Frontier Community College

2 Frontier Drive
Fairfield, IL 62837
Top-Ranked (2026): 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 14,619 students (1% of students are full-time).
Minority enrollment is 15% of the student body (majority Hispanic and Black), which is less than the state average of 54%.

Quick Facts (2026)

  • Enrollment: 14,619 students
  • In-state tuition: $9,079
  • Out-state tuition: $11,070
  • Minority enrollment: 15%
  • 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
Community Size
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
Associate's Colleges
0
Institution Level
At least 2 but less than 4 years
0
Institution Control
Public
0
Year Founded
1976
Total Faculty
66 staff
94 staff
School Calendar

Student Body

The student population of Frontier Community College has grown by 1058% over five years.
The Frontier Community College diversity score of 0.27 is more than the state average of 0.00. The school's diversity has grown by 179% over five years.
Total Enrollment
14,619 students
3,110 students
Student-Teacher Ratio
222:1
34:1
# Full-Time Students
203 students
1,028 students
# Part-Time Students
14,416 students
2,082 students
# Enrollment Undergraduate
146 students
378 students
# Full-Time Undergraduate Students
203 students
1,082 students
# Full-Time Graduate Students
n/a
42 students
# Part-Time Undergraduate Students
14,416 students
2,308 students
# Part-Time Graduate Students
n/a
14 students
Total Dormitory Capacity
n/a
132 students
% American Indian/Alaskan
n/a
n/a
% Asian
1%
5%
% Hispanic
2%
28%
% Black
1%
13%
% White
85%
46%
% Hawaiian
n/a
n/a
% Two or more races
1%
3%
% Non Resident races
n/a
1%
% Unknown races
10%
4%
Diversity Score
0.27
0.00
College Completion Rate (Students who graduate in less than 4 years)
56%
38%
Average Graduate Earnings (10 Years)
$28,200
$31,800

Tuition and Acceptance Rate

The public in-state tuition of $9,079 is more than the state average of $8,019. The in-state tuition has declined by 9% over four years.
The public out-state tuition of $11,070 is more than the state average of $10,874. The out-state tuition has declined by 8% over four years.
In-State Tuition Fees
$9,079
$8,019
Out-State Tuition Fees
$11,070
$10,874
% Students Receiving Some Financial Aid
96%
80%
Median Debt for Graduates
$6,450
$8,000
Median Debt for Dropouts
$4,500
$4,549
Acceptance Rate
n/a
75%
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: 2025 (or latest year available) Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) , School Administrators

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, Largest student body and Highest completion rates.

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Quick Facts (2026)

  • Enrollment: 14,619 students
  • In-state tuition: $9,079
  • Out-state tuition: $11,070
  • Minority enrollment: 15%
  • Source: Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS)

Related School Videos

Did You Know?

For Illinois public community colleges, the average tuition is approximately $8,019 per year for in-state students and $10,874 for out-of-state students. For private community colleges, the average yearly tuition is approximately $14,123 per year. Read more about average community college tuition costs across the country.

The average community college acceptance rate in Illinois is 71%. Read more about national community college acceptance rates.

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