Richland Community College vs. Sauk Valley Community College

Comparable Facts

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

Richland Community College is larger than Sauk Valley Community College based on total student enrollment (2,388 students vs. 1,467 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Richland Community College is located in Decatur, IL (Rural Fringe setting); Sauk Valley Community College is in Dixon, IL (Rural Fringe setting).
• Richland Community College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Sauk Valley Community College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Richland Community College 15:1; Sauk Valley Community College 14:1.

Richland Community College vs. Sauk Valley Community College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Richland Community College or Sauk Valley 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 Sauk Valley Community College ($4,527 vs. $9,141).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Sauk Valley Community College are 10.2% lower than at Richland Community College ($10,798 vs. $12,020).
• Sauk Valley Community College is 7.8% more expensive for in-state tuition than Richland Community College (about $840 more per year; $11,640.00 vs. $10,800.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 32.3% higher at Richland Community College than at Sauk Valley Community College (about $4,170 more per year; $17,070.00 vs. $12,900.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Richland Community College than at Sauk Valley Community College (81% vs. 62%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Richland Community College students is 3.3% larger than aid received by Sauk Valley Community College students ($6,527 vs. $6,319).

Richland Community College vs. Sauk Valley Community College Admissions comparison

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

Richland Community College vs. Sauk Valley Community College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Richland Community College and Sauk Valley 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 Sauk Valley Community College earn a median of about $3,600 more per year than Richland Community College graduates about ten years after starting college ($33,600 vs. $30,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Sauk Valley Community College graduates have a $1,262 lower median loan debt than Richland Community College graduates ($5,500 vs. $6,762).
• Among borrowers, Sauk Valley Community College graduates have an estimated $13 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Richland Community College graduates ($56 vs. $69).
• More Sauk Valley Community College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Richland Community College students, three years after graduation. (58% 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.