Frequently Asked Questions

​On the accessECC login page, click on “New Users Start Here.” Next, click “Show me my User ID and Student/Employee ID.” Next, enter your last name, your birthday (MM/DD/YYYY), and your ECC ID number; you can find this on your welcome letter or the last four digits of your social security number. This video may help. 

Note: After submitting your information and security questions, you will be shown your user ID and your student ID number. Make a note of this important information.

To verify your residency simply send a picture of your current driver’s license or state ID to Registration@elgin.edu. Alternatively, you can also do it in person at First Stop or in the Registration & Records Office next time you are on campus.

If your state ID or driver’s license is expired, or it doesn’t have your most recent address on it, find what other documents you can provide to verify your residency on this page, in the “Verification of In-District Residency” section.

Check the Cost and Payment Brochure or website for current tuition information at this link:  www.elgin.edu/tuition

If your technical problems consist of getting or staying connected to the internet, contact your internet service provider (ISP).

Once you are online and have problems with your course website, you can contact the distance learning help desk at 847-214-7620 or email d2lhelpdesk@elgin.edu. In your email, include the following:

• Your first and last name
• ECC ID number
• Course section of the inquiry
• Professor(s) name

Contact the instructor to discuss the error. If you would like to appeal your grade, please see Appeal of Student Grades 4.403 which you can find at www.elgin.edu/procedures. 

• Elgin Community College has contracted with the National Student Clearinghouse to act as our agent for student verifications. Please contact the National Student Clearinghouse at www.studentclearinghouse.org or call 703-742-4200.
• Enrollment Verification Forms are available in the Registration Office in B-105.

Online at www.elgin.edu/accessecc or in person at Students Accounts, B 151.

To pay your bill online, log in to your portal and go to the Self-Service app in the ECC Apps section. On the new page select Student Finance and click on Make a payment link next to the dollar amount on the Account Summary page. Follow the directions and finish the payment.

There are many features for students and employees that will make their online experience easier and more efficient.

• Calendar-On the left-hand side of the screen there will be a calendar that will automatically populate your classes after you register. It is also linked with your student email account so any reminders you have posted will be visible here as well.
• Notifications-There will be a notification box on the front page of your accessECC account warning you that there is something that needs to be cleared up before you can access your records.
• Quick link to student email account-Under the ECC APPS box, you will find a link entitled Student Email. If you click on this link you will be brought to the log in screen for your student email account.
• Easy access to D2L and other ECC apps-Under the ECC Apps tab, you will find quick and easy access to D2L and many other useful web services.
• Announcements-Campus-wide important due dates and other announcements will be clearly visible on the front page of your accessECC account, so that you can easily find out when payment is due or when you need to apply for graduation among other vital deadlines.
• Student reference links-Links to valuable resources and information located on elgin.edu.

Students may be dropped from classes because they have missed the tuition due date or they did not meet course prerequisites. Additionally, instructors may drop students for non-attendance or not meeting requirements as stated on syllabi for specific sections.

Payment Plan Eligibility:

• You must have $250 or more in tuition charges for credit classes to qualify for a payment plan.
• Your account must be in good standing with the College.  If you have had two or more late or returned payments, you may not be eligible.
• A U.S. checking or savings account, valid credit card or debit card is required.
• An email address is required; it’s best to use your student email.

In order to do this, you may go to the Make a Payment tab.  Click on the “Payment Plan” icon located on the left side of the screen.  Follow the instructions on the page. Visit our website for more details about payment plans. 

The system will prompt you to create three security questions. Use the dropdown arrows to select your preferred questions. Then enter answers that you will remember. Remember that your responses are case sensitive. ECC staff cannot access your answers. You may only reset your answers in person at the First Stop desk (in Building A) with a valid photo ID.

During the registration process, students can get on a waitlist online or in person at the Registration office B105. The procedure to get on a waitlist is the same as it is to register, but students must select “add to waitlist” instead of “register.” Waitlists end each semester on the payment due date. Students not moved into classes the day after payment due date will be dropped from the waitlist. Students registered from a waitlist will receive an email at their ECC email address notifying them that they have been enrolled in a waitlisted section and payment must be made by 7 pm the next day to stay enrolled. If you are on a payment plan, your plan will adjust automatically. Students receiving financial aid should check to ensure the additional course is covered. 

Students will not be moved from waitlist if:

1. Enrollment in the waitlisted class exceeds the maximum credit hours for the semester
2. Student has not met prerequisites for the waitlisted class
3. There is a time conflict with another class already scheduled

Please allow 2 weeks for processing your Request for Evaluation of Prior Educational Experience. Notification that your evaluation results are available will be sent to your student.elgin.edu email address. Students can view which classes meet ECC requirements by logging into the accessECC student portal and clicking on the Self-Service app. Click on Academic Planning & Registration and then My Progress to see the results of the evaluation. Questions can be sent to records@elgin.edu.

