Rock Valley College vs. Blackhawk Technical College

Comparable Facts

Compare Rock Valley College in Rockford, IL with Blackhawk Technical College in Janesville, WI on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Rock Valley College is larger than Blackhawk Technical College based on total student enrollment (5,978 students vs. 2,811 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Rock Valley College is located in Rockford, IL (Midsize City setting); Blackhawk Technical College is in Janesville, WI (Rural Fringe setting).
• Rock Valley College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Blackhawk Technical College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Rock Valley College 19:1; Blackhawk Technical College 8:1.

Rock Valley College vs. Blackhawk Technical College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Rock Valley College or Blackhawk Technical 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 Blackhawk Technical College ($5,445 vs. $8,597).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Blackhawk Technical College are 15.4% lower than at Rock Valley College ($9,146 vs. $10,808).
• Rock Valley College is 72.9% more expensive for in-state tuition than Blackhawk Technical College (about $3,112 more per year; $7,379.00 vs. $4,267.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 21.7% higher at Rock Valley College than at Blackhawk Technical College (about $1,318 more per year; $7,379.00 vs. $6,061.00).
• The same share of students receive grant aid at Rock Valley College as at Blackhawk Technical College (49% vs. 49%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Blackhawk Technical College students is 11.5% larger than aid received by Rock Valley College students ($7,012 vs. $6,288).

Rock Valley College vs. Blackhawk Technical College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Rock Valley College or Blackhawk Technical 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 Blackhawk Technical College and Rock Valley College.

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

Rock Valley College vs. Blackhawk Technical College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Rock Valley College and Blackhawk Technical 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 Blackhawk Technical College graduates about ten years after starting college ($34,400 vs. $31,600), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Rock Valley College graduates have a $3,458 lower median loan debt than Blackhawk Technical College graduates ($6,292 vs. $9,750).
• Among borrowers, Rock Valley College graduates have an estimated $35 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Blackhawk Technical College graduates ($65 vs. $100).
• More Blackhawk Technical College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Rock Valley College students, three years after graduation. (43% 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.