Carl Sandburg College vs. Rock Valley College

Comparable Facts

Compare Carl Sandburg College in Galesburg, IL with Rock Valley College in Rockford, IL on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Rock Valley College is larger than Carl Sandburg College based on total student enrollment (5,978 students vs. 1,603 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Carl Sandburg College is located in Galesburg, IL (Rural Fringe setting); Rock Valley College is in Rockford, IL (Midsize City setting).
• Carl Sandburg College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Rock Valley College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Carl Sandburg College 15:1; Rock Valley College 19:1.

Carl Sandburg College vs. Rock Valley College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Carl Sandburg College or Rock Valley College? Published tuition is the sticker price; many students pay less after aid (see average net price below).

• The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Carl Sandburg College than Rock Valley College ($5,374 vs. $5,445).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Carl Sandburg College are 27.1% lower than at Rock Valley College ($7,875 vs. $10,808).
• Carl Sandburg College is 8.4% more expensive for in-state tuition than Rock Valley College (about $621 more per year; $8,000.00 vs. $7,379.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 20.6% higher at Carl Sandburg College than at Rock Valley College (about $1,521 more per year; $8,900.00 vs. $7,379.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Carl Sandburg College than at Rock Valley College (94% vs. 49%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Carl Sandburg College students is 31.9% larger than aid received by Rock Valley College students ($8,296 vs. $6,288).

Carl Sandburg College vs. Rock Valley College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Carl Sandburg College or Rock Valley College? Typical SAT and ACT scores (same estimates as in the table above), middle 50% test ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between Rock Valley College and Carl Sandburg College.

• Both colleges report an open admissions policy; selectivity can still vary by program or major.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Carl Sandburg College - Open admission; Rock Valley College - Open admission.

Carl Sandburg College vs. Rock Valley College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Carl Sandburg College and Rock Valley College? Graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt are common indicators. The bullets below summarize the same federal outcomes fields as the comparison table (College Scorecard / IPEDS where applicable).

• Graduates from Rock Valley College earn a median of about $4,100 more per year than Carl Sandburg College graduates about ten years after starting college ($34,400 vs. $30,300), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Carl Sandburg College graduates have a $1,848 lower median loan debt than Rock Valley College graduates ($4,444 vs. $6,292).
• Among borrowers, Carl Sandburg College graduates have an estimated $20 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Rock Valley College graduates ($45 vs. $65).
• More Carl Sandburg College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Rock Valley College students, three years after graduation. (56% vs. 41%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.