Prairie State College vs. Rock Valley College

Comparable Facts

Compare Prairie State College in Chicago Heights, 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 Prairie State College based on total student enrollment (5,978 students vs. 2,953 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Prairie State College is located in Chicago Heights, IL (Large Suburban setting); Rock Valley College is in Rockford, IL (Midsize City setting).
• Prairie State College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Rock Valley College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Prairie State College 12:1; Rock Valley College 19:1.

Prairie State College vs. Rock Valley College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Prairie State 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 Prairie State College than Rock Valley College ($5,317 vs. $5,445).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Prairie State College are 30.5% lower than at Rock Valley College ($7,516 vs. $10,808).
• Prairie State College is 26.6% more expensive for in-state tuition than Rock Valley College (about $1,963 more per year; $9,342.00 vs. $7,379.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 49.9% higher at Prairie State College than at Rock Valley College (about $3,685 more per year; $11,064.00 vs. $7,379.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Prairie State College than at Rock Valley College (68% vs. 49%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Prairie State College students is 34.7% larger than aid received by Rock Valley College students ($8,470 vs. $6,288).

Prairie State College vs. Rock Valley College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Prairie State 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 Prairie State College.

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

Prairie State College vs. Rock Valley College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Prairie State 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 $1,400 more per year than Prairie State College graduates about ten years after starting college ($34,400 vs. $33,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Rock Valley College graduates have a $3,940 lower median loan debt than Prairie State College graduates ($6,292 vs. $10,232).
• Among borrowers, Rock Valley College graduates have an estimated $40 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Prairie State College graduates ($65 vs. $105).
• More Rock Valley College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Prairie State College students, three years after graduation. (41% vs. 28%)

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.