Public
Accredited · Higher Learning Commission
Decatur, Illinois
Richland Community College — Admission Snapshot 2026
A complete at-a-glance picture of every metric that matters for your 2026 application
2.15Avg GPA
$11,407Annual Cost
$38,793Grad Salary
33.5%Pell Grant
Avg GPA
2.15
Selectivity
Open Enrollment
Institution Type
Public
Campus
Main Campus
Accredited By
Higher Learning Commission
SAT Middle 50%
-40–30
Avg Net Price
$5,393
Need-Based Aid
33.5% receive Pell
Richland Community College, established in 1971 in Decatur, Illinois, specializes in agriculture, healthcare, and advanced manufacturing. The campus features precision agriculture technology.
Richland is unranked but vital to central Illinois' workforce. Its programs address the region's farming and industrial needs with hands-on training.
Richland Community College Acceptance Rate
Richland Community College runs an open-access admission policy — with a 100% acceptance rate, the focus is on getting qualified students in, not filtering them out.
What to Expect
- Eligibility First: A high school diploma or GED typically clears the main bar.
- Plan Ahead for Placement: Placement tests can shape which courses you start in — worth preparing for.
Selectivity at a Glance
Open Enrollment
Selectivity scale: Open Enrollment — rate not reported
Most Selective (0%)Open Enrollment (100%)
Slightly below-average GPA? A strong test score or clear leadership track record can still keep you competitive.
Recommended Academic Profile
Candidate GPA Range
Admission Category
Strategic Requirement
2.15 – 4.00
Target Match
Maintain Rigor & High Testing
1.95 – 2.14
Competitive Reach
Focus on Score Compensation
Below 1.70
Secondary Reach
Requires Contextual Support
Source: IPEDS & College Scorecard (Nov 2025).
Richland Community College Application Deadlines & Admission Dates 2026
Richland Community College follows a Rolling Admissions policy, meaning applications are reviewed as they arrive and there is no single fixed deadline.
Key Admission Dates
Rolling Admissions — Apply Anytime
Richland Community College reviews applications continuously throughout the year. Seats and scholarships are awarded on a first-come, first-served basis, so applying early gives you a significant advantage for both admission and financial aid.
💡 The scholarship deadline (March 1, 2026) often falls before the regular admission deadline. Submit your application and FAFSA early to be considered for maximum aid.
Deadlines are verified from official institutional sources but may change each cycle. Always confirm final dates on the official website.
Richland Community College GPA Requirement
The average GPA of admitted students at Richland Community College is 2.15. That makes admissions here less selective on GPA specifically. Most admitted students carry a mix of B's and C's.
A solid SAT or ACT score is the fastest way to strengthen an application in this range.
Most schools report GPA on a weighted or unweighted 4.0 scale differently — for an unweighted profile like this, students with AP/IB coursework typically carry a weighted GPA of 2.35–2.55.Check Your Admission Chances at Richland Community College
Admission Chance Predictor
Real-Time Sensitive Analysis — based on Richland Community College's verified institutional data
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Calculating Profile...
Adjust the sliders to see how every decimal point affects your outcome.
Your SAT Score 1200
Your Unweighted GPA 3.00
⚠️ Note: Predicting based on regional averages as this institution does not publicly report full score datasets.
Calculated via College Portal's Human-Intelligence (HI) Methodology & Editorial Standards. Verified by Sohaib Ahmad Khan.
Richland Community College Test Requirements
Standardized scores still matter here: aim for the middle 50% range of the 2026 admitted class below, and if Richland Community College is test-optional, a high score submitted voluntarily still helps with merit scholarships.
Can I Get Into Richland Community College Without SAT or ACT?
Richland Community College's test-score policy isn't published. As a default, submit your score only if it's at or above the state/national average — a below-average score can work against you.
Your 2026 Admissions Roadmap for Richland Community College
Inclusive Strategy: Success & Transfer
Richland Community College's open-access model means the real strategic decisions happen after enrollment: course planning, advising, and whether to transfer later.
