ECC vs. Heartland Community College

Comparable Facts

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

Elgin Community College is larger than Heartland Community College based on total student enrollment (10,251 students vs. 4,855 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Elgin Community College is located in Elgin, IL (Midsize City setting); Heartland Community College is in Normal, IL (Rural Fringe setting).
• Elgin Community College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Heartland Community College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Elgin Community College 21:1; Heartland Community College 18:1.

ECC vs. Heartland Community College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, ECC or Heartland Community College? 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 Heartland Community College ($5,020 vs. $11,165).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Elgin Community College are 23.6% lower than at Heartland Community College ($8,829 vs. $11,550).
• Heartland Community College is 48.3% more expensive for in-state tuition than ECC (about $3,450 more per year; $10,590.00 vs. $7,140.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 37.8% higher at Heartland Community College than at Elgin Community College (about $3,594 more per year; $13,110.00 vs. $9,516.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Elgin Community College than at Heartland Community College (69% vs. 67%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Heartland Community College students is 27.5% larger than aid received by Elgin Community College students ($6,601 vs. $5,178).

ECC vs. Heartland Community College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, ECC or Heartland Community College? 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 Heartland Community College 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; Heartland Community College - Open admission.

ECC vs. Heartland Community College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for ECC and Heartland Community College? 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 $5,000 more per year than Heartland Community College graduates about ten years after starting college ($35,500 vs. $30,500), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Elgin Community College graduates have a $1,357 lower median loan debt than Heartland Community College graduates ($5,393 vs. $6,750).
• Among borrowers, ECC graduates have an estimated $14 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Heartland Community College graduates ($55 vs. $69).
• More ECC graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Heartland Community College students, three years after graduation. (44% vs. 41%)

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.