Elgin Community College vs Black Hawk College: which has better ROI?
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Elgin Community College comes closer — median earnings $45,516 against a $24,104 total, vs $37,253 at Black Hawk College. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Elgin Community College | Black Hawk College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $6,026 | $6,944 |
| Total net cost | $24,104 | $27,776 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $45,516 | $37,253 |
| Median debt | $7,390 | $8,375 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$80,984 | -$249,916 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Elgin Community College or Black Hawk College?
Elgin Community College, at $6,026 a year after aid versus $6,944 — a gap of $918 a year, or $3,672 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
Do Elgin Community College or Black Hawk College graduates earn more?
Elgin Community College graduates report a median $45,516 ten years after entry, $8,263 more than the $37,253 at Black Hawk College. 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.
Which leaves students with less debt, Elgin Community College or Black Hawk College?
Elgin Community College: its completers carry a median $7,390 in federal loans versus $8,375 at Black Hawk College, a difference of $985. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
Which graduates more of its students?
41% of students finish at Elgin Community College, against 40% at Black Hawk College. 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.