If sustainability or energy interests you, lean into Richland's actual on-campus infrastructure
Richland's campus operates its own solar panel array and wind turbine, feeding directly into degree concentrations in Biofuels and Wind Energy - a genuine hands-on infrastructure most community colleges don't have on-site. If you're interested in renewable energy, mention this specific infrastructure in your program inquiry and ask about direct student involvement with the campus systems themselves, not just classroom coursework.
Use the David Erlanson Art Gallery as a real exhibition opportunity, not just a campus amenity
Richland's on-campus art gallery displays student, faculty, and professional work for the public - meaning art students have an actual public exhibition venue built into their college experience. If you're an art student, ask your instructors specifically about submitting work for gallery display, since this is a genuine portfolio-building opportunity most community college art programs can't offer in-house.
Confirm your nursing program's current admission criteria directly with the department, not third-party sites
Nursing (AAS) admission details for Richland - including any point system, HESI/TEAS requirements, and specific deadlines - change by cycle and aren't consistently documented on third-party comparison sites. Contact Richland's nursing department directly for the current cycle's exact criteria before building your prerequisite timeline, rather than relying on general nursing-admission assumptions from other Illinois community colleges.
Take advantage of Richland's small, personalized structure if you're returning to school
With a relatively small full-time enrollment and strong student-faculty ratios, Richland's student reviews consistently highlight individualized faculty attention, particularly valuable for students transitioning back into education after time away. If you're a returning adult student, use this personalized environment to build a closer relationship with your advisor early, since it can meaningfully ease re-entry into academic routines.
Expert Insight:
Applicants sometimes assume that because Richland has a 100% acceptance rate for general admission, its competitive programs (like Nursing) follow the exact same pattern as neighboring Illinois community colleges - but admission criteria for health programs vary school to school even within the same state system, so applying with assumptions borrowed from a different college's published nursing requirements can lead to an incomplete or mismatched application.
Richland Community College Profile
Full Name
Richland Community College
City
Decatur
State
Illinois
ZIP Code
62521-8513
Type
Public
Campus
Main Campus
Official Website
Accredited By
Higher Learning Commission (NCACHE)
Is a Richland Community College Degree Worth It?
Richland Community College offers a rigorous academic environment, but 'worth it' is a personal calculation of cost, program fit, and outcomes — the figures below are a starting point.
The average household income among admitted students is $52,300, with a graduate unemployment rate of 4.22%.
How much does a degree from Richland Community College Cost?
The sticker price is $11,407/year, but the average net price students actually pay — after Pell and federal grants — is closer to $5,393.
33.5% of students receive a Pell Grant and 8.7% take federal loans at Richland Community College — file your FAFSA early and list Richland Community College as a choice to be considered for both.
How much does a Richland Community College Graduate earn?
Median earnings 10 years after enrollment (roughly 4–6 years post-graduation) are $38,793 — somewhat below the U.S. median graduate income of $40,595.
Degree Programs at Richland Community College
Associate Degree Programs
Frequently Asked Questions About Richland Community College Admissions
Median earnings for Richland Community College graduates sit around $38,793 a year.
At about $11,407 a year, Richland Community College is on the more affordable end.
About 33.5% receive a Pell Grant at Richland Community College — moderate odds, largely income-dependent, but an early FAFSA filing still helps.
Admitted students at Richland Community College average a 2.15 GPA.
Richland Community College doesn't publish a hard GPA floor — but landing at or above 1.85 keeps you in the typical applicant range; below it, lean on essays and recommendations.
Below 1.75, Richland Community College becomes a harder reach — though a strong test score, meaningful activities, and AP/IB coursework can still make a real case.
Richland Community College follows Rolling Admissions — applications are reviewed year-round, so applying early is your best strategy.
The scholarship/financial aid priority deadline is March 1, 2026. Submit FAFSA before then for maximum consideration.
Yes — transfers are common. Have transcripts, recommendation letters, and a solid personal statement ready to make your case.
Strong academics, a focused extracurricular profile, and standout essays move the needle most — along with a competitive SAT/ACT score where relevant.
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