Admissions FAQ

For a student that attends another college or university to take classes at ECC over the summer, they need to:

1. Meet with the advisor at your home college to determine the proper ECC course that will transfer back to your home school.
2. Apply for admission. 
3. Check the course to determine what prerequisites, if any, are required for the course in which you are planning to enroll. Note: Course prerequisites must be satisfied prior to registration.
4. Send an official or unofficial transcript from high school, current or previous college/university to satisfy any prerequisites. Official transcripts can be sent electronically by email to admissions@elgin.edu. See more information on the Transcript Evaluation web page. 
5. If you are currently enrolled at another college for a class that is a prerequisite for the ECC course you want to take, include a copy of a current class schedule. A grade report or updated transcript confirming successful completion must be submitted to accessecc@elgin.edu at least two (2) weeks prior to the beginning of the summer term in order to remain enrolled in the course.
6. Complete the Prerequisite Approval form. Click on the link in item #5. Return information is on the form. Fill out form and save the file to your computer in PDF format. All fields must be completed in order for the request to be processed. Attach the completed form and your unofficial transcripts to an email and send to accessecc@elgin.edu. If faxing, send the approval form and your documentation to 847-931-4899. 
7. A Technical Enrollment Facilitator will contact you when the prerequisite waiver has been processed.
8. Register for classes and make payment arrangements by the due date. Visit Payment Options for details. 

Things you need to know

• Unofficial transcripts must contain the name of the school, the name of the student, course numbers, and final grade received in courses. PDF format is preferred. Transcripts copied into a Word document will not be accepted.
• If you are currently enrolled in the prerequisite at your institution, a current schedule is required. You will also need to follow up with a final grade as soon as you receive it. Final grades must be received no less than one week before the start of the semester to avoid being dropped from the course. If your grades do not arrive one week before the semester start, please email accessecc@elgin.edu.
• If the request is submitted via email, we will reply directly to the email address we received from the form. Be sure you have access to the email provided.
• ECC will process requests in the order they are received.
• You must complete all fields on the form before the request is processed.

You can apply to ECC by following four simple steps:

1. Fill out and submit an online application. Once your application has been entered within 24 hours you will receive emails from the admissions office that contain your ID number.
2. Submit your high school transcript and ACT or SAT scores to the Admissions Office. If you have attended another college or university, please submit your official transcripts and a request to have them evaluated if you plan to transfer the credits to ECC. 
3. Attend the online New Student Orientation and meet with an academic advisor to plan your classes.
4. Register for classes and make payment arrangements by the due date for the semester. Visit Payment Options for details.

Not ready to apply? 
Register to attend an upcoming in-person or virtual admission presentation to learn about our academic programs and services and talk with our recruitment coordinators.

International education? 
If you have a degree or certificate from another country, review how to obtain an evaluation of these credentials. Did you attend high school or college outside the U.S.? Learn more about an international transcript evaluation. 

Once you submit your application to ECC, it will take us 24-48 hours to process it. After your application is processed, you will receive a welcoming email with your student ID number. You will need this number to view your username and set up your AccessECC student portal account and email. You will be asked to submit your transcripts and ACT/SAT scores for an evaluation. Based on the outcome of this evaluation, you might be asked to take placement tests. Once you finish your placement tests, you will go through an Online Orientation. You will meet with an academic advisor to discuss your study plan and finally register for classes.

Learn how to submit your transcripts after applying to ECC

Submit your high school transcript and ACT or SAT scores to the Admissions Office. You do not have to have a high school diploma to apply regardless of age. We also accept electronic transcripts through eScripsafe. Please allow 2 weeks for processing. Notification that your evaluation results are available will be sent to your student.elgin.edu email address. Please keep in mind that it is the student’s responsibility to request official transcripts for all colleges, universities, or the military and contact records at records@elgin.edu or 847-214-7386 to confirm all transcripts have been received prior to requesting the evaluation.

Submit Transcripts 

Choose a program you intend to pursue to find out how to submit your transcripts

• Associate Degree
• Vocational Specialist Certificate
• Basic Vocational Specialist Certificate 

All new degree-seeking students are required to demonstrate initial placement levels in English and Math upon entry to the College to register for their first semester. Any student wishing to register for English and/or Math courses may need to demonstrate specific placement levels to satisfy a particular course prerequisite. Review testing scores summary to determine if you need to take placement testing. All scores will be posted on the accessECC portal. Need help to log in to see placement test results? Read our instructions

The testing center offers the following placement tests:

• Writing Placement Test - Writing test results may take up to 7 business days.
• Math Placement Test - Math scores will be given to you after the test and are available online within 24-48 hours after you complete your test.
• Reading Placement Test - Reading scores will be given to you after the test and are available online within 24-48 hours after you complete your test.
• Modern Language Placement Test
• High School Equivalency/Pre-Equivalency Placement Test

If you'd like to make an appointment for a placement test, please use our online form to schedule using RegisterBlast.

