ECC vs. Lincoln Trail College

Comparable Facts

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

Elgin Community College is larger than Lincoln Trail College based on total student enrollment (10,251 students vs. 605 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Elgin Community College is located in Elgin, IL (Midsize City setting); Lincoln Trail College is in Robinson, IL (Distant Town setting).
• Elgin Community College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Lincoln Trail College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Elgin Community College 21:1; Lincoln Trail College 15:1.

ECC vs. Lincoln Trail College Cost Comparison

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

• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Lincoln Trail College are 16.9% lower than at Elgin Community College ($7,338 vs. $8,829).
• Lincoln Trail College is 28.6% more expensive for in-state tuition than ECC (about $2,040 more per year; $9,180.00 vs. $7,140.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 18.2% higher at Lincoln Trail College than at Elgin Community College (about $1,734 more per year; $11,250.00 vs. $9,516.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Elgin Community College than at Lincoln Trail College (69% vs. 0%).

ECC vs. Lincoln Trail College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, ECC or Lincoln Trail 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 Lincoln Trail 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; Lincoln Trail College - Open admission.

ECC vs. Lincoln Trail College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for ECC and Lincoln Trail 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 Lincoln Trail College earn a median of about $800 more per year than ECC graduates about ten years after starting college ($36,300 vs. $35,500), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Lincoln Trail College graduates have a $893 lower median loan debt than ECC graduates ($4,500 vs. $5,393).
• Among borrowers, Lincoln Trail College graduates have an estimated $9 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than ECC graduates ($46 vs. $55).
• More Lincoln Trail College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former ECC students, three years after graduation. (50% 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.