Location: Decatur, IL•In-State Tuition: $4,590•Out-of-State Tuition: $17,070
Est. Earnings (1yr)
$37,423
Est. from national median (16 programs)
Est. Median Debt
$11,978
Est. from national median (10 programs)

Analysis

A $12,000 debt load for an associate's degree is manageable by most standards, particularly when paired with the typical earning trajectory in agricultural business. Nationwide, associate's programs in this field cluster around $37,000 in first-year earnings, which would make the estimated debt here roughly equivalent to a third of starting pay—a ratio that generally allows for comfortable repayment within a few years.

The wildcard is Illinois itself. The one IL school with reportable data shows earnings of just $22,000, which would flip this from a solid investment to a challenging one. That gap could reflect anything from program quality differences to the types of agricultural employers concentrated in different regions of the state. Richland serves a largely rural community where ag businesses may pay differently than metro-area employers, and graduates might be entering family operations or smaller enterprises rather than corporate agricultural concerns.

Without knowing which scenario applies here, focus on the job your student would actually take post-graduation. If they're eyeing positions at regional cooperatives, grain elevators, or farm equipment dealers with pay scales closer to the national norm, the numbers work. If they're likely headed toward entry-level farm management roles typical of what that other Illinois program produces, the debt becomes tougher to justify relative to earnings.

Where Richland Community College Stands

Earnings vs. debt across all agricultural business and management associates's programs nationally

Richland Community College (estimated ±10%)Other agricultural business and management programs

Dashed lines show national medians. Upper-left = best value.

Compare to Similar Programs in Illinois

Agricultural Business and Management associates's programs at peer institutions in Illinois (18 total in state)

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SchoolIn-State TuitionEarnings (1yr)*Earnings (4yr)Median Debt*Debt/Earnings
Richland Community CollegeDecatur$4,590$37,423*—$11,978*—
Stautzenberger College-Rockford Career CollegeRockford$16,699$22,309*——*—
National Median—$37,423*—$12,000*0.32
* Estimated from similar programs

Career Paths

Occupations commonly associated with agricultural business and management graduates

Economists

Conduct research, prepare reports, or formulate plans to address economic problems related to the production and distribution of goods and services or monetary and fiscal policy. May collect and process economic and statistical data using sampling techniques and econometric methods.

$115,440/yrJobs growth:Master's degree

Environmental Economists

Conduct economic analysis related to environmental protection and use of the natural environment, such as water, air, land, and renewable energy resources. Evaluate and quantify benefits, costs, incentives, and impacts of alternative options using economic principles and statistical techniques.

$115,440/yrJobs growth:Master's degree

Farmers, Ranchers, and Other Agricultural Managers

Plan, direct, or coordinate the management or operation of farms, ranches, greenhouses, aquacultural operations, nurseries, timber tracts, or other agricultural establishments. May hire, train, and supervise farm workers or contract for services to carry out the day-to-day activities of the managed operation. May engage in or supervise planting, cultivating, harvesting, and financial and marketing activities.

$87,980/yrJobs growth:High school diploma or equivalent

Agricultural Sciences Teachers, Postsecondary

Teach courses in the agricultural sciences. Includes teachers of agronomy, dairy sciences, fisheries management, horticultural sciences, poultry sciences, range management, and agricultural soil conservation. Includes both teachers primarily engaged in teaching and those who do a combination of teaching and research.

$83,980/yrJobs growth:

Economics Teachers, Postsecondary

Teach courses in economics. Includes both teachers primarily engaged in teaching and those who do a combination of teaching and research.

$83,980/yrJobs growth:

Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products

Sell goods for wholesalers or manufacturers to businesses or groups of individuals. Work requires substantial knowledge of items sold.

$74,100/yrJobs growth:

Computer User Support Specialists

Provide technical assistance to computer users. Answer questions or resolve computer problems for clients in person, via telephone, or electronically. May provide assistance concerning the use of computer hardware and software, including printing, installation, word processing, electronic mail, and operating systems.

$61,550/yrJobs growth:

Buyers and Purchasing Agents, Farm Products

Purchase farm products either for further processing or resale. Includes tree farm contractors, grain brokers and market operators, grain buyers, and tobacco buyers. May negotiate contracts.

Farm and Home Management Educators

Instruct and advise individuals and families engaged in agriculture, agricultural-related processes, or home management activities. Demonstrate procedures and apply research findings to advance agricultural and home management activities. May develop educational outreach programs. May instruct on either agricultural issues such as agricultural processes and techniques, pest management, and food safety, or on home management issues such as budgeting, nutrition, and child development.

First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support Workers

Directly supervise and coordinate the activities of clerical and administrative support workers.

First-Line Supervisors of Farming, Fishing, and Forestry Workers

Directly supervise and coordinate the activities of agricultural, forestry, aquacultural, and related workers.

About This Data

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (October 2025 release)

Population: Graduates who received federal financial aid (Title IV grants or loans). At Richland Community College, approximately 33% of students receive Pell grants. Students who did not receive federal aid are not included in these figures.

Earnings: Median earnings from IRS W-2 data for graduates who are employed and not enrolled in further education, measured 1 year after completion. Earnings are pre-tax and include wages, salaries, and self-employment income.

Debt: Median cumulative federal loan debt at graduation. Does not include private loans or Parent PLUS loans borrowed on behalf of students.

Estimated Earnings: Actual earnings data is not available for this program (typically due to privacy thresholds when fewer than 30 graduates reported earnings). The estimate shown is based on the national median of 16 similar programs. Actual outcomes may vary.