ECC vs. MCC

Deciding between Elgin Community College and McHenry County 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

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • ECC Elgin, IL
  • MCC Crystal Lake, IL
  • Setting
  • ECC Midsize City
  • MCC Rural Fringe
  • Total enrollment
  • ECC 10,251
  • MCC 9,399
  • Type
  • ECC Public 2 Year
  • MCC Public 2 Year
  • National Ranking
  • ECC
  • MCC
  • Religious Affiliation
  • ECC -
  • MCC -
  • Status
  • ECC Non-profit
  • MCC Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • ECC
  • MCC

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • ECC $3,252
  • MCC $4,162
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • ECC $9,516
  • MCC $14,399
  • Room & Board
  • ECC $8,829
  • MCC $12,090
  • Average Net Price
  • ECC $5,020
  • MCC $6,334
  • Average Grant Aid
  • ECC $5,178
  • MCC $6,422
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • ECC 69%
  • MCC 33%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • ECC -
  • MCC -
  • Admitted
  • ECC -
  • MCC -
  • Acceptance Rate
  • ECC Open
  • MCC Open
  • Enrolled
  • ECC Open
  • MCC Open
  • Typical SAT score
  • ECC
  • MCC
  • Typical ACT score
  • ECC
  • MCC
  • Average High School GPA
  • ECC -
  • MCC 2.25
  • Typical High School Grades
  • ECC -
  • MCC C+
  • Admissions Standards
  • ECC Unavailable
  • MCC Unavailable
  • Applicant Competition
  • ECC
  • MCC
  • ACT Range
  • ECC
  • MCC
  • SAT Range
  • ECC
  • MCC
  • Submit Test Scores
  • ECC Open admission
  • MCC Open admission
  • Application Deadline
  • ECC
  • MCC

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • ECC 21:1
  • MCC 25:1
  • Popular Majors
  • ECC
    • Health Professions (26%)
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (20%)
    • Mechanic and Repair Technologies (14%)
    • Personal and Culinary Services (8%)
    • Business (6%)
  • MCC
    • Health Professions (37%)
    • General Studies (28%)
    • Business (13%)
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (6%)
    • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (6%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • ECC -
  • MCC -
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • ECC $35,500
  • MCC $32,800
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • ECC 44%
  • MCC 49%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • ECC $5,393
  • MCC $4,500
  • Median Loan Payment
  • ECC $55
  • MCC $46

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • ECC 45%
  • MCC 44%
  • % Women
  • ECC 55%
  • MCC 56%
  • Racial Diversity
  • ECC High
  • MCC Low
  • HBCU
  • ECC No
  • MCC No
  • % White
  • ECC 49%
  • MCC 70%
  • % Asian
  • ECC 6%
  • MCC 2%
  • % Black
  • ECC 5%
  • MCC 1%
  • % Hispanic
  • ECC 34%
  • MCC 16%
  • % Native American
  • ECC 0%
  • MCC 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • ECC 0%
  • MCC 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • ECC 3%
  • MCC 2%
  • % International
  • ECC 0%
  • MCC 0%
  • % Unknown Race
  • ECC 3%
  • MCC 9%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • ECC 99%
  • MCC 99%
  • % Out-of-State
  • ECC 0%
  • MCC 1%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Elgin Community College in Elgin, IL with McHenry County College in Crystal Lake, IL on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Elgin Community College is larger than MCC based on total student enrollment (10,251 students vs. 9,399 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Elgin Community College is located in Elgin, IL (Midsize City setting); McHenry County College is in Crystal Lake, IL (Rural Fringe setting).
  • Elgin Community College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. McHenry County College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Elgin Community College 21:1; McHenry County College 25:1.

ECC vs. MCC Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, ECC or MCC? 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 MCC ($5,020 vs. $6,334).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Elgin Community College are 27% lower than at McHenry County College ($8,829 vs. $12,090).
  • McHenry County College is 45.5% more expensive for in-state tuition than ECC (about $3,252 more per year; $10,392.00 vs. $7,140.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 51.3% higher at MCC than at Elgin Community College (about $4,883 more per year; $14,399.00 vs. $9,516.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Elgin Community College than at McHenry County College (69% vs. 33%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by McHenry County College students is 24% larger than aid received by Elgin Community College students ($6,422 vs. $5,178).

ECC vs. MCC Admissions comparison

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

ECC vs. MCC Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for ECC and MCC? 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 $2,700 more per year than MCC graduates about ten years after starting college ($35,500 vs. $32,800), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, McHenry County College graduates have a $893 lower median loan debt than ECC graduates ($4,500 vs. $5,393).
  • Among borrowers, MCC graduates have an estimated $9 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than ECC graduates ($46 vs. $55).
  • More MCC graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former ECC students, three years after graduation. (49% 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.