College of Lake County vs. Rock Valley College

Comparable Facts

Compare College of Lake County in Grayslake, IL with Rock Valley College in Rockford, IL on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

College of Lake County is larger than Rock Valley College based on total student enrollment (12,530 students vs. 5,978 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• College of Lake County is located in Grayslake, IL (Midsize Suburban setting); Rock Valley College is in Rockford, IL (Midsize City setting).
• College of Lake County is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Rock Valley College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: College of Lake County 16:1; Rock Valley College 19:1.

College of Lake County vs. Rock Valley College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, College of Lake County 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 Rock Valley College than College of Lake County ($5,445 vs. $6,357).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Rock Valley College are 35.7% lower than at College of Lake County ($10,808 vs. $16,800).
• College of Lake County is 47.3% more expensive for in-state tuition than Rock Valley College (about $3,490 more per year; $10,869.00 vs. $7,379.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 95.1% higher at College of Lake County than at Rock Valley College (about $7,021 more per year; $14,400.00 vs. $7,379.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at College of Lake County than at Rock Valley College (52% vs. 49%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by College of Lake County students is 1.2% larger than aid received by Rock Valley College students ($6,361 vs. $6,288).

College of Lake County vs. Rock Valley College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, College of Lake County 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 College of Lake County.

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

College of Lake County vs. Rock Valley College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for College of Lake County 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 College of Lake County earn a median of about $1,400 more per year than Rock Valley College graduates about ten years after starting college ($35,800 vs. $34,400), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, College of Lake County graduates have a $792 lower median loan debt than Rock Valley College graduates ($5,500 vs. $6,292).
• Among borrowers, College of Lake County graduates have an estimated $9 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Rock Valley College graduates ($56 vs. $65).
• More College of Lake County graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Rock Valley College students, three years after graduation. (47% 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.