Elgin Community College
- Graduation Rate
- 41% D+
- Lower completion rate than most colleges
- Earnings (10yr)
- $45,516 C+
- Roughly in line with national averages
- Net Price
- $6,026 A
- 65% less than the typical college
- Enrollment
- 6,648
Bottom line: A C+ overall grade — average outcomes for a U.S. college. 45.4× return on investment — every $1 spent returns $45.4 over 20 years.
Every $1 spent returns $45.4 over 20 years — debt pays back in ~under a year. Net gain: $1,071,322.
What The Data Says
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A C+ overall — outcomes above the typical U.S. college.
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Graduation of 41% — 28% below the national average.
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Every $1 invested returns $45.4 over 20 years — an exceptional return.
Why Elgin Community College Matters
Elgin Community College is a public college in Elgin, IL and its outcomes are not an accident. They are driven by a well-connected, high-opportunity alumni network. The result: graduate earnings well above the typical college.
Interpretation generated from this school's federal outcomes, research, and mobility data.
Institutional Profile
- Institution Type
- Public College
- Carnegie Class
- Associate's College
- Enrollment
- 6,648
- Setting
- Urban
- Designations
- HSI
- Primary Strengths
- Humanities, Health Professions, Mechanic & Repair Tech, Criminal Justice
Why students choose Elgin Community College
CollegeRanker Report Card
Graded on outcomes, against every U.S. college.
Each grade is this school's national percentile on a real outcome — earnings, value, mobility, and more.
How we grade →Admissions
This school does not report a competitive admit rate — most qualified applicants are admitted.
Check your odds →Net price + aid
Students pay about $6,026 a year after grants and scholarships — 65% below the typical U.S. college. See net price by family income below.
See cost & aid →Earnings + debt
Graduates earn a median of $45,516 ten years after enrolling — 12% above the typical college, against $7,390 in median debt.
See outcomes →Mobility + social capital
Moves 1.1% of its students from the bottom income fifth to the top — top 73% nationally for mobility. High social capital (1.33 economic connectedness).
See mobility →Overview
Elgin Community College serves approximately 6,648 students with a net price of just $6,026, making it an accessible option for many. The college emphasizes affordability without sacrificing quality in education, particularly in its popular programs like Health Professions and Criminal Justice.
Data from Opportunity Insights highlights the college’s impact on economic mobility. Although specific mobility rates aren't available, graduates earn a median income of $45,516 ten years after enrollment. This suggests that while the graduation rate is 41%, those who complete their programs can expect a reasonable return on their investment.
Students here thrive in a supportive environment that caters to diverse career interests, from the Humanities to Mechanic & Repair Tech. With a median debt of only $7,390, students can graduate with manageable financial obligations. The college attracts individuals seeking practical skills and solid job prospects in a range of fields.
Rankings
Can I Get In?
How selective Elgin Community College is — and how your numbers stack up.
Tool
Will I Be Accepted?
Enter your credentials to see your chances at this school.
Academics & Admissions
Is It Hard to Get Into Elgin Community College? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
Elgin Community College, located in Elgin, Illinois, enrolls students across a range of programs. The graduation rate is roughly 41%.
- Retention Rate
- 77%
- Full-Time Faculty
- 30%
- Faculty Salary (mo)
- $11,683
- Student–Faculty Ratio
- 18:1
- Diversity Index
- 0.66
- First-Gen Students
- 52%
Can I Afford It?
What you'll actually pay after grants and aid — not the sticker price.
Cost & Financial Aid
How Much Does It Cost to Attend Elgin Community College? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at Elgin Community College is $9,516, but few families pay that. The number to watch is net price, what students actually pay each year after federal grants and institutional scholarships. Here it averages about $6,026. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $5,089 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $7,390 in federal student loans.
- In-State Tuition
- $3,252
- Out-of-State
- $9,516
- Avg Net Price
- $6,026
- Median Debt
- $7,390
- Pell Grant Rate
- 22%
- Federal Loan Rate
- 3%
What Families Actually Pay
- Family Income $0–$30K
- $5,089
- Family Income $30K–$48K
- $5,006
- Family Income $48K–$75K
- $6,816
- Family Income $110K+
- $9,083
What Happens After?
Earnings, debt, and where graduates actually land.
Graduate Outcomes
Is Elgin Community College Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Elgin Community College earn a median of $45,516, roughly in line with the national average for college graduates.
- 6 Years After Entry
- $39,007
- 8 Years
- $41,919
- 10 Years
- $45,516
- Debt-to-Earnings
- 0.16x
- Earning > $25K
- 57%
Earnings Trajectory
Graduation by Timeframe
- 100% (220)
- 26%
- 100% (220)
- 26%
- 100% (220)
- 26%
- 100% (220)
- 26%
How Elgin Compares
Dot right of center = above national average.
Net Price by Family Income
What families actually pay after aid, by income bracket.
