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 (26-27)
Enrollment: 14,619 students
In-state tuition: $9,079
Out-state tuition: $11,070
Minority enrollment: 15%
Source: Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS)
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The student population of Frontier Community College has grown by 1058% over five years.
The Frontier Community College diversity score of 0.27 is less than the state average of 0.69. The school's diversity has grown by 179% over five years.
Note: Data may not be displayed on any public-facing website or service that replicates or resembles a college search or review portal without prior written permission. See our Terms of Service.
Note: Data may not be displayed on any public-facing website or service that replicates or resembles a college search or review portal without prior written permission. See our Terms of Service.
Note: Data may not be displayed on any public-facing website or service that replicates or resembles a college search or review portal without prior written permission. See our Terms of Service.
Note: Data may not be displayed on any public-facing website or service that replicates or resembles a college search or review portal without prior written permission. See our Terms of Service.
Note: Data may not be displayed on any public-facing website or service that replicates or resembles a college search or review portal without prior written permission. See our Terms of Service.
Note: Data may not be displayed on any public-facing website or service that replicates or resembles a college search or review portal without prior written permission. See our Terms of Service.
Note: Data may not be displayed on any public-facing website or service that replicates or resembles a college search or review portal without prior written permission. See our Terms of Service.
Note: Data may not be displayed on any public-facing website or service that replicates or resembles a college search or review portal without prior written permission. See our Terms of Service.
Note: Data may not be displayed on any public-facing website or service that replicates or resembles a college search or review portal without prior written permission. See our Terms of Service.
Note: Data may not be displayed on any public-facing website or service that replicates or resembles a college search or review portal without prior written permission. See our Terms of Service.
Note: Data may not be displayed on any public-facing website or service that replicates or resembles a college search or review portal without prior written permission. See our Terms of Service.
College Completion Rate (Students who graduate in less than 4 years)
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Note: Data may not be displayed on any public-facing website or service that replicates or resembles a college search or review portal without prior written permission. See our Terms of Service.
Tuition & Financial Aid
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.
Note: Data may not be displayed on any public-facing website or service that replicates or resembles a college search or review portal without prior written permission. See our Terms of Service.
Note: Data may not be displayed on any public-facing website or service that replicates or resembles a college search or review portal without prior written permission. See our Terms of Service.
Note: Data may not be displayed on any public-facing website or service that replicates or resembles a college search or review portal without prior written permission. See our Terms of Service.
Note: Data may not be displayed on any public-facing website or service that replicates or resembles a college search or review portal without prior written permission. See our Terms of Service.
Note: Data may not be displayed on any public-facing website or service that replicates or resembles a college search or review portal without prior written permission. See our Terms of Service.
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.
Learn how a full required course can delay graduation, how to navigate waitlists, and how to find approved alternatives that protect your community college degree timeline and financial aid eligibility.
Understand how catalog years determine community college graduation requirements, how enrollment breaks and major changes affect eligibility, and what to verify before choosing courses or switching to a newer catalog.
Learn what happens when your community college discontinues your program before graduation, including teach-out options, credit transfers, financial aid implications, student protections, and practical steps to finish your degree successfully.
Quick Facts (26-27)
Enrollment: 14,619 students
In-state tuition: $9,079
Out-state tuition: $11,070
Minority enrollment: 15%
Source: Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS)
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.
