MCC vs. Rock Valley College

Comparable Facts

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

McHenry County College is larger than Rock Valley College based on total student enrollment (9,399 students vs. 5,978 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• McHenry County College is located in Crystal Lake, IL (Rural Fringe setting); Rock Valley College is in Rockford, IL (Midsize City setting).
• McHenry County College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Rock Valley College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: McHenry County College 25:1; Rock Valley College 19:1.

MCC vs. Rock Valley College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, MCC 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 MCC ($5,445 vs. $6,334).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Rock Valley College are 10.6% lower than at McHenry County College ($10,808 vs. $12,090).
• McHenry County College is 40.8% more expensive for in-state tuition than Rock Valley College (about $3,013 more per year; $10,392.00 vs. $7,379.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 95.1% higher at MCC than at Rock Valley College (about $7,020 more per year; $14,399.00 vs. $7,379.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Rock Valley College than at McHenry County College (49% vs. 33%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by McHenry County College students is 2.1% larger than aid received by Rock Valley College students ($6,422 vs. $6,288).

MCC vs. Rock Valley College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, MCC 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 MCC.

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

MCC vs. Rock Valley College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for MCC 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 $1,600 more per year than MCC graduates about ten years after starting college ($34,400 vs. $32,800), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, McHenry County College graduates have a $1,792 lower median loan debt than Rock Valley College graduates ($4,500 vs. $6,292).
• Among borrowers, MCC graduates have an estimated $19 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Rock Valley College graduates ($46 vs. $65).
• More MCC 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.