Richland Community College vs. Frontier Community College

Comparable Facts

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

Richland Community College is larger than Frontier Community College based on total student enrollment (2,388 students vs. 2,364 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Richland Community College is located in Decatur, IL (Rural Fringe setting); Frontier Community College is in Fairfield, IL (Rural Fringe setting).
• Richland Community College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Frontier Community College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Richland Community College 15:1; Frontier Community College 31:1.

Richland Community College vs. Frontier Community College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Richland Community College or Frontier Community College? Published tuition is the sticker price; many students pay less after aid (see average net price below).

• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Frontier Community College are 39% lower than at Richland Community College ($7,338 vs. $12,020).
• Richland Community College is 17.6% more expensive for in-state tuition than Frontier Community College (about $1,620 more per year; $10,800.00 vs. $9,180.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 51.7% higher at Richland Community College than at Frontier Community College (about $5,820 more per year; $17,070.00 vs. $11,250.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Richland Community College than at Frontier Community College (81% vs. 0%).

Richland Community College vs. Frontier Community College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Richland Community College or Frontier 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 Frontier Community College 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; Frontier Community College - Open admission.

Richland Community College vs. Frontier Community College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Richland Community College and Frontier 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 Frontier Community College earn a median of about $800 more per year than Richland Community College graduates about ten years after starting college ($30,800 vs. $30,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Frontier Community College graduates have a $388 lower median loan debt than Richland Community College graduates ($6,374 vs. $6,762).
• Among borrowers, Frontier Community College graduates have an estimated $4 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Richland Community College graduates ($65 vs. $69).
• More Frontier Community College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Richland Community College students, three years after graduation. (44% 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.