ECC vs. ICC

Comparable Facts

Compare Elgin Community College in Elgin, IL with Illinois Central College in East Peoria, IL on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Elgin Community College is larger than ICC based on total student enrollment (10,251 students vs. 7,906 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Elgin Community College is located in Elgin, IL (Midsize City setting); Illinois Central College is in East Peoria, IL (Rural Fringe setting).
• Elgin Community College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Illinois Central College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Elgin Community College 21:1; Illinois Central College 17:1.

ECC vs. ICC Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, ECC or ICC? 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 ICC ($5,020 vs. $12,570).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Elgin Community College are 42.3% lower than at Illinois Central College ($8,829 vs. $15,300).
• Illinois Central College is 43.3% more expensive for in-state tuition than ECC (about $3,090 more per year; $10,230.00 vs. $7,140.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 27.7% higher at ICC than at Elgin Community College (about $2,634 more per year; $12,150.00 vs. $9,516.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Elgin Community College than at Illinois Central College (69% vs. 51%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Illinois Central College students is 20% larger than aid received by Elgin Community College students ($6,212 vs. $5,178).

ECC vs. ICC Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, ECC or ICC? 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 ICC 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; ICC - Open admission.
• Typical fall application deadline: ICC Aug 22, 2027.

ECC vs. ICC Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for ECC and ICC? 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 $1,800 more per year than ICC graduates about ten years after starting college ($35,500 vs. $33,700), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Elgin Community College graduates have a $1,107 lower median loan debt than ICC graduates ($5,393 vs. $6,500).
• Among borrowers, ECC graduates have an estimated $12 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than ICC graduates ($55 vs. $67).
• More ECC graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former ICC students, three years after graduation. (44% vs. 40%)

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.