Parkland College vs. Rock Valley College

Comparable Facts

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

Parkland College is larger than Rock Valley College based on total student enrollment (6,014 students vs. 5,978 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Parkland College is located in Champaign, IL (Small City setting); Rock Valley College is in Rockford, IL (Midsize City setting).
• Parkland College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Rock Valley College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Parkland College 14:1; Rock Valley College 19:1.

Parkland College vs. Rock Valley College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Parkland 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 Rock Valley College than Parkland College ($5,445 vs. $7,681).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Parkland College are 13% lower than at Rock Valley College ($9,400 vs. $10,808).
• Parkland College is 30.7% more expensive for in-state tuition than Rock Valley College (about $2,263 more per year; $9,642.00 vs. $7,379.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 79.8% higher at Parkland College than at Rock Valley College (about $5,887 more per year; $13,266.00 vs. $7,379.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Parkland College than at Rock Valley College (51% vs. 49%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Parkland College students is 15.2% larger than aid received by Rock Valley College students ($7,244 vs. $6,288).

Parkland College vs. Rock Valley College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Parkland 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 Parkland College.

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

Parkland College vs. Rock Valley College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Parkland 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 $400 more per year than Parkland College graduates about ten years after starting college ($34,400 vs. $34,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Rock Valley College graduates have a $1,708 lower median loan debt than Parkland College graduates ($6,292 vs. $8,000).
• Among borrowers, Rock Valley College graduates have an estimated $17 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Parkland College graduates ($65 vs. $82).
• More Rock Valley College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Parkland College students, three years after graduation. (41% vs. 32%)

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.