Richland Community College vs. Wabash Valley College

Comparable Facts

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

Richland Community College is larger than Wabash Valley College based on total student enrollment (2,388 students vs. 906 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Richland Community College is located in Decatur, IL (Rural Fringe setting); Wabash Valley College is in Mount Carmel, IL (Distant Town setting).
• Richland Community College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Wabash Valley College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Richland Community College 15:1; Wabash Valley College 18:1.

Richland Community College vs. Wabash Valley College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Richland Community College or Wabash Valley 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 Wabash Valley 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 Wabash Valley 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 Wabash Valley 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 Wabash Valley College (81% vs. 0%).

Richland Community College vs. Wabash Valley College Admissions comparison

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

Richland Community College vs. Wabash Valley College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Richland Community College and Wabash Valley 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 Wabash Valley College earn a median of about $2,400 more per year than Richland Community College graduates about ten years after starting college ($32,400 vs. $30,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Wabash Valley College graduates have a $1,262 lower median loan debt than Richland Community College graduates ($5,500 vs. $6,762).
• Among borrowers, Wabash Valley College graduates have an estimated $13 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Richland Community College graduates ($56 vs. $69).
• More Wabash Valley College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Richland Community College students, three years after graduation. (68% 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.