ECC vs. Harper

Deciding between Elgin Community College and William Rainey Harper College? The table below shows tuition, aid, admissions, and outcomes side by side. Data comes from public sources across more than 3,000 U.S. colleges and universities. No account is required.

Elgin Community College
William Rainey Harper College

Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison. 

  • Overview

  • Location
  • ECC Elgin, IL
  • Harper Palatine, IL
  • Setting
  • ECC Midsize City
  • Harper Large Suburban
  • Total enrollment
  • ECC 10,251
  • Harper 13,988
  • Type
  • ECC Public 2 Year
  • Harper Public 2 Year
  • National Ranking
  • ECC
  • Harper
  • Religious Affiliation
  • ECC -
  • Harper -
  • Status
  • ECC Non-profit
  • Harper Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • ECC
  • Harper

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • ECC $3,252
  • Harper $3,894
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • ECC $9,516
  • Harper $11,874
  • Room & Board
  • ECC $8,829
  • Harper $14,251
  • Average Net Price
  • ECC $5,020
  • Harper $12,145
  • Average Grant Aid
  • ECC $5,178
  • Harper $7,368
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • ECC 69%
  • Harper 55%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • ECC -
  • Harper -
  • Admitted
  • ECC -
  • Harper -
  • Acceptance Rate
  • ECC Open
  • Harper Open
  • Enrolled
  • ECC Open
  • Harper Open
  • Typical SAT score
  • ECC
  • Harper
  • Typical ACT score
  • ECC
  • Harper
  • Average High School GPA
  • ECC -
  • Harper 2.94
  • Typical High School Grades
  • ECC -
  • Harper B
  • Admissions Standards
  • ECC Unavailable
  • Harper Unavailable
  • Applicant Competition
  • ECC
  • Harper
  • ACT Range
  • ECC
  • Harper
  • SAT Range
  • ECC
  • Harper
  • Submit Test Scores
  • ECC Open admission
  • Harper Open admission
  • Application Deadline
  • ECC
  • Harper

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • ECC 21:1
  • Harper 21:1
  • Popular Majors
  • ECC
    • Health Professions (26%)
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (20%)
    • Mechanic and Repair Technologies (14%)
    • Personal and Culinary Services (8%)
    • Business (6%)
  • Harper
    • Health Professions (36%)
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (24%)
    • Business (12%)
    • Work and Family Studies (5%)
    • Mechanic and Repair Technologies (5%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • ECC -
  • Harper -
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • ECC $35,500
  • Harper $40,500
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • ECC 44%
  • Harper 46%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • ECC $5,393
  • Harper $10,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • ECC $55
  • Harper $103

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • ECC 45%
  • Harper 44%
  • % Women
  • ECC 55%
  • Harper 56%
  • Racial Diversity
  • ECC High
  • Harper High
  • HBCU
  • ECC No
  • Harper No
  • % White
  • ECC 49%
  • Harper 57%
  • % Asian
  • ECC 6%
  • Harper 10%
  • % Black
  • ECC 5%
  • Harper 4%
  • % Hispanic
  • ECC 34%
  • Harper 22%
  • % Native American
  • ECC 0%
  • Harper 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • ECC 0%
  • Harper 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • ECC 3%
  • Harper 3%
  • % International
  • ECC 0%
  • Harper 1%
  • % Unknown Race
  • ECC 3%
  • Harper 2%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • ECC 99%
  • Harper 98%
  • % Out-of-State
  • ECC 0%
  • Harper 0%

  • Campus

  • Campus Housing
  • ECC No
  • Harper No
  • Freshman Dorm Required
  • ECC No
  • Harper No
  • Meal Plan
  • ECC No
  • Harper No
  • Weekend/Evening Classes
  • ECC Yes
  • Harper Yes
  • Daycare Facility
  • ECC Yes
  • Harper Yes

Comparable Facts

Compare Elgin Community College in Elgin, IL with William Rainey Harper College in Palatine, IL on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

William Rainey Harper College is larger than ECC based on total student enrollment (13,988 students vs. 10,251 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Elgin Community College is located in Elgin, IL (Midsize City setting); William Rainey Harper College is in Palatine, IL (Large Suburban setting).
  • Elgin Community College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. William Rainey Harper College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Elgin Community College 21:1; William Rainey Harper College 21:1.

ECC vs. Harper Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, ECC or Harper? 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 Harper ($5,020 vs. $12,145).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Elgin Community College are 38% lower than at William Rainey Harper College ($8,829 vs. $14,251).
  • William Rainey Harper College is 40.9% more expensive for in-state tuition than ECC (about $2,922 more per year; $10,062.00 vs. $7,140.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 24.8% higher at Harper than at Elgin Community College (about $2,358 more per year; $11,874.00 vs. $9,516.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Elgin Community College than at William Rainey Harper College (69% vs. 55%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by William Rainey Harper College students is 42.3% larger than aid received by Elgin Community College students ($7,368 vs. $5,178).

ECC vs. Harper Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, ECC or Harper? 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 Harper and ECC.

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

ECC vs. Harper Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for ECC and Harper? 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 William Rainey Harper College earn a median of about $5,000 more per year than ECC graduates about ten years after starting college ($40,500 vs. $35,500), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Elgin Community College graduates have a $4,607 lower median loan debt than Harper graduates ($5,393 vs. $10,000).
  • Among borrowers, ECC graduates have an estimated $48 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Harper graduates ($55 vs. $103).
  • More Harper graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former ECC students, three years after graduation. (46% 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.