ECC vs. SSC

Deciding between Elgin Community College and South Suburban 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
  • SSC South Holland, IL
  • Setting
  • ECC Midsize City
  • SSC Large Suburban
  • Total enrollment
  • ECC 10,251
  • SSC 3,818
  • Type
  • ECC Public 2 Year
  • SSC Public 2 Year
  • National Ranking
  • ECC
  • SSC
  • Religious Affiliation
  • ECC -
  • SSC -
  • Status
  • ECC Non-profit
  • SSC Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • ECC
  • SSC

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • ECC $3,252
  • SSC $5,093
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • ECC $9,516
  • SSC $12,683
  • Room & Board
  • ECC $8,829
  • SSC $5,856
  • Average Net Price
  • ECC $5,020
  • SSC $3,814
  • Average Grant Aid
  • ECC $5,178
  • SSC $7,063
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • ECC 69%
  • SSC 69%

  • Admissions

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

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • ECC 21:1
  • SSC 17:1
  • Popular Majors
  • ECC
    • Health Professions (26%)
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (20%)
    • Mechanic and Repair Technologies (14%)
    • Personal and Culinary Services (8%)
    • Business (6%)
  • SSC
    • Health Professions (53%)
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (12%)
    • General Studies (10%)
    • Work and Family Studies (7%)
    • Business (7%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • ECC -
  • SSC -
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • ECC $35,500
  • SSC $30,400
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • ECC 44%
  • SSC -
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • ECC $5,393
  • SSC N/A
  • Median Loan Payment
  • ECC $55
  • SSC N/A

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • ECC 45%
  • SSC 39%
  • % Women
  • ECC 55%
  • SSC 61%
  • Racial Diversity
  • ECC High
  • SSC Medium
  • HBCU
  • ECC No
  • SSC No
  • % White
  • ECC 49%
  • SSC 16%
  • % Asian
  • ECC 6%
  • SSC 1%
  • % Black
  • ECC 5%
  • SSC 62%
  • % Hispanic
  • ECC 34%
  • SSC 17%
  • % Native American
  • ECC 0%
  • SSC 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • ECC 0%
  • SSC 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • ECC 3%
  • SSC 2%
  • % International
  • ECC 0%
  • SSC 0%
  • % Unknown Race
  • ECC 3%
  • SSC 1%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • ECC 99%
  • SSC 96%
  • % Out-of-State
  • ECC 0%
  • SSC 4%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Elgin Community College in Elgin, IL with South Suburban College in South Holland, IL on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Elgin Community College is larger than SSC based on total student enrollment (10,251 students vs. 3,818 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Elgin Community College is located in Elgin, IL (Midsize City setting); South Suburban College is in South Holland, IL (Large Suburban setting).
  • Elgin Community College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. South Suburban College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Elgin Community College 21:1; South Suburban College 17:1.

ECC vs. SSC Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, ECC or SSC? 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 South Suburban College than ECC ($3,814 vs. $5,020).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at South Suburban College are 33.7% lower than at Elgin Community College ($5,856 vs. $8,829).
  • South Suburban College is 54.5% more expensive for in-state tuition than ECC (about $3,893 more per year; $11,033.00 vs. $7,140.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 33.3% higher at SSC than at Elgin Community College (about $3,167 more per year; $12,683.00 vs. $9,516.00).
  • The same share of students receive grant aid at Elgin Community College as at South Suburban College (69% vs. 69%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by South Suburban College students is 36.4% larger than aid received by Elgin Community College students ($7,063 vs. $5,178).

ECC vs. SSC Admissions comparison

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

ECC vs. SSC Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for ECC and SSC? 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 $5,100 more per year than SSC graduates about ten years after starting college ($35,500 vs. $30,400), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.

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.