Rock Valley College vs. Harper

Comparable Facts

Compare Rock Valley College in Rockford, IL with William Rainey Harper College in Palatine, IL on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

William Rainey Harper College is larger than Rock Valley College based on total student enrollment (13,988 students vs. 5,978 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Rock Valley College is located in Rockford, IL (Midsize City setting); William Rainey Harper College is in Palatine, IL (Large Suburban setting).
• Rock Valley College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. William Rainey Harper College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Rock Valley College 19:1; William Rainey Harper College 21:1.

Rock Valley College vs. Harper Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Rock Valley College or Harper? 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 Harper ($5,445 vs. $12,145).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Rock Valley College are 24.2% lower than at William Rainey Harper College ($10,808 vs. $14,251).
• William Rainey Harper College is 36.4% more expensive for in-state tuition than Rock Valley College (about $2,683 more per year; $10,062.00 vs. $7,379.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 60.9% higher at Harper than at Rock Valley College (about $4,495 more per year; $11,874.00 vs. $7,379.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at William Rainey Harper College than at Rock Valley College (55% vs. 49%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by William Rainey Harper College students is 17.2% larger than aid received by Rock Valley College students ($7,368 vs. $6,288).

Rock Valley College vs. Harper Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Rock Valley College or Harper? 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 Harper 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; Harper - Open admission.

Rock Valley College vs. Harper Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Rock Valley College and Harper? 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 William Rainey Harper College earn a median of about $6,100 more per year than Rock Valley College graduates about ten years after starting college ($40,500 vs. $34,400), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Rock Valley College graduates have a $3,708 lower median loan debt than Harper graduates ($6,292 vs. $10,000).
• Among borrowers, Rock Valley College graduates have an estimated $38 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Harper graduates ($65 vs. $103).
• More Harper graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Rock Valley College students, three years after graduation. (46% 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.