Lake Land College vs. Rock Valley College

Comparable Facts

Compare Lake Land College in Mattoon, 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 Lake Land College based on total student enrollment (5,978 students vs. 3,960 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

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

Lake Land College vs. Rock Valley College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Lake Land 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 Lake Land College than Rock Valley College ($4,414 vs. $5,445).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Lake Land College are 44.5% lower than at Rock Valley College ($6,000 vs. $10,808).
• Lake Land College is 13.1% more expensive for in-state tuition than Rock Valley College (about $963 more per year; $8,342.00 vs. $7,379.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 93.8% higher at Lake Land College than at Rock Valley College (about $6,922 more per year; $14,301.00 vs. $7,379.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Lake Land College than at Rock Valley College (80% vs. 49%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Rock Valley College students is 12% larger than aid received by Lake Land College students ($6,288 vs. $5,615).

Lake Land College vs. Rock Valley College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Lake Land 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 Lake Land College.

• Both colleges report an open admissions policy; selectivity can still vary by program or major.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Lake Land College - Open admission; Rock Valley College - Open admission.
• Typical fall application deadline: Lake Land College Sep 3, 2026.

Lake Land College vs. Rock Valley College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Lake Land 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 $2,800 more per year than Lake Land College graduates about ten years after starting college ($34,400 vs. $31,600), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Lake Land College graduates have a $1,792 lower median loan debt than Rock Valley College graduates ($4,500 vs. $6,292).
• Among borrowers, Lake Land College graduates have an estimated $19 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Rock Valley College graduates ($46 vs. $65).
• More Lake Land College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Rock Valley College students, three years after graduation. (49% 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.