Frontier Community College

2 Frontier Drive
Fairfield, IL 62837
Top Ranked (2024): View Rankings
  • The mission of Illinois Eastern Community Colleges District 529 is to provide excellence in teaching, learning, public service, and economic development. The District is committed to high academic standards for pre-baccalaureate, career and technical education that sustain and advance excellence in learning.

School Highlights

Frontier Community College serves 1,262 students (21% of students are full-time).
The college's student:teacher ratio of 19:1 is higher than the state community college average of 12:1.
Minority enrollment is 6% of the student body (majority Hispanic and Black), which is more than the state average of 47%.

Quick Stats (2024)

  • Enrollment: 1,262 students
  • In-state tuition: $9,079
  • Out-state tuition: $11,070
  • Student:teacher ratio: 19:1
  • Minority enrollment: 6%
  • Source: Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS)

Top Rankings

Frontier Community College ranks among the top 20% of public schools in Illinois for:

Category
Attribute
Completion Rates

School Overview

The teacher population of 66 teachers has stayed relatively flat over five years.
Frontier Community College
(IL) Community College Avg.
Carnegie Classification
Associates Colleges
Associates Colleges
Institution Level
At least 2 but less than 4 years
At least 2 but less than 4 years
Institution Control
Public
Public
Total Faculty
66 staff
239 staff
This chart display total faculty of Frontier Community College and community college average number of faculty in IL by year, with the latest 2020-21 school year data.

Student Body

The student population of Frontier Community College has declined by 26% over five years.
The student:teacher ratio of 19:1 has decreased from 26:1 over five years.
The Frontier Community College diversity score of 0.10 is less than the state average of 0.64. The school's diversity has declined by 13% over five years.
Total Enrollment
1,262 students
2,581 students
This chart display the total enrollment of Frontier Community College and community college average number of enrollment of IL by year, with the latest 2020-21 school year data.
Student : Teacher Ratio
19:1
12:1
This chart display the student staff ratio of Frontier Community College and community college average student staff ratio of IL by year, with the latest 2020-21 school year data.
# Full-Time Students
266 students
898 students
This chart display the total number of Full-time students enrollment of Frontier Community College and average number of community college Full-time students enrollment of IL by year, with the latest 2020-21 school year data.
# Part-Time Students
996 students
1,683 students
This chart display the total number of Part-time students enrollment of Frontier Community College and average number of community college Part-time students enrollment of IL by year, with the latest 2020-21 school year data.
This chart display the Full-time students and Part-time students enrollment breakdown of Frontier Community College.
This chart display community college average Full-Time students and Part-Time students enrollment breakdown of IL.
# Enrollment Undergraduate
719 students
40 students
# Full-Time Undergraduate Students
266 students
944 students
This chart display the total number of Full-time undergraduate students enrollment of Frontier Community College and average number of community college Full-time undergraduate  students enrollment of IL by year, with the latest 2020-21 school year data.
# Full-Time Graduate Students
n/a
22 students
# Part-Time Undergraduate Students
996 students
1,683 students
# Part-Time Graduate Students
n/a
10 students
Total Dormitory Capacity
n/a
132 students
% Asian
1%
5%
This chart display the percentage of Asian students in Frontier Community College and the percentage of Asian community college students in IL by year, with the latest 2020-21 school year data.
% Hispanic
2%
24%
This chart display the percentage of Hispanic students in Frontier Community College and the percentage of Hispanic community college students in IL by year, with the latest 2020-21 school year data.
% Black
1%
12%
This chart display the percentage of Black students in Frontier Community College and the percentage of Black community college students in IL by year, with the latest 2020-21 school year data.
% White
94%
53%
This chart display the percentage of White students in Frontier Community College and the percentage of White community college students in IL by year, with the latest 2020-21 school year data.
% Two or more races
2%
3%
This chart display the percentage of Two or more races students in Frontier Community College and the percentage of Two or more races community college students in IL by year, with the latest 2020-21 school year data.
% Non Resident races
n/a
1%
% Unknown races
n/a
2%
This chart display the percentage breakdown of students of all ethnic groups in Frontier Community College.
This chart display the percentage breakdown of students of all ethnic groups in IL.
Diversity Score
0.10
0.64
This chart display the diversity score of Frontier Community College and the community college average diversity score of IL by year, with the latest 2020-21 school year data.
College Completion Rate (Students who graduate in less than 4 years)
72%
36%
This chart display completion rates for First-Time of Full-time students of Frontier Community College and community college average completion rates for First-Time of Full-time students of IL by year, with the latest 2020-21 school year data.
College Completion Rate (Students who graduate in 4 years or more than 4 years)
n/a
1.54%
Average Graduate Earnings (10 Years)
$28,200
$31,800
This chart display average graduate earnings (10 Years) of Frontier Community College and community college average graduate earnings (10 Years) of IL by year, disaggregated by student subgroups with the latest 2012-13 school year data.

