Carl Sandburg College vs. Richland Community College

Comparable Facts

Compare Carl Sandburg College in Galesburg, IL with Richland Community College in Decatur, IL on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Richland Community College is larger than Carl Sandburg College based on total student enrollment (2,388 students vs. 1,603 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Carl Sandburg College is located in Galesburg, IL (Rural Fringe setting); Richland Community College is in Decatur, IL (Rural Fringe setting).
• Carl Sandburg College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Richland Community College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Carl Sandburg College 15:1; Richland Community College 15:1.

Carl Sandburg College vs. Richland Community College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Carl Sandburg College or Richland Community College? Published tuition is the sticker price; many students pay less after aid (see average net price below).

• The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Richland Community College than Carl Sandburg College ($4,527 vs. $5,374).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Carl Sandburg College are 34.5% lower than at Richland Community College ($7,875 vs. $12,020).
• Richland Community College is 35% more expensive for in-state tuition than Carl Sandburg College (about $2,800 more per year; $10,800.00 vs. $8,000.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 91.8% higher at Richland Community College than at Carl Sandburg College (about $8,170 more per year; $17,070.00 vs. $8,900.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Carl Sandburg College than at Richland Community College (94% vs. 81%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Carl Sandburg College students is 27.1% larger than aid received by Richland Community College students ($8,296 vs. $6,527).

Carl Sandburg College vs. Richland Community College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Carl Sandburg College or Richland Community College? Typical SAT and ACT scores (same estimates as in the table above), middle 50% test ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between Richland Community College and Carl Sandburg College.

• Both colleges report an open admissions policy; selectivity can still vary by program or major.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Carl Sandburg College - Open admission; Richland Community College - Open admission.

Carl Sandburg College vs. Richland Community College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Carl Sandburg College and Richland Community College? Graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt are common indicators. The bullets below summarize the same federal outcomes fields as the comparison table (College Scorecard / IPEDS where applicable).

• Graduates from Carl Sandburg College earn a median of about $300 more per year than Richland Community College graduates about ten years after starting college ($30,300 vs. $30,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Carl Sandburg College graduates have a $2,318 lower median loan debt than Richland Community College graduates ($4,444 vs. $6,762).
• Among borrowers, Carl Sandburg College graduates have an estimated $24 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Richland Community College graduates ($45 vs. $69).
• More Carl Sandburg College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Richland Community College students, three years after graduation. (56% vs. 34%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.