More on other types of tests for students interested in healthcare programs or career certifications can be found on the Testing Services website.

ECC offers a wide variety of classes to meet your learning and scheduling requirements. All of these courses have online components. Some also include labs, studios, and clinical requirements offered in blended face-to-face and online formats (Hybrid). Schedule programs with a clinical component into available slots at the assigned clinical site(s) around your schedule. Search for online classes using our Student Portal (no log-in required). 

To view a description of all the courses offered, including the estimated cost per course, please use our most current catalog.

New students are required to attend a New Student Orientation session. In order to be signed up for an orientation date the prospective student needs to:

1. Complete an application for admission. 
2. Satisfy placement requirements in the following ways:
   1. Submit high school transcripts. If you have attended another college or university, please submit your official transcripts and a request to have them evaluated if you plan to transfer the credits to ECC. Visit Transfer Credit Evaluation for details. 
   2. Submit SAT, ACT, CLEP and AP scores, if applicable.
   3. Complete placement testing.
3. Attend an online New Student Orientation where you will learn about the student portal, meet with an academic advisor, and plan your classes.
4. Register for classes and set up a payment plan. Visit Payment Options for details.

Once you have submitted any testing requirements for your program of study you will be elgible to complete our online new student orientation. You will be sent a link to the email you provided when you applied. If you no longer have the email, log in to your AccessECC Student portal, select a Student tab, and in the ECC Apps section click on New Student Online Orientation. On the new page click on "Start Your Online Orientation" button. If you receive an error message, contact admissions at admissions@elgin.edu or 847-214-7390.

The New Student Orientation (NSO) at ECC consists of 3 parts:

1. Watching an online orientation, at the end of which you will take a quiz and will be prompted to schedule a meeting with an academic advisor.
2. Scheduling a meeting with an academic advisor.
3. Talking to an advisor, either in person or over the phone.

If you have not finished all of the above-mentioned steps, your NSO in the system will be marked as "Incomplete".

If you are certain that you went through the entire orientation and finished every step but you are still unable to register, contact our AccessECC help desk at 847-214-7570 or via email AccessECC@elgin.edu.

There is no deadline to apply to ECC, however, in order to get the best choice of classes, apply at least a semester before you intend to enroll. You may be admitted to the college as late as the first week of classes, but availability of classes will be limited. ​

See the semester start dates on our website.

However, several of our health professions programs have application deadlines and specific start dates. 

See the application deadlines for health professions.

The main goal of the New Student Orientation (NSO) is to introduce students to the campus and the variety of services that ECC has to offer. As ECC continually improves its services and students' experience, we kindly ask our returning and transfer students, who haven't taken New Student Orientation (NSO) in the past two years, to do it again. The online New Student Orientation is designed to be completed at your convenience. 

1. Discuss your child’s interest in attending ECC with their high school counselor prior to beginning the application process as their approval is required. Secondary and home-schooled students will be limited to registering for a maximum of six (6) credit hours per semester (fall and spring) and three (3) credit hours in the summer semester.
2. Students interested in enrolling must complete the following steps:
   • ​Read the Dual Enrollment information on our website for complete details.
     • Contact the Admissions Specialist by calling 847-214-7222 to discuss the process for Secondary and Home-School Student Admission.
     • Complete and submit the following documentation prior to the meeting:
       • Permission for Secondary or Home School Admission Form.
       • Apply for Admission to Elgin Community College
       • Placement testing – To be eligible for Secondary/Home School Student Admission, students must demonstrate ability to be successful in college courses through ACT or PSAT or SAT scores or the college’s placement tests. Placements tests are offered in writing, reading and mathematics. Students will only take the mathematics placement test if they plan to enroll in courses with a math prerequisite. Students whose placement test results indicate remedial course placement (those courses numbered under 100) will not be allowed to enroll in credit classes.
       • Students may be waived from placement testing if they have met the following minimum requirements. To receive a waiver, students must submit their ACT/PSAT/SAT score report information to the ECC Admissions Office on campus in Building B, Room B110.
         1. Reading: ACT Reading score of 18 or PSAT/SAT Verbal 530
         2. Writing: ACT English score of 20 or PSAT/SAT English 530
         3. Math: ACT Math score of 23 or PSAT/SAT Math 570
       • Submit a transcript of high school course work or list of curricular completions for home schooled students.
       • Meet with an Admissions Coordinator. The student and at least one parent/guardian must attend this meeting. Completed documentation outlined above must be submitted to the Admissions Office prior to the meeting for review. To arrange an appointment, call an Admissions Specialist at 847-214-7222.
       • Registration – The student may enroll in a maximum of 6 credits per fall and spring semester, and 3 credits in the summer while in high school. The student will register for courses once all criteria is met and if space is available in the course(s).  No late registrations are allowed.
       • Registration may take place during the open registration period for the semester requested once all the above requirements have been met by the student and as long as space is available.
       • Once the student has enrolled, that student is responsible for making payments by the published payment deadline. Visit Payment Options for details and due dates.
       • Dual Enrollment students will meet with their academic advisor each semester in order to continue enrollment until they graduate from high school.

