Highland Community College vs. Richland Community College

Comparable Facts

Compare Highland Community College in Freeport, 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 Highland Community College based on total student enrollment (2,388 students vs. 1,360 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Highland Community College is located in Freeport, IL (Distant Town setting); Richland Community College is in Decatur, IL (Rural Fringe setting).
• Highland 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: Highland Community College 13:1; Richland Community College 15:1.

Highland Community College vs. Richland Community College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Highland Community 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 Highland Community College ($4,527 vs. $5,393).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Highland Community College are 50.5% lower than at Richland Community College ($5,950 vs. $12,020).
• Richland Community College is 49.7% more expensive for in-state tuition than Highland Community College (about $3,584 more per year; $10,800.00 vs. $7,216.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 131.9% higher at Richland Community College than at Highland Community College (about $9,710 more per year; $17,070.00 vs. $7,360.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Richland Community College than at Highland Community College (81% vs. 73%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Highland Community College students is 9.2% larger than aid received by Richland Community College students ($7,127 vs. $6,527).

Highland Community College vs. Richland Community College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Highland Community 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 Highland Community College.

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

Highland Community College vs. Richland Community College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Highland Community 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 Highland Community College earn a median of about $400 more per year than Richland Community College graduates about ten years after starting college ($30,400 vs. $30,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Richland Community College graduates have a $738 lower median loan debt than Highland Community College graduates ($6,762 vs. $7,500).
• Among borrowers, Richland Community College graduates have an estimated $8 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Highland Community College graduates ($69 vs. $77).
• More Highland Community College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Richland Community College students, three years after graduation. (41% 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.