Adult Basic Education Center

The Adult Basic Education Center (ABEC) offers pre-college-level courses designed for adults with a reading and/or math level between 3rd- 8th grades. These courses are appropriate for:


1. adults who do not have their high school diploma or its equivalent and would like to complete their State of Illinois High School Diploma (GED).
2. adults who are English language learners (ESL) who want to improve their basic language skills, and/or
3. adults with less than a 12th grade reading and/or math level who want to improve their basic skills in reading, math, writing, or computers.


To be eligible to enroll in classes, adult learners must be at least 16 years of age. They cannot be enrolled or be required to be enrolled in high school. Individuals less than 18 years old will be required to provide documentation showing that they are not enrolled or required to be enrolled in high school under state law.


 Any adult learner who resides in the state of Illinois and is not on a limited visa is eligible to enroll in ABEC’s free classes. Elgin Community College accepts all individuals regardless of immigration status. Individuals on temporary visas (e.g., student, visitor, or au pair) are not eligible to enroll in the free program due to their visa restrictions on receiving federally funded services. There is a tuition-based program for language learners who are on these restricted visas.
 Interested adult learners need to come to building K or go online to elgin.edu/adulteducation to begin the application process. Required placement testing allows adult learners to be enrolled into the appropriate levels for their needs. An orientation to the program provides adult learners more information about the program and allows them to ask questions they may have. 


Classes are offered at the college and other in district locations. Online options are also available. These courses are not applicable toward any associate degree or vocational certificate.


Upon successful completion of one adult basic or secondary education (ABE, ASE, AMT, or ARW) class and submission of your State of Illinois High School diploma transcript from the Regional Office of Education (ROE) to the Adult Basic Education Center, in-district tuition for one three-credit-hour college class will be waived. Individuals must live or work in district to be eligible for the waiver.


Stevens Amendment (FY24): Approximately $718,727 (40%) of the Illinois Adult Education and Literacy Program cost at Elgin Community College is federally funded under Title II, Adult Education and Family Literacy of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act of 2014.