Visit our website to learn more about the wide range of programs ECC offers.

• Associate Degrees
• Basic Certificate Programs
• Specialist Certificate Programs

Additionally, you can check out our recorded information sessions.

• Watch a recording on YouTube

Contact one of our Recruitment Coordinators for an appointment for more information or sign up to attend a virtual or in-person presentation.

To begin a new international student application at Elgin Community College, start a new profile using your personal email address. Your login information will be emailed to you. Once you have logged in, select "F-1 International Student Admissions" from the program list, and then select "International Student Application for Admission." Complete the online application on our International Students Website. See our International partners around the world for help in your home country to apply for admission to ECC.

For assistance or to schedule a virtual appointment, please email us.

Prospective Students
internationaladmissions@elgin.edu

Current Students
international@elgin.edu

No, in order to be signed up for an orientation session you need to complete all the prior steps for admission. 

1. Apply using our free online application
2. Submit official 8th-semester high school transcripts to the ECC Admissions Office for review at admissions@elgin.edu
3. Submit your ACT or SAT scores to the Admissions Office at admissions@elgin.edu
4. Send your college transcripts for evaluation if you've attended another college
5. Sign-up for Placement Testing - using Register Blast select "Placement Test" as the exam type. 
6. Complete the Online New Student Orientation
7. Apply for FAFSA Financial Aid
8. Submit the scholarship application and we can see what works for your program of study

It usually takes 24 hours after you completed all the necessary requirements to receive a link to the New Student Online Orientation. If after 24 hours you still haven't received it, please contact the Admissions Office at 847-214-7385 or admissions@elgin.edu.

Applying is easy, and there's no deadline or fee. After you submit your application, we will process it within 24 hrs and send you an email with your student ID and your next steps. We're here to help every step of the way. Have an enrollment question? Use our Live Chat to speak to a specialist.

New College Students 

Never attended college before? Here's how to get started.

Transfer Students

If you've attended another college or university, apply to ECC as a transfer student.

Summer Transfer Students

Planning on taking a few summer classes? Applying to ECC as a summer transfer student is easy.

Returning Students

Did you attend ECC in the past? Welcome back!

High School Students

Get a head start on college by earning credits while still working on your high school diploma. Here's how.

International Students

If you're a non-U.S. citizen interested in attending ECC on a visa, apply as an international student.

Continuing Education Students

Are you interested in taking a few continuing education classes for fun or personal development? Here's how to register.

GED®, Adult Basic Education, and ESL Students

ECC offers free ESL, GED, and basic adult education classes. Learn more and register now.

Programs with Special Admission Requirements

Some of our programs have additional admission requirements, please use these links to learn more about these requirements:

• Basic nurse assistant, nursing
• Clinical dental assisting
• Clinical laboratory technology
• Emergency medical technology-paramedic 
• Histotechnology
• Physical therapist assistant
• Radiography
• Surgical technology
• Truck driving

During the online orientation, students are introduced to the following topics:

• Academic Pathways, placement tests, and expectations to be a successful student.
• Information about Financial Aid and Scholarships.
• Essential online tools.
• Campus resources.
• Scheduling an academic advising appointment 

Applying is easy, and there’s no deadline or fee. We’re here to help every step of the way. 

Visit our Apply page for details.

Some of our programs have extra admission requirements, find out about these requirements below.

• Basic nurse assistant, nursing
• Clinical dental assisting
• Clinical laboratory technology
• Emergency medical technology-paramedic 
• Histotechnology
• Physical therapist assistant
• Radiography
• Surgical technology
• Truck driving

While we process the application, you can learn about our placement testing options online at http://elgin.edu/testing. 

No, continuing education students do not have to complete an application for admission or acquire transcripts. Our students submit all required information during the continuing education registration process. You can see the class schedules on the Continuing Education website.