Highland Community College vs. Rock Valley College

Comparable Facts

Compare Highland Community College in Freeport, 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 Highland Community College based on total student enrollment (5,978 students vs. 1,360 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Highland Community College is located in Freeport, IL (Distant Town setting); Rock Valley College is in Rockford, IL (Midsize City setting).
• Highland Community College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Rock Valley College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Highland Community College 13:1; Rock Valley College 19:1.

Highland Community College vs. Rock Valley College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Highland Community 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 Highland Community College than Rock Valley College ($5,393 vs. $5,445).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Highland Community College are 44.9% lower than at Rock Valley College ($5,950 vs. $10,808).
• Rock Valley College is 2.3% more expensive for in-state tuition than Highland Community College (about $163 more per year; $7,379.00 vs. $7,216.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 0.3% higher at Rock Valley College than at Highland Community College (about $19 more per year; $7,379.00 vs. $7,360.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Highland Community College than at Rock Valley College (73% vs. 49%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Highland Community College students is 13.3% larger than aid received by Rock Valley College students ($7,127 vs. $6,288).

Highland Community College vs. Rock Valley College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Highland Community 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 Highland Community College.

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

Highland Community College vs. Rock Valley College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Highland Community 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 $4,000 more per year than Highland Community College graduates about ten years after starting college ($34,400 vs. $30,400), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Rock Valley College graduates have a $1,208 lower median loan debt than Highland Community College graduates ($6,292 vs. $7,500).
• Among borrowers, Rock Valley College graduates have an estimated $12 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Highland Community College graduates ($65 vs. $77).
• More Rock Valley College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Highland Community College students, three years after graduation. (41% 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.