Rend Lake College vs. Rock Valley College

Comparable Facts

Compare Rend Lake College in Ina, 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 Rend Lake College based on total student enrollment (5,978 students vs. 2,015 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

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

Rend Lake College vs. Rock Valley College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Rend Lake 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 Rend Lake College ($5,445 vs. $11,427).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Rock Valley College are 7.4% lower than at Rend Lake College ($10,808 vs. $11,678).
• Rend Lake College is 5.7% more expensive for in-state tuition than Rock Valley College (about $421 more per year; $7,800.00 vs. $7,379.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 5.7% higher at Rend Lake College than at Rock Valley College (about $421 more per year; $7,800.00 vs. $7,379.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Rend Lake College than at Rock Valley College (78% vs. 49%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Rock Valley College students is 0.6% larger than aid received by Rend Lake College students ($6,288 vs. $6,250).

Rend Lake College vs. Rock Valley College Admissions comparison

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

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

Rend Lake College vs. Rock Valley College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Rend Lake 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 $4,500 more per year than Rend Lake College graduates about ten years after starting college ($34,400 vs. $29,900), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Rend Lake College graduates have a $2,792 lower median loan debt than Rock Valley College graduates ($3,500 vs. $6,292).
• Among borrowers, Rend Lake College graduates have an estimated $29 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Rock Valley College graduates ($36 vs. $65).
• More Rock Valley College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Rend Lake College students, three years after graduation. (41% vs. 40%)

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.