Richland Community College vs. Northwestern College

Comparable Facts

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

Richland Community College is larger than Northwestern College based on total student enrollment (2,388 students vs. 464 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Richland Community College is located in Decatur, IL (Rural Fringe setting); Northwestern College is in Oak Lawn, IL (Large Suburban setting).
• Richland Community College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Northwestern College is a private, for-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Richland Community College 15:1; Northwestern College 12:1.

Richland Community College vs. Northwestern College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Richland Community College or Northwestern 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 Northwestern College are 32.6% lower than at Richland Community College ($8,100 vs. $12,020).
• Northwestern College is 69.3% more expensive for in-state tuition than Richland Community College (about $7,480 more per year; $18,280.00 vs. $10,800.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 7.1% higher at Northwestern College than at Richland Community College (about $1,210 more per year; $18,280.00 vs. $17,070.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Richland Community College than at Northwestern College (81% vs. 0%).

Richland Community College vs. Northwestern College Admissions comparison

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

• Richland Community College reports an open admissions policy.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Richland Community College - Open admission; Northwestern College - Not reported.

Richland Community College vs. Northwestern College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Richland Community College and Northwestern 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 Northwestern College earn a median of about $2,000 more per year than Richland Community College graduates about ten years after starting college ($32,000 vs. $30,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Richland Community College graduates have a $20,238 lower median loan debt than Northwestern College graduates ($6,762 vs. $27,000).
• Among borrowers, Richland Community College graduates have an estimated $210 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Northwestern College graduates ($69 vs. $279).
• More Richland Community College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Northwestern College students, three years after graduation. (34% vs. 22%)

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.