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Elgin Community College

Public Associate Strong 75/100

Elgin Community College

See admissions data, costs, student outcomes, and academic programs, all verified from official US government sources.

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Elgin, Illinois

About Elgin Community College

Elgin Community College is a public institution offering associate degrees based in Elgin, Illinois. It enrolls 6,648 students (a large student body), according to IPEDS 2023-24 data. Below you'll find verified data on admissions, cost, student outcomes, programs offered, and what graduates typically earn, all pulled from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard and IPEDS.

Official website: elgin.edu

Acceptance: Open
Graduation: 24.2%
Net Price: $6,026
Median Earnings (10yr): $45,516
Enrollment: 6,648
Student : Faculty: 19:1

Accreditor Higher Learning Commission

Academic Calendar Semester

How It Measures Up

US College Data scores each college on four pillars (outcomes, value, affordability, and selectivity) on a 0–100 scale, ranked within its peer group (2-Year). Scores are calculated from verified College Scorecard and IPEDS data, not opinion or paid placement. Where data is missing, that pillar isn't scored.

Strong

75/100

UCD Score · 2-Year

Outcomes 61

Value 86

Affordability 46

Selectivity —

Admissions & Acceptance Rate

As a two-year college, Elgin Community College generally admits all qualified applicants.

Acceptance Rate

Open

SAT Range (25th–75th)

—

Not reported

ACT Range (25th–75th)

—

Not reported

Cost & Financial Aid

The real cost of attending Elgin Community College isn't the sticker price. It's the net price,which is what most students actually pay after grants and scholarships. According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, the average net price is $6,026 per year. That's well below the typical net price for public colleges nationally.

Average Net Price

$6,026

Per year, after typical aid

Receive Pell Grants

22%

Need-based federal aid

Receive Federal Loans

Borrowing to attend

Full Cost Breakdown

Published cost of attendance, the sticker price before grants and scholarships. Most students underestimate room & board and other expenses.

Tuition & Fees (in-state): $3,252
Tuition & Fees (out-of-state): $9,516
Room & Board (off-campus): $8,829
Books & Supplies: $1,500
Other Expenses (off-campus): $3,780
Total Cost of Attendance: $10,408

Net Price by Family Income

Aid is need-based, so net price varies by family income. Here's what each bracket typically pays after grants and scholarships.

Under $30,000

$5,089
$30,001 – $48,000

$5,006
$48,001 – $75,000

$6,816
$75,001 – $110,000

$8,562
Over $110,000

$9,083

Debt at Graduation

Cumulative federal-loan debt across the full borrowing distribution. The 10th and 90th percentiles bracket the typical range; the median sits in the middle.

$1,300

10% percentile

$2,088

25% percentile

$7,390

Median percentile

$7,871

75% percentile

$13,545

90% percentile

Median Debt by Student Type

Median federal-loan debt at graduation broken down by demographic. Each slice's size is proportional to the dollar amount that group typically borrows.

GroupDebtvs Median

Pell recipients $4,952 ↓ $2,438

No Pell $4,758 ↓ $2,632

Dependent students $4,400 ↓ $2,990

Independent students $5,518 ↓ $1,872

Female students $5,000 ↓ $2,390

Male students $4,385 ↓ $3,005

Worth knowing: Students who don't finish leave with a median debt of $4,351, less than completers ($7,390), but still a meaningful obligation without a degree in hand.

Graduation Rate & Retention

24% of full-time students who enrolled at Elgin Community College graduate within six years, and 77% return for their second year, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.

6-Year Graduation Rate

24%

Of students who graduate within six years

First-Year Retention

77%

Returning for their second year

What this means: Lower than typical completion. Worth asking the school how they support students who fall behind.

After Graduation: Earnings & Outcomes

According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, students who entered Elgin Community College earn a median of $45,516 ten years after first enrolling. That's close to the national median for U.S. colleges.

Median Earnings (10 yrs)

$45,516

Earning > $25K

70%

10 yrs after entry

Earnings Growth After Graduation

Median annual earnings 6, 8, and 10 years after students first enrolled.

Earnings by Demographic

Mean annual earnings 10 years after entry, segmented by demographic. Reveals gaps the headline median can't show.

By Gender

Female graduates

$31,200

Median earnings for female grads ten years after first enrolling here.

Male graduates

$43,500

Median earnings for male grads ten years after first enrolling here.

By Family Income at Entry

Family income (lowest third)

$33,200

Earnings of grads from the bottom-third of family incomes at entry.

Family income (middle third)

$37,300

Earnings of grads from the middle-third of family incomes at entry.

Family income (highest third)

$42,700

Earnings of grads from the top-third of family incomes at entry.

The gender gap: Male graduates earn $12,300, about 28% more than female graduates ten years out. The gap reflects industry mix, role choice, and structural pay differences that exist across most US colleges.

Loan Repayment Progression

Share of completer-cohort borrowers paying down at least $1 of principal at the 1-, 3-, 5-, and 7-year mark. Climbing rates show graduates settling into careers and managing debt; flat or declining rates are a warning.

Climbing: graduates increasingly paying down debt ↑ 8.6 pts across 6 years

What this signals: Moderate. Only 69% of graduates are paying down principal seven years out.

