ECC vs. Oakton College

Comparable Facts

Compare Elgin Community College in Elgin, IL with Oakton College in Des Plaines, IL on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Elgin Community College is larger than Oakton College based on total student enrollment (10,251 students vs. 8,329 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Elgin Community College is located in Elgin, IL (Midsize City setting); Oakton College is in Des Plaines, IL (Small City setting).
• Elgin Community College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Oakton College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Elgin Community College 21:1; Oakton College 14:1.

ECC vs. Oakton College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, ECC or Oakton College? 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 Oakton College ($5,020 vs. $5,401).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Elgin Community College are 1.8% lower than at Oakton College ($8,829 vs. $8,994).
• Oakton College is 46.3% more expensive for in-state tuition than ECC (about $3,306 more per year; $10,446.00 vs. $7,140.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 31% higher at Oakton College than at Elgin Community College (about $2,946 more per year; $12,462.00 vs. $9,516.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Elgin Community College than at Oakton College (69% vs. 62%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Oakton College students is 17.5% larger than aid received by Elgin Community College students ($6,085 vs. $5,178).

ECC vs. Oakton College Admissions comparison

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

ECC vs. Oakton College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for ECC and Oakton 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 Oakton College earn a median of about $6,600 more per year than ECC graduates about ten years after starting college ($42,100 vs. $35,500), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Elgin Community College graduates have a $474 lower median loan debt than Oakton College graduates ($5,393 vs. $5,867).
• Among borrowers, ECC graduates have an estimated $5 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Oakton College graduates ($55 vs. $60).
• More Oakton College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former ECC students, three years after graduation. (55% 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.