Rend Lake College vs. Richland Community College

Comparable Facts

Compare Rend Lake College in Ina, 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 Rend Lake College based on total student enrollment (2,388 students vs. 2,015 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Rend Lake College is located in Ina, IL (Distant Rural setting); Richland Community College is in Decatur, IL (Rural Fringe setting).
• Rend Lake College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Richland Community College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Rend Lake College 19:1; Richland Community College 15:1.

Rend Lake College vs. Richland Community College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Rend Lake 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 Rend Lake College ($4,527 vs. $11,427).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Rend Lake College are 2.8% lower than at Richland Community College ($11,678 vs. $12,020).
• Richland Community College is 38.5% more expensive for in-state tuition than Rend Lake College (about $3,000 more per year; $10,800.00 vs. $7,800.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 118.8% higher at Richland Community College than at Rend Lake College (about $9,270 more per year; $17,070.00 vs. $7,800.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Richland Community College than at Rend Lake College (81% vs. 78%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Richland Community College students is 4.4% larger than aid received by Rend Lake College students ($6,527 vs. $6,250).

Rend Lake College vs. Richland Community College Admissions comparison

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

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

Rend Lake College vs. Richland Community College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Rend Lake 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 Richland Community College earn a median of about $100 more per year than Rend Lake College graduates about ten years after starting college ($30,000 vs. $29,900), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Rend Lake College graduates have a $3,262 lower median loan debt than Richland Community College graduates ($3,500 vs. $6,762).
• Among borrowers, Rend Lake College graduates have an estimated $33 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Richland Community College graduates ($36 vs. $69).
• More Rend Lake College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Richland Community College students, three years after graduation. (40% 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.