Tuition and Acceptance Rate

The public in-state tuition of $9,079 is more than the state average of $8,163. The in-state tuition has declined by 6% over four years.
The public out-state tuition of $11,070 is more than the state average of $10,824. The out-state tuition has declined by 5% over four years.
In-State Tuition Fees
$9,079
$8,163
This chart display tuition fees for an in-state student of Frontier Community College and the public community college average tuition fees for an in-state student of IL by year, with the latest 2020-21 school year data.
Out-State Tuition Fees
$11,070
$10,824
This chart display tuition fees for an out-of-state student of Frontier Community College and the public community college average tuition fees for an out-of-state student of IL by year, with the latest 2020-21 school year data.
% Students Receiving Some Financial Aid
98%
81%
This chart display the percent of students who is receiving some financial aid in Frontier Community College and the percent of community college students who is receiving some financial aid in IL by year, with the latest 2020-21 school year data.
Median Debt for Graduates
$6,450
$7,963
This chart display median debt for students who have completed a certificate or degree in Frontier Community College and average median debt for community college students who have completed a certificate or degree in IL by year, with the latest 2018-19 school year data.
Median Debt for Dropouts
$4,500
$4,500
This chart display median debt for students who have not completed a certificate or degree in Frontier Community College and average median debt for community college students who have not completed a certificate or degree in IL by year, with the latest 2018-19 school year data.
Acceptance Rate
n/a
89%
SAT Reading
n/a
390
SAT Math
n/a
360
SAT Writing
n/a
355
ACT Composite
n/a
17
ACT English
n/a
17
ACT Math
n/a
17
Source: 2021 (or latest year available) Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS)

School Notes

  • Illinois Eastern Community Colleges District #529 (IECC) is located in a 3,000 square-mile area of southeastern Illinois near the Illinois-Indiana border. The multi-college District includes Frontier Community College at Fairfield, Lincoln Trail College at Robinson, Olney Central College at Olney, and Wabash Valley College at Mt. Carmel. The first three colleges combined in 1969 to form what is now known as the Illinois Eastern Community Colleges District 529. On September 6, 1974, the Illinois Eastern Community Colleges' Continuing Education facilities in Fairfield were opened. The modest facility included a large conference room, a textbook library, a workroom, a secretarial pool area and an administrative office. On July 26, 1976, the Board of Trustees approved the concept of a �Campus Beyond Walls� for the Continuing Education Division. On December 8, 1976, the Board formally named the college Illinois Eastern College of Continuing Education. The IECC Board and the Illinois Board of Higher Education had also approved the new concept and therefore it officially became the fourth college in the Illinois Eastern Community Colleges District 529. In 1977, a group of citizens concerned with higher education formed a Foundation in support of the college. The College of Continuing Education Foundation, now called the Frontier Community College Foundation. Also in 1977, a 6,500 square foot classroom building containing seven lecture classrooms was constructed. In 2000, a student lounge addition was added to Classroom Building West. On April 18, 1978, the college was officially named Frontier Community College. In 1986, the Frontier Community College Foundation constructed a 10,500 square foot specialized classroom building with five laboratory classrooms to assist the college in meeting its educational objectives. In 2001, construction on a new Learning Resource Center and Nursing Building was begun. On February 20, 2002, Frontier added the Sanyo Building to the family of FCC buildings on the west edge of Fairfield. The 38,000 square feet building was renamed the Workforce Development Center. Frontier Community College offers degrees and certificate in Administrative Information Tech (AIT), Automotive Service Tech II (AUM), Basic Nurse Assistant Training Progr (BAID), Basic Quality Manufacturing Skills (IQM), Computer Applications (COAP), Computer Networking Specialist (CNS), Corrections - Parole Officer (CORPO), Corrections - Youth Supervisor (CORYS), Electrical Distribution Systems (EDS), Emer Prep/Emerg Rescue Tech. (ERESC), Emergency Disaster Services Tech. (EDST), Emergency Medical Tech.-Ambulance (EMTA), Emergency Prep.-Auxiliary Police (POLIC), Emergency Prep.-Vol. Firefighter II (FIRE2), Industrial Quality Control (QAC), Industrial Quality Management (IQM), Information Systems Management (ISM), Nursing (NUR), Paraprofessional Educator (EDU), Psychiatric Rehabilitation Certificate (PSYRH) and Web Design Certificate (INFO). The Frontier Community College is accredited by the Commission on Institutions of Higher Education of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does Frontier Community College cost?
Frontier Community College's tuition is approximately $9,079 for In-State students and $11,070 for Out-State students.
What is Frontier Community College's ranking?
Frontier Community College ranks among the top 20% of community college in Illinois for: Percent of students receiving financial aid and Highest completion rates.

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Quick Stats (2024)

  • Enrollment: 1,262 students
  • In-state tuition: $9,079
  • Out-state tuition: $11,070
  • Student:teacher ratio: 19:1
  • Minority enrollment: 6%
  • Source: Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS)

Related School Videos

Did You Know?

For Illinois public community colleges, the average tuition is approximately $8,163 per year for in-state students and $10,824 for out-of-state students. For private community colleges, the average yearly tuition is approximately $13,272 per year. Read more about average community college tuition costs across the country.

The average community college acceptance rate in Illinois is 84%. Read more about national community college acceptance rates.

Illinois community colleges have a diversity score of 0.64, which is lower than the national average of 0.70. The most diverse community college in Illinois is Rasmussen University-Illinois. Read more about community college diversity statistics in the USA.

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