Richland Community College vs. Waubonsee

Comparable Facts

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

Waubonsee Community College is larger than Richland Community College based on total student enrollment (8,305 students vs. 2,388 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Richland Community College is located in Decatur, IL (Rural Fringe setting); Waubonsee Community College is in Sugar Grove, IL (Rural Fringe setting).
• Richland Community College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Waubonsee Community College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Richland Community College 15:1; Waubonsee Community College 21:1.

Richland Community College vs. Waubonsee Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Richland Community College or Waubonsee ? 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 Waubonsee ($4,527 vs. $12,754).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Richland Community College are 47% lower than at Waubonsee Community College ($12,020 vs. $22,700).
• Richland Community College is 15% more expensive for in-state tuition than Waubonsee (about $1,410 more per year; $10,800.00 vs. $9,390.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 62.9% higher at Richland Community College than at Waubonsee Community College (about $6,593 more per year; $17,070.00 vs. $10,477.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Richland Community College than at Waubonsee Community College (81% vs. 75%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Richland Community College students is 7.8% larger than aid received by Waubonsee Community College students ($6,527 vs. $6,055).

Richland Community College vs. Waubonsee Admissions comparison

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

Richland Community College vs. Waubonsee Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Richland Community College and Waubonsee ? 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 Waubonsee Community College earn a median of about $4,900 more per year than Richland Community College graduates about ten years after starting college ($34,900 vs. $30,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Waubonsee Community College graduates have a $262 lower median loan debt than Richland Community College graduates ($6,500 vs. $6,762).
• Among borrowers, Waubonsee graduates have an estimated $2 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Richland Community College graduates ($67 vs. $69).
• More Waubonsee graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Richland Community College students, three years after graduation. (43% 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.