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Northern Illinois Illinois UIC DePaul EIU Harper IWU Western Illinois University WMU COD Bradley Southern Illinois University| Elgin Community College | Illinois State University | College 3 | College 4 | |
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| Remove | Remove | +Add | +Add | |
Overview |
ECC | ISU | ||
| Location | Elgin, IL | Normal, IL | ||
| Setting | Midsize City | Small City | ||
| Enrollment | 8,910 | 20,683 | ||
| Type | Public 2 Year | Public 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #493 | |||
| Religious Affiliation | - | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | elgin.edu | illinoisstate.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
ECC | ISU | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $3,168 | $11,840 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tuition (Out of State) | $9,504 | $23,681 | ||
| Room & Board | $7,650 | $10,602 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $3,968 | $20,551 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $5,148 | $11,619 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 65% | 97% |
Admission |
ECC | ISU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | - | 19,596 | ||
| Admitted | - | 16,899 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | Open | 86.2% | ||
| Enrolled % | Open | 23.6% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | - | 3.41 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | - | B+ | ||
| Admissions Standards | Unavailable | Moderate | ||
| Applicant Competition | ||||
| ACT Range | 21/27 | |||
| SAT Range | 1000/1210 | |||
| Submit Test Scores | Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) | |||
| Application Deadline | Apr 1, 2025 |
Academics |
ECC | ISU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Student to Faculty Ratio | 18:1 | 19:1 | ||
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Outcomes |
ECC | ISU | ||
| Graduation Rate | - | 71% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $35,500 | $49,000 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 44% | 74% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $5,393 | $22,000 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $55 | $227 |
Diversity |
ECC | ISU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 44% | 42% | ||
| % Women | 56% | 58% | ||
| Racial Diversity | Very High | Low | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 49% | 77% | ||
| % Black | 5% | 8% | ||
| % Hispanic | 34% | 9% | ||
| % Native American | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 3% | 3% | ||
| % International | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 3% | 0% |
Students |
ECC | ISU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 99% | 96% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 0% | 3% | ||
Campus |
ECC | ISU | ||
| Campus Housing | No | Yes | ||
| Freshman Dorm Required | No | No | ||
| Meal Plan | No | Yes | ||
| Weekend/Evening Classes | Yes | No | ||
| Daycare Facility | Yes | Yes | ||
| Learn More | Details | Details |
Comparable Facts
- Illinois State University is larger than than ECC based on total student enrollment (20,683 students vs. 8,910 students)
ECC vs. ISU Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, ECC or ISU?
- Illinois State University is 66.1% more expensive to attend than ECC for in-state tuition ($11,840.00 vs. $7,128.00)
- Out of state tuition is 149.2% higher at ISU than Elgin Community College ($23,681.00 vs. $9,504.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Elgin Community College than ISU ($3,968 vs. $20,551)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Elgin Community College are 38.6% lower than costs at Illinois State University ($7,650 vs. $10,602)
- More students receive financial grant aid at Illinois State University than Elgin Community College (97% vs. 65%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by Illinois State University students is 125.7% larger than aid received Elgin Community College ($11,619 vs. $5,148)
Which college is harder to get into, ECC or ISU? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between ISU or ECC .
ECC vs. ISU Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, ECC or ISU? Graduation rate, salary and amount of student loan debt are indicators of a college which offers better outcomes for its graduates. Compare the following outcomes facts between ISU and ECC.
- Graduates from Illinois State University earn on average $13,500 more per year than ECC graduates after ten years. ($49,000 vs. $35,500)
- Elgin Community College students graduate with a $16,607 lower median federal student loan debt than ISU graduates. ($5,393 vs. $22,000)
- ECC graduates are paying $172 less per month on federal student loans than ISU graduates. ($55 vs. $227)
- More ISU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former ECC students, three years after graduation. (74% vs. 44%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/