Carl Sandburg College vs. ECC

Comparable Facts

Compare Carl Sandburg College in Galesburg, IL with Elgin Community College in Elgin, IL on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Elgin Community College is larger than Carl Sandburg College based on total student enrollment (10,251 students vs. 1,603 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Carl Sandburg College is located in Galesburg, IL (Rural Fringe setting); Elgin Community College is in Elgin, IL (Midsize City setting).
• Carl Sandburg College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Elgin Community College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Carl Sandburg College 15:1; Elgin Community College 21:1.

Carl Sandburg College vs. ECC Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Carl Sandburg College or ECC? Published tuition is the sticker price; many students pay less after aid (see average net price below).

• The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Elgin Community College than Carl Sandburg College ($5,020 vs. $5,374).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Carl Sandburg College are 10.8% lower than at Elgin Community College ($7,875 vs. $8,829).
• Carl Sandburg College is 12% more expensive for in-state tuition than ECC (about $860 more per year; $8,000.00 vs. $7,140.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 6.9% higher at ECC than at Carl Sandburg College (about $616 more per year; $9,516.00 vs. $8,900.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Carl Sandburg College than at Elgin Community College (94% vs. 69%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Carl Sandburg College students is 60.2% larger than aid received by Elgin Community College students ($8,296 vs. $5,178).

Carl Sandburg College vs. ECC Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Carl Sandburg College or ECC? Typical SAT and ACT scores (same estimates as in the table above), middle 50% test ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between ECC and Carl Sandburg College.

• Both colleges report an open admissions policy; selectivity can still vary by program or major.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Carl Sandburg College - Open admission; ECC - Open admission.

Carl Sandburg College vs. ECC Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Carl Sandburg College and ECC? Graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt are common indicators. The bullets below summarize the same federal outcomes fields as the comparison table (College Scorecard / IPEDS where applicable).

• Graduates from Elgin Community College earn a median of about $5,200 more per year than Carl Sandburg College graduates about ten years after starting college ($35,500 vs. $30,300), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Carl Sandburg College graduates have a $949 lower median loan debt than ECC graduates ($4,444 vs. $5,393).
• Among borrowers, Carl Sandburg College graduates have an estimated $10 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than ECC graduates ($45 vs. $55).
• More Carl Sandburg College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former ECC students, three years after graduation. (56% vs. 44%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.