Lake Land College vs. Richland Community College

Comparable Facts

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

Lake Land College is larger than Richland Community College based on total student enrollment (3,960 students vs. 2,388 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Lake Land College is located in Mattoon, IL (Remote Town setting); Richland Community College is in Decatur, IL (Rural Fringe setting).
• Lake Land College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Richland Community College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Lake Land College 13:1; Richland Community College 15:1.

Lake Land College vs. Richland Community College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Lake Land 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 Lake Land College than Richland Community College ($4,414 vs. $4,527).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Lake Land College are 50.1% lower than at Richland Community College ($6,000 vs. $12,020).
• Richland Community College is 29.5% more expensive for in-state tuition than Lake Land College (about $2,458 more per year; $10,800.00 vs. $8,342.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 19.4% higher at Richland Community College than at Lake Land College (about $2,769 more per year; $17,070.00 vs. $14,301.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Richland Community College than at Lake Land College (81% vs. 80%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Richland Community College students is 16.2% larger than aid received by Lake Land College students ($6,527 vs. $5,615).

Lake Land College vs. Richland Community College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Lake Land 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 Lake Land College.

• Both colleges report an open admissions policy; selectivity can still vary by program or major.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Lake Land College - Open admission; Richland Community College - Open admission.
• Typical fall application deadline: Lake Land College Sep 3, 2026.

Lake Land College vs. Richland Community College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Lake Land 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 Lake Land College earn a median of about $1,600 more per year than Richland Community College graduates about ten years after starting college ($31,600 vs. $30,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Lake Land College graduates have a $2,262 lower median loan debt than Richland Community College graduates ($4,500 vs. $6,762).
• Among borrowers, Lake Land College graduates have an estimated $23 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Richland Community College graduates ($46 vs. $69).
• More Lake Land College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Richland Community College students, three years after graduation. (49% 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.