MVCC vs. Richland Community College

Comparable Facts

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

Moraine Valley Community College is larger than Richland Community College based on total student enrollment (11,296 students vs. 2,388 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Moraine Valley Community College is located in Palos Hills, IL (Large Suburban setting); Richland Community College is in Decatur, IL (Rural Fringe setting).
• Moraine Valley 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: Moraine Valley Community College 21:1; Richland Community College 15:1.

MVCC vs. Richland Community College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, MVCC 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 Moraine Valley Community College than Richland Community College ($2,915 vs. $4,527).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Richland Community College are 32.2% lower than at Moraine Valley Community College ($12,020 vs. $17,734).
• Richland Community College is 27% more expensive for in-state tuition than MVCC (about $2,298 more per year; $10,800.00 vs. $8,502.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 73.4% higher at Richland Community College than at Moraine Valley Community College (about $7,224 more per year; $17,070.00 vs. $9,846.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Richland Community College than at Moraine Valley Community College (81% vs. 60%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Moraine Valley Community College students is 65.8% larger than aid received by Richland Community College students ($10,825 vs. $6,527).

MVCC vs. Richland Community College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, MVCC 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 MVCC.

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

MVCC vs. Richland Community College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for MVCC 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 Moraine Valley Community College earn a median of about $6,400 more per year than Richland Community College graduates about ten years after starting college ($36,400 vs. $30,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Richland Community College graduates have a $2,376 lower median loan debt than MVCC graduates ($6,762 vs. $9,138).
• Among borrowers, Richland Community College graduates have an estimated $25 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than MVCC graduates ($69 vs. $94).
• More MVCC graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Richland Community College students, three years after graduation. (43% 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.