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Is Richland Community College worth it?
A first pass affordability and outcome read for Richland Community, using national average inputs. Run your own numbers for a personalized score.
Worth-It Score
Workable
Richland Community lands in the workable band for a typical family. Median debt of $8,256 can be carried by median long-run earnings of $38,793, but the margin is not huge. For context, Richland Community's net price is about 18% below the typical 2-year, public school. This is the kind of school where your actual aid offer can move the answer meaningfully.
Is the price fair?
Compared to 791 similar 2-year, public schools
This school
$6,203
/yrAverage school like this
$7,555
/yrThis helps your Worth-It Score
You'd pay about $1,352 less per year than the typical student at a similar school. Over 4 years that's roughly $5,000 in savings.
Score breakdown
The public version of the score weighs affordability, after graduation outcomes, and repayment burden.
Affordability
40% weight
The yearly net price sits in a range that leaves more room for family cash flow and lower borrowing.
Outcome
40% weight
The outcome data does not create enough margin to fully offset the cost.
Repayment
20% weight
Median debt stays in a more comfortable repayment range for a typical graduate.
The numbers behind the score
Median net price per year
$3,741
Median earnings 10 years out
$38,793
Median debt at graduation
$8,256
Graduation rate
52%
At Richland Community, a typical graduate carries about $8,256 in student debt and earns roughly $38,793 ten years after enrolling. On a standard 10-year repayment plan, that works out to about $94 per month, or 3% of pre-tax income. That sits inside a borrower comfort range for many graduates.
What this means for your family
Richland Community is a two year school in Decatur, IL. For many families, the real question is not just sticker price but what this path unlocks next, whether that is direct employment, transfer, or a lower cost route into a four year degree.
Similar schools worth comparing
These schools share a similar sector, geography, or price range.
2-year
Carl Sandburg
Galesburg, IL
Worth-It Score: 62/100
Median net price: $3,662
2-year
Triton
River Grove, IL
Worth-It Score: 60/100
Median net price: $4,138
2-year
Lewis and Clark Community
Godfrey, IL
Worth-It Score: 63/100
Median net price: $3,349
2-year
Lincoln Land Community
Springfield, IL
Worth-It Score: 62/100
Median net price: $4,299
2-year
Kishwaukee
Malta, IL
Worth-It Score: 61/100
Median net price: $4,574
Common questions about Richland Community
The median net price at Richland Community is $3,741 per year. That is the average yearly price after typical grant aid for students in the public federal data, not the published sticker price.
Get your personalized Worth-It score
National averages are a starting point. Plug in your actual aid offer, intended major, and family situation to get a score that reflects your specific picture.
Looking at community colleges options in Illinois? See the most affordable community colleges in Illinois →
The Worth-It Score weighs affordability (40%), after graduation outcomes (40%), and repayment burden (20%). Underlying data points come from publicly available federal higher education reporting. See full methodology →