Richland Community College
#7 Most Affordable Colleges in Illinois- Graduation Rate
- 52% C-
- About half of students who start complete their degree
- Earnings (10yr)
- $38,793 C-
- Below average for college graduates
- Net Price
- $3,741 A
- 78% less than the typical college
- Enrollment
- 1,346
Bottom line: A C+ overall grade — average outcomes for a U.S. college. 64.5× return on investment — every $1 spent returns $64.5 over 20 years. Ranked #7 in Most Affordable Colleges in Illinois.
Every $1 spent returns $64.5 over 20 years — debt pays back in ~under a year. Net gain: $950,740.
What The Data Says
-
A C+ overall — outcomes trail most U.S. colleges on measured metrics.
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Every $1 invested returns $64.5 over 20 years — an exceptional return.
About Richland Community College
Richland Community College is profiled below with full outcomes data from federal sources.
Interpretation generated from this school's federal outcomes, research, and mobility data.
Institutional Profile
- Institution Type
- Public College
- Carnegie Class
- Associate's College
- Enrollment
- 1,346
- Setting
- Urban
- Primary Strengths
- Humanities, Health Professions, Mechanic & Repair Tech, Transportation
Why students choose Richland Community College
CollegeRanker Report Card
Graded on outcomes, against every U.S. college.
Each grade is this school's national percentile on a real outcome — earnings, value, mobility, and more.
How we grade →Admissions
This school does not report a competitive admit rate — most qualified applicants are admitted.
Check your odds →Net price + aid
Students pay about $3,741 a year after grants and scholarships — 78% below the typical U.S. college. See net price by family income below.
See cost & aid →Earnings + debt
Graduates earn a median of $38,793 ten years after enrolling — 5% below the typical college, against $8,256 in median debt.
See outcomes →Mobility + social capital
Moves 1.0% of its students from the bottom income fifth to the top — top 77% nationally for mobility. High social capital (0.95 economic connectedness).
See mobility →Overview
Richland Community College has a net price of just $3,741, making it one of the most affordable options for students in Illinois. This low cost allows students to pursue their education without the burden of excessive debt.
The earnings data shows that graduates earn an average of $38,793 within ten years of completing their programs. While the graduation rate stands at 52%, the college serves a diverse student body, with 33% of students receiving Pell Grants. This indicates a strong commitment to supporting low-income students and improving their chances for upward mobility.
Students who thrive here often pursue programs in humanities, health professions, and technical fields such as mechanics and culinary services. The focus on practical skills and training prepares graduates for immediate employment in growing industries. With a manageable median debt of $8,256, students can enter the workforce with a solid financial foundation.
Rankings
Can I Get In?
How selective Richland Community College is — and how your numbers stack up.
Tool
Will I Be Accepted?
Enter your credentials to see your chances at this school.
Academics & Admissions
Is It Hard to Get Into Richland Community College? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
As a public institution in Decatur, Illinois, Richland Community College enrolls students across a range of programs. The graduation rate is roughly 52%.
- Retention Rate
- 60%
- Full-Time Faculty
- 45%
- Faculty Salary (mo)
- $7,881
- Student–Faculty Ratio
- 13:1
- Diversity Index
- 0.58
- First-Gen Students
- 49%
Can I Afford It?
What you'll actually pay after grants and aid — not the sticker price.
Cost & Financial Aid
How Much Does It Cost to Attend Richland Community College? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at Richland Community College is $17,070, but few families pay that. The number to watch is net price, what students actually pay each year after federal grants and institutional scholarships. Here it averages about $3,741. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $3,303 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $8,256 in federal student loans.
- In-State Tuition
- $4,680
- Out-of-State
- $17,070
- Avg Net Price
- $3,741
- Median Debt
- $8,256
- Pell Grant Rate
- 33%
- Federal Loan Rate
- 7%
What Families Actually Pay
- Family Income $0–$30K
- $3,303
- Family Income $30K–$48K
- $1,709
- Family Income $48K–$75K
- $6,746
- Family Income $110K+
- $7,683
What Happens After?
Earnings, debt, and where graduates actually land.
Graduate Outcomes
Is Richland Community College Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Richland Community College report median earnings of $38,793, a figure worth comparing against the cost of attendance before enrolling.
- 6 Years After Entry
- $32,459
- 8 Years
- $35,323
- 10 Years
- $38,793
- Debt-to-Earnings
- 0.21x
- Earning > $25K
- 43%
Earnings Trajectory
Graduation by Timeframe
- 100% (57)
- 23%
- 100% (57)
- 23%
- 100% (57)
- 23%
- 100% (57)
- 23%
How Richland Compares
Dot right of center = above national average.
Net Price by Family Income
What families actually pay after aid, by income bracket.
The Mobility Equation
Mobility = Access x Success. How many low-income students get in, and how many reach the top 20%?
