ECC vs. Richland Community College

Comparable Facts

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

Elgin Community College is larger than Richland Community College based on total student enrollment (10,251 students vs. 2,388 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Elgin Community College is located in Elgin, IL (Midsize City setting); Richland Community College is in Decatur, IL (Rural Fringe setting).
• Elgin Community College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Richland Community College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Elgin Community College 21:1; Richland Community College 15:1.

ECC vs. Richland Community College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, ECC 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 ECC ($4,527 vs. $5,020).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Elgin Community College are 26.5% lower than at Richland Community College ($8,829 vs. $12,020).
• Richland Community College is 51.3% more expensive for in-state tuition than ECC (about $3,660 more per year; $10,800.00 vs. $7,140.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 79.4% higher at Richland Community College than at Elgin Community College (about $7,554 more per year; $17,070.00 vs. $9,516.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Richland Community College than at Elgin Community College (81% vs. 69%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Richland Community College students is 26.1% larger than aid received by Elgin Community College students ($6,527 vs. $5,178).

ECC vs. Richland Community College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, ECC 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 ECC.

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

ECC vs. Richland Community College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for ECC 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 Elgin Community College earn a median of about $5,500 more per year than Richland Community College graduates about ten years after starting college ($35,500 vs. $30,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Elgin Community College graduates have a $1,369 lower median loan debt than Richland Community College graduates ($5,393 vs. $6,762).
• Among borrowers, ECC graduates have an estimated $14 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Richland Community College graduates ($55 vs. $69).
• More ECC graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Richland Community College students, three years after graduation. (44% 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.