Do Students Succeed at Richland Community College?
A data-driven look at student outcomes at Richland Community College — completion rates, transfers, and enrollment status.
Student Success at Richland Community College at a Glance
Richland Community College is a public institution offering at least 2 but less than 4 years programs located in Decatur, IL. Current enrollment is 2,388 students.
- 60.3% overall graduation rate (IPEDS)
- 26.1% of all entering students earn their award within 8 years
- 73% of exiters from its largest program (Associate in Arts -- Psychology Concentration) were employed within 6 months — verified by the U.S. Department of Labor
- DOL-verified median earnings of $7,109 per quarter after exiting Associate in Arts -- Psychology Concentration
- 683 graduates across 93 programs in 2025
Program-Level Results · Verified by the U.S. Department of Labor
Verified Program Outcomes
Completion and employment results reported to the U.S. Department of Labor for Richland Community College programs on the state Eligible Training Provider List. Missing values ("—") mean the state suppressed or did not report that metric — they never mean zero.
| Program | Completion rate | Employed 6 mo after exit | Employed 1 yr after exit | Median quarterly earnings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Associate in Arts -- Psychology Concentration | — | 73% | 71% | $7,109 |
| Associate Degree Nursing | 6% | 80% | 86% | $16,762 |
| CDL Class A | 4% | 84% | 76% | $13,107 |
| Class B Truck Driver Training | — | 84% | 76% | $13,107 |
| Nurse Assistant/Aide | — | 80% | 79% | $6,556 |
| Surgical Technology | — | 100% | 86% | $13,048 |
| Automotive Technology (AAS) | — | 64% | 63% | $9,197 |
| Practical Nursing | — | 71% | 100% | $11,698 |
Source: U.S. Department of Labor, WIOA participant outcomes (trainingproviderresults.gov), PY 2023.
College-Wide Statistics · IPEDS Federal Survey
What Are the Student Outcomes at Richland Community College?
Unlike the program-level results above, the figures below cover all students at Richland Community College, tracked over eight years by the federal IPEDS survey.
Overall Completion Rate
26.1%
Working Student Success
25.6%
Transfer Out Rate
27.9%
Still Enrolled Rate
1%
How Richland Community College Compares
Richland Community College's 26% completion rate is right in the typical band for trade and vocational schools — most peer institutions land somewhere in the 30–50% range. Another 28% transfer out and 1% remain enrolled; these together usually account for the bulk of the cohort, with only a smaller share leaving without a clear next step.
What Happens After Students Enroll at Richland Community College?
Eight-Year Student Outcomes
Eight-year outcomes for students who entered Richland Community College. This shows what happened to students in their cohort by the end of the tracking period.
Understanding These Outcomes
Completed: Students who earned a certificate, diploma, or degree from this institution.
Still Enrolled: Students who remain enrolled at this institution after the tracking period.
Transferred Out: Students who transferred to another institution and may have completed there.
No Award: Students who left without earning a credential and are not enrolled elsewhere.
Combined completion and transfer rate of 53.2% indicates strong student success pathways.
These outcomes track what happened to students eight years after they first enrolled. Completion rates include certificates, diplomas, and degrees earned at this institution. Transfer rates show students who continued their education at other colleges. Understanding these pathways helps prospective students set realistic expectations and plan their educational journey.
What Are the Transfer and Continuation Patterns at Richland Community College?
Success Rates by Student Entry Pathway
Comparing completion rates across different student entry pathways helps understand which groups succeed and how transfer experience impacts outcomes.
Key Insights
First-time students have an advantage of 14.0 percentage points over transfer students, which may reflect the benefits of starting fresh at the institution.
Combined 31.5% transfer-out rate suggests this institution may serve as a stepping stone for students continuing their education elsewhere.
Cohort Composition
Understanding Student Pathways
First-Time Students: Beginning postsecondary education for the first time at this institution.
Transfer-In Students: Previously attended another postsecondary institution before enrolling here.
Continuing Students: Returned to this institution after a break in enrollment.
Completion rates tracked over 8 years from initial entry.
Different student entry pathways lead to varying success rates. First-time students enter directly from high school or are starting college for the first time. Transfer students bring prior college experience and credits. Understanding these patterns helps you identify which pathway aligns best with your situation and predict your likelihood of success.
What Are the Completion Rates by Student Type at Richland Community College?
What does this mean for you? These completion rates show how different types of students succeed at this institution. Full-time students have a higher completion rate (27.6%) compared to part-time students (25.6%). Consider your work and life commitments when deciding on your enrollment status. First-time students are those new to college, while transfer students have attended another institution before.
What Are the Cohort Outcomes Over Time at Richland Community College?
Tracking outcomes for the 2015-16 cohort of 631 students
After 4 Years
After 6 Years
After 8 Years (Final)
Final Student Status
Completion Breakdown by Cohort
Part-time First-time Students
All First-time Students
Full-time First-time Students
Part-time First-time Transfer Students
All First-time Transfer Students
All Full-time Students
Full-time Non-first-time Students
Full-time First-time Transfer Students
Time to Completion
About This Data
Outcome measures data tracks student cohorts over 4, 6, and 8-year periods. Data is sourced from IPEDS (Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System) and reflects the most recent available reporting year.