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Richland Community College

Public Associate Strong 78/100

Richland Community College

See admissions data, costs, student outcomes, and academic programs, all verified from official US government sources.

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Decatur, Illinois

About Richland Community College

Richland Community College is a public institution offering associate degrees based in Decatur, Illinois. It enrolls 1,346 students (a small, tight-knit student body), according to IPEDS 2023-24 data. Below you'll find verified data on admissions, cost, student outcomes, programs offered, and what graduates typically earn, all pulled from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard and IPEDS.

Official website: richland.edu

Acceptance: Open
Graduation: 18.2%
Net Price: $3,741
Median Earnings (10yr): $38,793
Enrollment: 1,346
Student : Faculty: 15:1

Accreditor Higher Learning Commission

Academic Calendar Semester

How It Measures Up

US College Data scores each college on four pillars (outcomes, value, affordability, and selectivity) on a 0–100 scale, ranked within its peer group (2-Year). Scores are calculated from verified College Scorecard and IPEDS data, not opinion or paid placement. Where data is missing, that pillar isn't scored.

Strong

78/100

UCD Score · 2-Year

Outcomes 53

Value 93

Affordability 66

Selectivity —

Admissions & Acceptance Rate

As a two-year college, Richland Community College generally admits all qualified applicants.

Acceptance Rate

Open

SAT Range (25th–75th)

—

Not reported

ACT Range (25th–75th)

—

Not reported

Cost & Financial Aid

The real cost of attending Richland Community College isn't the sticker price. It's the net price,which is what most students actually pay after grants and scholarships. According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, the average net price is $3,741 per year. That's well below the typical net price for public colleges nationally.

Average Net Price

$3,741

Per year, after typical aid

Receive Pell Grants

33%

Need-based federal aid

Receive Federal Loans

Borrowing to attend

Full Cost Breakdown

Published cost of attendance, the sticker price before grants and scholarships. Most students underestimate room & board and other expenses.

Tuition & Fees (in-state): $4,680
Tuition & Fees (out-of-state): $17,070
Room & Board (off-campus): $12,020
Books & Supplies: $1,500
Other Expenses (off-campus): $3,200
Total Cost of Attendance: $11,483

Net Price by Family Income

Aid is need-based, so net price varies by family income. Here's what each bracket typically pays after grants and scholarships.

Under $30,000

$3,303
$30,001 – $48,000

$1,709
$48,001 – $75,000

$6,746
$75,001 – $110,000

$3,446
Over $110,000

$7,683

Debt at Graduation

Cumulative federal-loan debt across the full borrowing distribution. The 10th and 90th percentiles bracket the typical range; the median sits in the middle.

$1,000

10% percentile

$1,814

25% percentile

$8,256

Median percentile

$6,500

75% percentile

$12,455

90% percentile

Median Debt by Student Type

Median federal-loan debt at graduation broken down by demographic. Each slice's size is proportional to the dollar amount that group typically borrows.

GroupDebtvs Median

Pell recipients $4,500 ↓ $3,756

No Pell $4,550 ↓ $3,706

Dependent students $4,000 ↓ $4,256

Independent students $5,632 ↓ $2,624

Female students $5,132 ↓ $3,124

Male students $3,500 ↓ $4,756

Worth knowing: Students who don't finish leave with a median debt of $3,750, less than completers ($8,256), but still a meaningful obligation without a degree in hand.

Graduation Rate & Retention

18% of full-time students who enrolled at Richland Community College graduate within six years, and 63% return for their second year, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.

6-Year Graduation Rate

18%

Of students who graduate within six years

First-Year Retention

63%

Returning for their second year

What this means: Lower than typical completion. Worth asking the school how they support students who fall behind.

After Graduation: Earnings & Outcomes

According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, students who entered Richland Community College earn a median of $38,793 ten years after first enrolling. That's close to the national median for U.S. colleges.

Median Earnings (10 yrs)

$38,793

Earning > $25K

62%

10 yrs after entry

Earnings Growth After Graduation

Median annual earnings 6, 8, and 10 years after students first enrolled.

Earnings by Demographic

Mean annual earnings 10 years after entry, segmented by demographic. Reveals gaps the headline median can't show.

By Gender

Female graduates

$28,200

Median earnings for female grads ten years after first enrolling here.

Male graduates

$37,200

Median earnings for male grads ten years after first enrolling here.

The gender gap: Male graduates earn $9,000, about 24% more than female graduates ten years out. The gap reflects industry mix, role choice, and structural pay differences that exist across most US colleges.

Loan Repayment Progression

Share of completer-cohort borrowers paying down at least $1 of principal at the 1-, 3-, 5-, and 7-year mark. Climbing rates show graduates settling into careers and managing debt; flat or declining rates are a warning.

Climbing: graduates increasingly paying down debt ↑ 5.2 pts across 6 years

What this signals: Moderate. Only 63% of graduates are paying down principal seven years out.

Who Studies Here

Richland Community College is home to 1,346 students, a small, close-knit community. Some distinctive traits: 49% are first-generation college students, 71% study part-time.

Total Enrolled

1,346

Part-Time

71%

First-Generation

49%

Race & Ethnicity Breakdown

Undergraduate student body composition reported to the US Department of Education.