Who Studies Here

Elgin Community College is home to 6,648 students, a large student community. Some distinctive traits: 52% are first-generation college students, 59% study part-time.

Total Enrolled

6,648

Part-Time

59%

First-Generation

52%

Race & Ethnicity Breakdown

Undergraduate student body composition reported to the US Department of Education.

GroupShareStudents

Hispanic 46.7% 3,106

White 33.9% 2,251

Asian 7.0% 463

Other 4.7% 310

Black 4.6% 304

International 1.9% 126

Student Life & Campus Culture

Where students live, learn, and connect at Elgin Community College. The campus setting, housing profile, and signals that shape day-to-day life here.

Setting

Midsize City Elgin, Illinois

Housing

Commuter campus No on-campus housing

Adult Learners

32% of students are 25 or older

Athletics

NCAA athletic-conference member

Academic Calendar

Semester scheduling structure

Designation

Hispanic-Serving Institution (HSI)

What You Can Study

Elgin Community College offers an extensive catalog of programs: 56 distinct programs across 19 majors. Below are its strongest majors, each with flagship programs and typical earnings. Open a major to explore it in depth, or browse the full program catalog.

2 Programs

Liberal Arts

Liberal Arts $53K ($36K–$73K)
Liberal Arts $53K ($36K–$73K)

12 Programs

Health

Nursing $89K ($68K–$114K)
Practical Nursing $39K ($22K–$72K)
Medical Assisting $69K ($46K–$91K)

1 Program

Interdisciplinary Studies

Biological and Physical Sciences $59K ($41K–$82K)

5 Programs

Mechanics & Repair

6 Programs

Business

Business Administration $68K ($48K–$94K)
Accounting $76K ($56K–$97K)
Accounting $76K ($56K–$97K)

5 Programs

Engineering Tech

1 Program

Engineering

General Engineering $89K ($73K–$109K)

2 Programs

Precision Production

View all majors View all programs

Faculty & Resources

The student-to-faculty ratio at Elgin Community College is 19:1, on the higher side.

Student : Faculty

19:1

Students per instructional faculty member

Instruction / Student

$7,784

Annual instructional spending per enrolled student

Endowment

$10M

Modest endowment

Avg Faculty Salary

$102,506

9-month equivalent across all ranks

Faculty by Rank

144 instructional faculty across 4 ranks. The rank mix shows how many senior faculty are teaching versus contingent or junior staff, with average salary equated to a 9-month contract.

Rank	Faculty Count	Share	Avg Salary
Full Professors	60	42%	$127,593
Associate Professors	28	19%	$103,048
Assistant Professors	25	17%	$85,804
Instructors	31	22%	$66,930

Pros & Cons of Elgin Community College

A quick at-a-glance summary of how Elgin Community College tends to stack up for prospective students,weighing its data, size, setting, and cost profile together.

PROS

Very affordable net price after aid
Open admissions
Low typical debt at graduation
First-gen-friendly student body
Flexible part-time enrollment options

CONS

Class sizes are on the higher side
Low completion rate, many students don't graduate within six years
Modest first-year retention
Predominantly serves middle- and upper-income families
Mostly part-time student body, less full-time campus feel

Best for: Based on the data, Elgin Community College is a fit for students who want a clear path to start college without a competitive admissions barrier; families focused on keeping net cost low; working adults or students needing part-time study options.

Frequently Asked Questions about Elgin Community College

Quick answers to the questions most students and parents ask. Every answer below is calculated from verified government data about Elgin Community College.

Is Elgin Community College hard to get into?

Elgin Community College has open or near-open admissions. Most qualified applicants are accepted.

What is the acceptance rate at Elgin Community College?

Elgin Community College has an acceptance rate of 0%, according to College Scorecard 2023-24 admissions data.

How much does Elgin Community College cost?

The average net price after aid at Elgin Community College is $6,026 per year, this is what students typically pay after grants and scholarships are applied. Net price data: College Scorecard 2023-24.

Is Elgin Community College worth it?

Strong return on investment. Graduates earn a median of $45,516 ten years after entering, against an average net price of $6,026 per year. That's roughly 7.6x earnings-to-cost. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.

What is Elgin Community College known for?

Elgin Community College is best known for its programs in Liberal Arts, Liberal Arts, Biological and Physical Sciences. These are the most popular fields by completed degrees, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.

What do Elgin Community College graduates earn?

Median earnings 10 years after entering Elgin Community College are $45,516, based on College Scorecard 2023-24 federal earnings data for Title IV recipients.

Is Elgin Community College accredited?

Yes. Elgin Community College is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.

How many students attend Elgin Community College?

Elgin Community College enrolls 6,648 students, per IPEDS 2023-24 fall enrollment data.

What is the graduation rate at Elgin Community College?

Elgin Community College graduates 24% of full-time students within six years, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.

Is Elgin Community College a public or private college?

Elgin Community College is a Public institution.

Where is Elgin Community College located?

Elgin Community College is located in Elgin, Illinois.

What programs does Elgin Community College offer?

Elgin Community College offers 56 distinct programs. The most popular include Liberal Arts, Liberal Arts, Biological and Physical Sciences.

What is the student-to-faculty ratio at Elgin Community College?

The student-to-faculty ratio at Elgin Community College is 19:1, per IPEDS 2023-24 data.