ECC vs. SIC

Deciding between Elgin Community College and Southeastern Illinois 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
  • SIC Harrisburg, IL
  • Setting
  • ECC Midsize City
  • SIC Distant Rural
  • Total enrollment
  • ECC 10,251
  • SIC 1,446
  • Type
  • ECC Public 2 Year
  • SIC Public 2 Year
  • National Ranking
  • ECC
  • SIC
  • Religious Affiliation
  • ECC -
  • SIC -
  • Status
  • ECC Non-profit
  • SIC Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • ECC
  • SIC

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • ECC $3,252
  • SIC $4,560
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • ECC $9,516
  • SIC $6,780
  • Room & Board
  • ECC $8,829
  • SIC $9,000
  • Average Net Price
  • ECC $5,020
  • SIC $12,781
  • Average Grant Aid
  • ECC $5,178
  • SIC $5,427
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • ECC 69%
  • SIC 91%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • ECC -
  • SIC -
  • Admitted
  • ECC -
  • SIC -
  • Acceptance Rate
  • ECC Open
  • SIC Open
  • Enrolled
  • ECC Open
  • SIC Open
  • Typical SAT score
  • ECC
  • SIC
  • Typical ACT score
  • ECC
  • SIC
  • Average High School GPA
  • ECC -
  • SIC -
  • Typical High School Grades
  • ECC -
  • SIC -
  • Admissions Standards
  • ECC Unavailable
  • SIC Unavailable
  • Applicant Competition
  • ECC
  • SIC
  • ACT Range
  • ECC
  • SIC
  • SAT Range
  • ECC
  • SIC
  • Submit Test Scores
  • ECC Open admission
  • SIC Open admission
  • Application Deadline
  • ECC
  • SIC Sep 1, 2026

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • ECC 21:1
  • SIC 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%)
  • SIC
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (25%)
    • Health Professions (25%)
    • General Studies (15%)
    • Business (6%)
    • Work and Family Studies (5%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • ECC -
  • SIC -
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • ECC $35,500
  • SIC $31,900
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • ECC 44%
  • SIC -
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • ECC $5,393
  • SIC N/A
  • Median Loan Payment
  • ECC $55
  • SIC N/A

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • ECC 45%
  • SIC 46%
  • % Women
  • ECC 55%
  • SIC 54%
  • Racial Diversity
  • ECC High
  • SIC Very Low
  • HBCU
  • ECC No
  • SIC No
  • % White
  • ECC 49%
  • SIC 89%
  • % Asian
  • ECC 6%
  • SIC 0%
  • % Black
  • ECC 5%
  • SIC 5%
  • % Hispanic
  • ECC 34%
  • SIC 2%
  • % Native American
  • ECC 0%
  • SIC 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • ECC 0%
  • SIC 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • ECC 3%
  • SIC 2%
  • % International
  • ECC 0%
  • SIC 0%
  • % Unknown Race
  • ECC 3%
  • SIC 1%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • ECC 99%
  • SIC 90%
  • % Out-of-State
  • ECC 0%
  • SIC 9%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

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

Elgin Community College is larger than SIC based on total student enrollment (10,251 students vs. 1,446 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Elgin Community College is located in Elgin, IL (Midsize City setting); Southeastern Illinois College is in Harrisburg, IL (Distant Rural setting).
  • Elgin Community College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Southeastern Illinois College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Elgin Community College 21:1; Southeastern Illinois College 17:1.

ECC vs. SIC Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, ECC or SIC? 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 SIC ($5,020 vs. $12,781).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Elgin Community College are 1.9% lower than at Southeastern Illinois College ($8,829 vs. $9,000).
  • Elgin Community College is 9.2% more expensive for in-state tuition than SIC (about $600 more per year; $7,140.00 vs. $6,540.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 40.4% higher at ECC than at Southeastern Illinois College (about $2,736 more per year; $9,516.00 vs. $6,780.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Southeastern Illinois College than at Elgin Community College (91% vs. 69%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Southeastern Illinois College students is 4.8% larger than aid received by Elgin Community College students ($5,427 vs. $5,178).

ECC vs. SIC Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, ECC or SIC? 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 SIC 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; SIC - Open admission.
  • Typical fall application deadline: SIC Sep 1, 2026.

ECC vs. SIC Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for ECC and SIC? 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 $3,600 more per year than SIC graduates about ten years after starting college ($35,500 vs. $31,900), 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.