Head-to-head comparison
Elgin Community College vs Chicago State University: which has better ROI?
Option A Elgin, IL
Elgin Community College
- Net price / year
- $6,026
- Earnings, 10 years
- $45,516
- Payback
- No payback
Option B Chicago, IL
Chicago State University
- Net price / year
- $12,335
- Earnings, 10 years
- $42,778
- Payback
- No payback
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Elgin Community College comes closer — median earnings $45,516 against a $24,104 total, vs $42,778 at Chicago State University. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Elgin Community College | Chicago State University |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $6,026 | $12,335 |
| Total net cost | $24,104 | $49,340 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $45,516 | $42,778 |
| Median debt | $7,390 | $30,625 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$80,984 | -$160,980 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Elgin Community College or Chicago State University?
Elgin Community College, at $6,026 a year after aid versus $12,335 — a gap of $6,309 a year, or $25,236 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
The short answer
Do Elgin Community College or Chicago State University graduates earn more?
Elgin Community College graduates report a median $45,516 ten years after entry, $2,738 more than the $42,778 at Chicago State University. Both are institution-wide medians from federal tax records, so a high-paying major at the lower school can beat the average at the higher one.
The short answer
Which leaves students with less debt, Elgin Community College or Chicago State University?
Elgin Community College: its completers carry a median $7,390 in federal loans versus $30,625 at Chicago State University, a difference of $23,235. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
The short answer
Which graduates more of its students?
41% of students finish at Elgin Community College, against 15% at Chicago State University. Completion matters to the ROI arithmetic because a degree that is never finished still carries its cost and its debt, but earns none of the graduate premium above the $48,360 high-school baseline.