GroupShareStudents

White 58.0% 780

Black 28.8% 387

Hispanic 5.5% 74

Other 4.9% 66

Asian 1.6% 21

International 0.2% 2

Student Life & Campus Culture

Where students live, learn, and connect at Richland Community College. The campus setting, housing profile, and signals that shape day-to-day life here.

Setting

Small City Decatur, Illinois

Housing

Commuter campus No on-campus housing

Adult Learners

33% of students are 25 or older

Athletics

NAIA athletic-conference member

Academic Calendar

Semester scheduling structure

What You Can Study

Richland Community College offers a varied set of programs: 36 distinct programs across 14 majors. Below are its strongest majors, each with flagship programs and typical earnings. Open a major to explore it in depth, or browse the full program catalog.

9 Programs

Health

Practical Nursing $39K ($22K–$72K)
Nursing $89K ($68K–$114K)
Allied Health Diagnostic $71K ($51K–$96K)

2 Programs

Liberal Arts

Liberal Arts $53K ($36K–$73K)
Liberal Arts $53K ($36K–$73K)

1 Program

Interdisciplinary Studies

Biological and Physical Sciences $59K ($41K–$82K)

6 Programs

Mechanics & Repair

Vehicle Maintenance $81K ($63K–$104K)
Heating
Vehicle Maintenance $81K ($63K–$104K)

1 Program

Transportation

Ground Transportation

2 Programs

Personal Services

Culinary Arts $48K ($33K–$62K)
Culinary Arts $48K ($33K–$62K)

3 Programs

Computer Science

Computer Programming $83K ($54K–$114K)
Computer Programming $83K ($54K–$114K)
Computer Systems Networking $74K ($51K–$102K)

4 Programs

Business

Business $68K ($48K–$95K)
Accounting $76K ($56K–$97K)
Accounting $76K ($56K–$97K)

2 Programs

Engineering Tech

Industrial Production Tech $81K ($61K–$99K)
Electromechanical Technologies/Technicians $84K ($66K–$103K)

View all majors View all programs

Faculty & Resources

The student-to-faculty ratio at Richland Community College is 15:1, close to the national average.

Student : Faculty

15:1

Students per instructional faculty member

Instruction / Student

$9,948

Annual instructional spending per enrolled student

Endowment

$23M

Modest endowment

Avg Faculty Salary

$69,327

9-month equivalent across all ranks

Faculty by Rank

47 instructional faculty across 4 ranks. The rank mix shows how many senior faculty are teaching versus contingent or junior staff, with average salary equated to a 9-month contract.

Rank	Faculty Count	Share	Avg Salary
Full Professors	16	34%	$72,068
Associate Professors	11	23%	$73,516
Assistant Professors	6	13%	$69,437
Instructors	14	30%	$62,856

Pros & Cons of Richland Community College

A quick at-a-glance summary of how Richland Community College tends to stack up for prospective students,weighing its data, size, setting, and cost profile together.

PROS

Very affordable net price after aid
Open admissions
Reasonable class sizes
Tight-knit, close community feel
Low typical debt at graduation
First-gen-friendly student body

CONS

Fewer clubs, activities, and social options
Low completion rate, many students don't graduate within six years
First-year retention is below typical
Earnings outcomes are on the lower side
Mostly part-time student body, less full-time campus feel

Best for: Based on the data, Richland Community College is a fit for students who want a clear path to start college without a competitive admissions barrier; families focused on keeping net cost low; working adults or students needing part-time study options.

Frequently Asked Questions about Richland Community College

Quick answers to the questions most students and parents ask. Every answer below is calculated from verified government data about Richland Community College.

Is Richland Community College hard to get into?

Richland Community College has open or near-open admissions. Most qualified applicants are accepted.

What is the acceptance rate at Richland Community College?

Richland Community College has an acceptance rate of 0%, according to College Scorecard 2023-24 admissions data.

How much does Richland Community College cost?

The average net price after aid at Richland Community College is $3,741 per year, this is what students typically pay after grants and scholarships are applied. Net price data: College Scorecard 2023-24.

Is Richland Community College worth it?

Strong return on investment. Graduates earn a median of $38,793 ten years after entering, against an average net price of $3,741 per year. That's roughly 10.4x earnings-to-cost. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.

What is Richland Community College known for?

Richland Community College is best known for its programs in Liberal Arts, Practical Nursing, Liberal Arts. These are the most popular fields by completed degrees, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.

What do Richland Community College graduates earn?

Median earnings 10 years after entering Richland Community College are $38,793, based on College Scorecard 2023-24 federal earnings data for Title IV recipients.

Is Richland Community College accredited?

Yes. Richland Community College is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.

How many students attend Richland Community College?

Richland Community College enrolls 1,346 students, per IPEDS 2023-24 fall enrollment data.

What is the graduation rate at Richland Community College?

Richland Community College graduates 18% of full-time students within six years, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.

Is Richland Community College a public or private college?

Richland Community College is a Public institution.

Where is Richland Community College located?

Richland Community College is located in Decatur, Illinois.

What programs does Richland Community College offer?

Richland Community College offers 36 distinct programs. The most popular include Liberal Arts, Practical Nursing, Liberal Arts.

What is the student-to-faculty ratio at Richland Community College?

The student-to-faculty ratio at Richland Community College is 15:1, per IPEDS 2023-24 data.