College of Lake County vs. Richland Community College

Comparable Facts

Compare College of Lake County in Grayslake, IL with Richland Community College in Decatur, IL on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

College of Lake County is larger than Richland Community College based on total student enrollment (12,530 students vs. 2,388 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• College of Lake County is located in Grayslake, IL (Midsize Suburban setting); Richland Community College is in Decatur, IL (Rural Fringe setting).
• College of Lake County is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Richland Community College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: College of Lake County 16:1; Richland Community College 15:1.

College of Lake County vs. Richland Community College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, College of Lake County 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 College of Lake County ($4,527 vs. $6,357).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Richland Community College are 28.5% lower than at College of Lake County ($12,020 vs. $16,800).
• College of Lake County is 0.6% more expensive for in-state tuition than Richland Community College (about $69 more per year; $10,869.00 vs. $10,800.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 18.5% higher at Richland Community College than at College of Lake County (about $2,670 more per year; $17,070.00 vs. $14,400.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Richland Community College than at College of Lake County (81% vs. 52%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Richland Community College students is 2.6% larger than aid received by College of Lake County students ($6,527 vs. $6,361).

College of Lake County vs. Richland Community College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, College of Lake County 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 College of Lake County.

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

College of Lake County vs. Richland Community College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for College of Lake County 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 College of Lake County earn a median of about $5,800 more per year than Richland Community College graduates about ten years after starting college ($35,800 vs. $30,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, College of Lake County graduates have a $1,262 lower median loan debt than Richland Community College graduates ($5,500 vs. $6,762).
• Among borrowers, College of Lake County graduates have an estimated $13 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Richland Community College graduates ($56 vs. $69).
• More College of Lake County graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Richland Community College students, three years after graduation. (47% 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.