ECC vs. Waubonsee

Comparable Facts

Compare Elgin Community College in Elgin, IL with Waubonsee Community College in Sugar Grove, IL on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Elgin Community College is larger than Waubonsee based on total student enrollment (10,251 students vs. 8,305 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

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

ECC vs. Waubonsee Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, ECC or Waubonsee ? 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 Waubonsee ($5,020 vs. $12,754).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Elgin Community College are 61.1% lower than at Waubonsee Community College ($8,829 vs. $22,700).
• Waubonsee Community College is 31.5% more expensive for in-state tuition than ECC (about $2,250 more per year; $9,390.00 vs. $7,140.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 10.1% higher at Waubonsee than at Elgin Community College (about $961 more per year; $10,477.00 vs. $9,516.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Waubonsee Community College than at Elgin Community College (75% vs. 69%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Waubonsee Community College students is 16.9% larger than aid received by Elgin Community College students ($6,055 vs. $5,178).

ECC vs. Waubonsee Admissions comparison

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

ECC vs. Waubonsee Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for ECC and Waubonsee ? 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 $600 more per year than Waubonsee graduates about ten years after starting college ($35,500 vs. $34,900), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Elgin Community College graduates have a $1,107 lower median loan debt than Waubonsee graduates ($5,393 vs. $6,500).
• Among borrowers, ECC graduates have an estimated $12 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Waubonsee graduates ($55 vs. $67).
• More ECC graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Waubonsee students, three years after graduation. (44% vs. 43%)

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.