Richland Community College — ROI, Cost & Payback
Richland Community College charges a net price of $3,741/yr after aid — a 4-year total of $14,964. Median earnings ten years after entry are $38,793, below the $48,360 high-school baseline, so on this institution-wide metric the degree does not clear its cost. Program choice is what changes that. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
On institution-wide earnings, Richland Community College does not clear its cost — it ranks #74 of 116 Illinois colleges we track by ROI. The specific program you pick moves this more than the school average.
| Measure | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Net price (after aid) | $3,741/yr | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Total net cost (4 yrs) | $14,964 | our math |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry | $38,793 | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Earnings premium over HS baseline | -$9,567/yr | our math |
| Median debt (completers) | $8,256 | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Payback | does not clear | our math |
| 20-year net return | -$206,304 | our math |
College Scorecard (2026 release), institution-level · payback and returns are our math.
The arithmetic, on Richland Community College's own numbers. Net price $3,741 × 4 years = $14,964 total. Median earnings $38,793 fall $9,567 short of the $48,360 high-school baseline, so the premium this formula divides by is not positive and no break-even year exists on institution-wide pay. A programme here earning $58,360 would clear the $14,964 bill in about 1.5 years — the gap, not the price, is what blocks payback. Full method.
How much debt do Richland Community College students graduate with?
A median $8,256 in federal loans among completers, or 21% of the $38,793 its graduates earn ten years out — our math. The figure excludes private loans and students who left before finishing.
What share of Richland Community College students graduate?
60% finish their degree — 40% leave carrying the cost without the credential. Spread the $14,964 bill across that completion rate and the cohort pays $24,940 per graduate produced — our math, and the figure a payback number never shows.
Is Richland Community College expensive compared with other Illinois colleges?
Its $3,741 net price runs $10,009 below the $13,750 median across the 116 Illinois colleges we profile, and $40,036 less across the full degree.