Desktop Publishing and Digital Imaging Design
Computer and Information Sciences
- Information Technology (A)
- Web Design (A)
Education
- Early Childhood Education (C)
- Mathematics Teacher Education
Engineering
- Engineering (A)
Engineering Technology
Family and Consumer Sciences
- Child Care Provider (A, C)
Health and Clinical Professions
- Nursing Assistant (C)
- Nursing (A)
- Medical Assistant (A)
- Health Information and Medical Records Technology (A)
- Medical Insurance Coding (C)
- Medical Transcription (C)
- Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN)
- EMT & Paramedic
Interdisciplinary Studies
- Biological and Physical Sciences (A)
Liberal Arts and Sciences
- Liberal Arts (A)
- General Studies (A)
Mechanic and Repair Technology
- Heavy Equipment Maintenance Technology (A, C)
- Auto Mechanic (A, C)
- Industrial Mechanics (C)
- Auto Body (A)
- Computer Repair Technician (C)
Personal and Culinary Services
- Cosmetology (C)
- Nail Technician (C)
Precision Production
- Welding (C)
Transportation and Materials Moving
Visual and Performing Arts
- Graphic Design (A, C)
Other Community Colleges Nearby
The list of nearby schools has been selected by researching which schools offer similar programs to Highland Community College – Freeport.
- Sauk Valley Community College in Dixon, IL (32 miles away)
- Rock Valley College in Rockford, IL (34 miles away)
- Blackhawk Technical College in Janesville, WI (40 miles away)
- Kishwaukee College in Malta, IL (47 miles away)
- McHenry County College in Crystal Lake, IL (67 miles away)