College ROI Calculator
Is Richland Community College Worth It?
A data-driven look at the return on your educational investment — using real federal data.
Yes — for most students, Richland Community College delivers a positive return. Over four years, the typical net price is $3,741/year ($14,964 total). Graduates earn $38,793 at ten years, and over a 20-year career we project $965,704 in total earnings — a net gain of $950,740 (64.5× your investment). The median debt is $8,256, which takes less than a year to pay back at typical earnings. With a 52% graduation rate, the path to that return is well-tested. This is a exceptional ROI compared to national averages.
- Total Cost (4yr)
- $14,964
- Projected 20yr Earnings
- $965,704
- Net Return
- $950,740
- ROI Multiple
- 64.5×
- Cost Per Year
- $3,741
- Median Debt
- $8,256
- Debt Payback
- Less than 1 yr
- Graduation Rate
- 52%
Does It Change Lives?
Mobility, social capital, and innovation — does it move people up?
Social Mobility
Data: Raj Chetty's Mobility Report Card · 30M+ anonymized tax records
Does Richland Community College Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes
Richland Community College is a measurable contributor to upward mobility. Its mobility rate, the share of students who start in the bottom income quintile and climb to the top, is 0.99%, in line with strong performers nationally. Access is a real strength here. Roughly 11.9% of students come from families in the bottom income quintile, a high share that gives low-income students a real foothold. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 8.3% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $69,500, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.
- Mobility Rate
- 0.99%
- Bottom 20% → Top 20%
- Success Rate
- 8.3%
- If bottom 20% get in
- From Bottom 20%
- 11.9%
- Share of students
- Parent Median Income
- $69,500
Institutional Finances
Data: NCES IPEDS
- Investment Income
- $144,599
Top Programs
The fields Richland Community College awards the most degrees in, by share of completions. Each links to its degree guide — with salary, growth, and the schools with the strongest outcomes.
- Humanities 31%
- Health Professions 24%
- Mechanic & Repair Tech 11%
- Transportation 8%
- Business & Marketing 7%
- Precision Production 5%
- Culinary & Personal Services 3%
- Computer Science & IT 1%
Top Careers
Where these majors tend to lead — common career paths for Richland Community College's most popular programs, ranked by median pay with our proprietary scorecard insights.
- CChief Executive Officer$189,520 · 3% growthAdaptable 64
- C+IT Manager$169,510 · 15% growthAdaptable 52
- C+Cloud Architect$142,000 · 15% growthAdaptable 52
- B-Site Reliability Engineer$140,000 · 20% growthAdaptable 52
- CSolutions Architect$138,000 · 12% growthAdaptable 52
- CHR Manager$136,350 · 5% growthAdaptable 64
- CPetroleum Engineer$135,690 · 2% growthResilient 72
- CSales Manager$135,160 · 4% growthAdaptable 64
Frequently Asked Questions
Is It Hard to Get Into Richland Community College? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
As a public institution in Decatur, Illinois, Richland Community College enrolls students across a range of programs. The graduation rate is roughly 52%.
How Much Does It Cost to Attend Richland Community College? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at Richland Community College is $17,070, but few families pay that. The number to watch is net price, what students actually pay each year after federal grants and institutional scholarships. Here it averages about $3,741. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $3,303 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $8,256 in federal student loans.
Is Richland Community College Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Richland Community College report median earnings of $38,793, a figure worth comparing against the cost of attendance before enrolling.
Does Richland Community College Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes
Richland Community College is a measurable contributor to upward mobility. Its mobility rate, the share of students who start in the bottom income quintile and climb to the top, is 0.99%, in line with strong performers nationally. Access is a real strength here. Roughly 11.9% of students come from families in the bottom income quintile, a high share that gives low-income students a real foothold. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 8.3% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $69,500, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.
How Connected Is Richland Community College? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks
Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs around the national average at Richland Community College. Its economic connectedness score is 0.95, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias sits near the middle of the range (0.06). Around 6% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Similar Schools
Schools with similar outcomes, selectivity, and student profiles to Richland Community College.
- Eastern New Mexico University-Roswell CampusRoswell, NM · Close peer30% grad $38,550 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar size · similar net price
- Stanly Community CollegeAlbemarle, NC · Close peer54% grad $36,686 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
- Snead State Community CollegeBoaz, AL · Close peer49% grad $35,735 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
- Danville Area Community CollegeDanville, IL · Close peer41% grad $34,867 earnWhy: similar size · same state
- Spoon River CollegeCanton, IL · Close peer42% grad $38,386 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar net price
- Lamar State College-Port ArthurPort Arthur, TX · Close peer38% grad $37,120 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar size
Social Capital
Data: Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas
How Connected Is Richland Community College? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks
Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs around the national average at Richland Community College. Its economic connectedness score is 0.95, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias sits near the middle of the range (0.06). Around 6% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Research Note