Elgin Community College
A good fit for families who need the lowest possible cost and in-state Illinois residents. no major red flags in the data. a public school with 6,463 students.
About This School
Elgin Community College is a public institution located in Elgin, Illinois with approximately 6,463 undergraduate students enrolled. The average net price after financial aid is $5,778 per year. Typical graduates earn $35,800 within 10 years of enrollment.
Elgin Community College (ECC) is a public community college in Elgin, Illinois. It was founded in 1949 as part of Elgin Area School District U46. Community College District 509 was formed 17 years later in 1966, a year after Illinois legislators created the Illinois Community College System. Most of the District is in Kane County with portions in DeKalb, Cook, McHenry, and DuPage. The 360-square-mile (930 km2) District serves 300,000 people, 11,000 businesses, four public school districts, and 15 high schools.
Worth considering if you're looking to keep costs low while exploring your options — at just $5,778/year after aid and a median debt of only $4,790 at graduation, ECC is one of the more affordable paths into higher education in the Chicago suburbs. The honest concern is that median earnings sit at $35,800 a decade after enrollment, which is modest and likely reflects the mix of students transferring to four-year schools versus those entering the workforce directly with a two-year credential. If your plan is to transfer to a university or complete a career-focused certificate without burying yourself in debt, this school makes real financial sense — just go in with a clear next step.
Popular Programs
Percentage of degrees awarded. Source: College Scorecard.
Notable Alumni
Source: Wikidata. Used for context only.
Admissions
SAT Scores
ACT Scores
Cost & Financial Aid
Financial Aid
Full Cost
After Graduation
Will This School Pay Off?
Strong return. Graduates earn well above their debt load.
Earnings data from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. These are means across all graduates, not specific to any major.
Student Body
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (6,463 undergraduates).
Contact & Location
Official Links
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Sources & Methodology
Primary data source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Accessed via automated sync. Latest values may come from different reporting years depending on the metric.
School overview from Wikipedia. Used for context only, not as a primary data source for admissions, cost, or outcomes claims.
- Earnings figures are institution-level averages, not major-specific.
- Some metrics are based on Title IV financial aid recipients only.
- Some values may be privacy-suppressed or rolled up by the Department of Education.
- Contact the school directly for current admissions requirements and costs.
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