The Mobility Equation
Mobility = Access x Success. How many low-income students get in, and how many reach the top 20%?
College ROI Calculator
Is Elgin Community College Worth It?
A data-driven look at the return on your educational investment — using real federal data.
Yes — for most students, Elgin Community College delivers a positive return. Over four years, the typical net price is $6,026/year ($24,104 total). Graduates earn $45,516 at ten years, and over a 20-year career we project $1,095,426 in total earnings — a net gain of $1,071,322 (45.4× your investment). The median debt is $7,390, which takes less than a year to pay back at typical earnings. With a 41% graduation rate, the path to that return is well-tested. This is a exceptional ROI compared to national averages.
- Total Cost (4yr)
- $24,104
- Projected 20yr Earnings
- $1,095,426
- Net Return
- $1,071,322
- ROI Multiple
- 45.4×
- Cost Per Year
- $6,026
- Median Debt
- $7,390
- Debt Payback
- Less than 1 yr
- Graduation Rate
- 41%
Does It Change Lives?
Mobility, social capital, and innovation — does it move people up?
Social Mobility
Data: Raj Chetty's Mobility Report Card · 30M+ anonymized tax records
Does Elgin Community College Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes
Elgin Community College is a measurable contributor to upward mobility. Its mobility rate, the share of students who start in the bottom income quintile and climb to the top, is 1.05%, in line with strong performers nationally. About 5.9% of students come from families in the bottom income quintile. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 17.8% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $91,700, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.
- Mobility Rate
- 1.05%
- Bottom 20% → Top 20%
- Success Rate
- 17.8%
- If bottom 20% get in
- From Bottom 20%
- 5.9%
- Share of students
- Parent Median Income
- $91,700
Institutional Finances
Data: NCES IPEDS
- Endowment
- $9,247,958
- Federal Grants
- $7,904,806
- Investment Income
- $-2,354,893
Top Programs
The fields Elgin Community College awards the most degrees in, by share of completions. Each links to its degree guide — with salary, growth, and the schools with the strongest outcomes.
- Humanities 42%
- Health Professions 17%
- Mechanic & Repair Tech 10%
- Criminal Justice 4%
- Computer Science & IT 3%
- Culinary & Personal Services 3%
- Transportation 3%
- Precision Production 2%
Top Careers
Where these majors tend to lead — common career paths for Elgin Community College's most popular programs, ranked by median pay with our proprietary scorecard insights.
- C+IT Manager$169,510 · 15% growthAdaptable 52
- C+Cloud Architect$142,000 · 15% growthAdaptable 52
- B-Site Reliability Engineer$140,000 · 20% growthAdaptable 52
- CSolutions Architect$138,000 · 12% growthAdaptable 52
- CPetroleum Engineer$135,690 · 2% growthResilient 72
- B-Software Developer$132,270 · 25% growthVulnerable 40
- CPurchasing Manager$131,350 · 5% growthAdaptable 64
- CAerospace Engineer$130,720 · 6% growthResilient 72
Frequently Asked Questions
Is It Hard to Get Into Elgin Community College? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
Elgin Community College, located in Elgin, Illinois, enrolls students across a range of programs. The graduation rate is roughly 41%.
How Much Does It Cost to Attend Elgin Community College? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at Elgin Community College is $9,516, but few families pay that. The number to watch is net price, what students actually pay each year after federal grants and institutional scholarships. Here it averages about $6,026. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $5,089 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $7,390 in federal student loans.
Is Elgin Community College Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Elgin Community College earn a median of $45,516, roughly in line with the national average for college graduates.
Does Elgin Community College Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes
Elgin Community College is a measurable contributor to upward mobility. Its mobility rate, the share of students who start in the bottom income quintile and climb to the top, is 1.05%, in line with strong performers nationally. About 5.9% of students come from families in the bottom income quintile. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 17.8% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $91,700, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.
How Connected Is Elgin Community College? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks
Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs high at Elgin Community College. Its economic connectedness score is 1.33, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (0.03), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually mix rather than self-segregate. Around 5% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Similar Schools
Schools with similar outcomes, selectivity, and student profiles to Elgin Community College.
- Oakton CollegeDes Plaines, IL · Close peer34% grad $47,852 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
- McHenry County CollegeCrystal Lake, IL · Close peer38% grad $45,143 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
- Southeast Community College AreaLincoln, NE · Close peer36% grad $43,405 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
- Brightpoint Community CollegeChester, VA · Close peer39% grad $41,223 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
- College of Lake CountyGrayslake, IL · Close peer38% grad $43,424 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
- Northeast Wisconsin Technical CollegeGreen Bay, WI · Close peer49% grad $44,553 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
Social Capital
Data: Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas
How Connected Is Elgin Community College? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks
Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs high at Elgin Community College. Its economic connectedness score is 1.33, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (0.03), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually mix rather than self-segregate. Around 5% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Research Note