Richland Community College vs. Harper

Comparable Facts

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

William Rainey Harper College is larger than Richland Community College based on total student enrollment (13,988 students vs. 2,388 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Richland Community College is located in Decatur, IL (Rural Fringe setting); William Rainey Harper College is in Palatine, IL (Large Suburban setting).
• Richland Community College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. William Rainey Harper College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Richland Community College 15:1; William Rainey Harper College 21:1.

Richland Community College vs. Harper Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Richland Community College or Harper? 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 Harper ($4,527 vs. $12,145).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Richland Community College are 15.7% lower than at William Rainey Harper College ($12,020 vs. $14,251).
• Richland Community College is 7.3% more expensive for in-state tuition than Harper (about $738 more per year; $10,800.00 vs. $10,062.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 43.8% higher at Richland Community College than at William Rainey Harper College (about $5,196 more per year; $17,070.00 vs. $11,874.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Richland Community College than at William Rainey Harper College (81% vs. 55%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by William Rainey Harper College students is 12.9% larger than aid received by Richland Community College students ($7,368 vs. $6,527).

Richland Community College vs. Harper Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Richland Community College or Harper? 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 Harper and Richland Community College.

• Both colleges report an open admissions policy; selectivity can still vary by program or major.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Richland Community College - Open admission; Harper - Open admission.
• Accepted freshman Harper students have a 0.79 point higher average high school GPA (2.94) than students at Richland Community College (2.15).

Richland Community College vs. Harper Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Richland Community College and Harper? 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 William Rainey Harper College earn a median of about $10,500 more per year than Richland Community College graduates about ten years after starting college ($40,500 vs. $30,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Richland Community College graduates have a $3,238 lower median loan debt than Harper graduates ($6,762 vs. $10,000).
• Among borrowers, Richland Community College graduates have an estimated $34 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Harper graduates ($69 vs. $103).
• More Harper graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Richland Community College students, three years after graduation. (46% 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.