ECC vs. Northern Illinois

Comparable Facts

Compare Elgin Community College in Elgin, IL with Northern Illinois University in Dekalb, IL on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Northern Illinois University is larger than ECC based on total student enrollment (15,414 students vs. 10,251 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Elgin Community College is located in Elgin, IL (Midsize City setting); Northern Illinois University is in Dekalb, IL (Small Suburban setting).
• Elgin Community College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Northern Illinois University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Elgin Community College 21:1; Northern Illinois University 15:1.

ECC vs. Northern Illinois Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, ECC or Northern Illinois? 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 Northern Illinois ($5,020 vs. $14,243).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Elgin Community College are 37.6% lower than at Northern Illinois University ($8,829 vs. $14,160).
• Northern Illinois University is 85.5% more expensive for in-state tuition than ECC (about $6,108 more per year; $13,248.00 vs. $7,140.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 39.2% higher at Northern Illinois than at Elgin Community College (about $3,732 more per year; $13,248.00 vs. $9,516.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Northern Illinois University than at Elgin Community College (98% vs. 69%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Northern Illinois University students is 177.8% larger than aid received by Elgin Community College students ($14,387 vs. $5,178).

ECC vs. Northern Illinois Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, ECC or Northern Illinois? 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 Northern Illinois and ECC.

• Elgin Community College reports an open admissions policy.
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted studentsNorthern Illinois University 940/1170.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted studentsNorthern Illinois University 19/25.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: ECC - Open admission; Northern Illinois - Test-free.
• Typical fall application deadline: Northern Illinois Aug 1, 2027.

ECC vs. Northern Illinois Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for ECC and Northern Illinois? 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 Northern Illinois University earn a median of about $12,100 more per year than ECC graduates about ten years after starting college ($47,600 vs. $35,500), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Elgin Community College graduates have a $18,466 lower median loan debt than Northern Illinois graduates ($5,393 vs. $23,859).
• Among borrowers, ECC graduates have an estimated $191 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Northern Illinois graduates ($55 vs. $246).
• More Northern Illinois graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former ECC students, three years after graduation. (61% 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.