As long as space is still available in your preferred sections, you will re-enroll the same way you enrolled the first time: either online or in person (a new form is required for in-person enrollment). If the schedule change period has ended, you will need to obtain instructor's consent to be reinstated into your class.

At this time, the statement does not display a due date.  Please refer to the payment calendar to find out the payment due date each term.  Make sure you set up a payment plan or pay in full before 7 pm by the designated due date each term.  If you enroll on or after the payment due date, your payment is due by 7 pm the next calendar day.

FYI

Registration/billing statements are available online as soon as you register.  Statements are no longer mailed.  Here is how to get your statement:

• While logged into the student portal, choose “Account Activity” in the Student Account menu.
• The “Make A Payment” screen will appear. Choose the “Account Activity” tab located near the top left of your screen.
• Select the desired term and click “View Statement”.
• To print the statement, click on the printer icon located in the lower center of your screen.

Whenever you provide a Joint Agreement to ECC, the Joint Agreement will have an expiration date. You are charged the out of district rate until you bring a renewed Joint Agreement. To adjust the tuition, obtain a new Joint Agreement Letter from the other college and bring it to the Registration office B105 where you must also fill out the joint agreement cover letter waiver.

In district residency verification documentation must be dated at least thirty (30) days prior to the start of classes. In district residency is verified at orientation. If, after the initial verification, there is reason to believe the student’s residency is no longer in district, we will require verification documentation again if the student wishes to be charged in-district tuition. Reasons may include return mail or request for address change from out of district to in district. Students can demonstrate eligibility for in-district tuition rates in one of the following ways:

• Provide a driver’s license or state-issued identification card or U.S. or international government-issued identification card with an in-district address dated at least thirty (30) days prior to the start of the term.
• Provide at least two of the following: Signed lease, utility bill or tax bill in the student’s name, or voter’s registration card.
• Each semester, students who are employed for at least 35 hours per week in the district must provide 1) a recent pay stub and 2) documentation of hours worked per week on employer letterhead or on forms available at https://www.elgin.edu/residency or in the Registration Department. The documentation must be dated no earlier than thirty (30) days prior to registration.
• Students utilizing benefits under the federal Post-9/11 Veterans Educational Assistance Act of 2008 or any subsequent variation of that Act (per Public Act 098-0306) must provide DD214 form or an eligibility letter.
• Students who are enrolled through a joint agreement must provide the required documentation per that agreement for in-district tuition for applicable courses.
• Students who are approved for study under the federal Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) and who are residents of any of the signatory Illinois community college districts must provide required documentation per that agreement for in-district tuition for applicable courses.
• Students matriculating directly from an in-district high school may provide a valid high school ID and a current high school transcript displaying the student's in-district home address.
• In district residency is assumed for public high school students participating in a dual credit or other contractual programs between ECC and the public high school since high school enrollment is based on residency in the district. Once students in these programs matriculate into ECC independent of these contractual programs, residency verification will be required.
• Students who are homeless can present a card provided by PADS of Elgin to verify they are staying there. Students staying at other homeless shelters should be referred to the Senior Director of Admissions and Registrar to discuss options including what appropriate documentation may be provided to demonstrate residency.
• Active full and part-time ECC employees who live out of district must request email verification of employment status from the ECC HR benefits office each semester for in-district tuition rates for themselves, their spouses, and dependents. The tuition rate charged is not impacted by an eligibility for tuition reimbursement. Employees covered by bargaining unit agreements should consult their contract for reimbursement details.

Financial aid posts to students accounts after the term starts.  You can verify that your financial aid was processed by viewing your award letter online.  You can find your award letter by clicking on AccessECC, selecting Self-Service module in the ECC apps section, and choosing “Financial Aid”. If you have all the items on your check list marked as "Completed" , you can view an award letter and maintain eligibility, your aid will post after the term starts. To get specific registration, payment and financial aid dates, go to www.elgin.edu/academiccalendar and print the pdf for the year desired. 

Drop or register for a class online via AccessECC (portal.elgin.edu) or come to the Registration Office B105. If you have difficulties registering or dropping classes online, you can also email the Registration Office at registration@elgin.edu.

On June 30 each year, ECC transfers current unpaid balances within our student financial system to an outstanding account for tracking purposes. The system uses the term “payment” to describe this transfer even though no student payments were made. This process has no effect on your balance.