Rock Valley College vs. Frontier Community College

Comparable Facts

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

Rock Valley College is larger than Frontier Community College based on total student enrollment (5,978 students vs. 2,364 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Rock Valley College is located in Rockford, IL (Midsize City setting); Frontier Community College is in Fairfield, IL (Rural Fringe setting).
• Rock Valley College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Frontier Community College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Rock Valley College 19:1; Frontier Community College 31:1.

Rock Valley College vs. Frontier Community College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Rock Valley College or Frontier Community College? Published tuition is the sticker price; many students pay less after aid (see average net price below).

• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Frontier Community College are 32.1% lower than at Rock Valley College ($7,338 vs. $10,808).
• Frontier Community College is 24.4% more expensive for in-state tuition than Rock Valley College (about $1,801 more per year; $9,180.00 vs. $7,379.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 52.5% higher at Frontier Community College than at Rock Valley College (about $3,871 more per year; $11,250.00 vs. $7,379.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Rock Valley College than at Frontier Community College (49% vs. 0%).

Rock Valley College vs. Frontier Community College Admissions comparison

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

Rock Valley College vs. Frontier Community College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Rock Valley College and Frontier Community 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 $3,600 more per year than Frontier Community College graduates about ten years after starting college ($34,400 vs. $30,800), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Rock Valley College graduates have a $82 lower median loan debt than Frontier Community College graduates ($6,292 vs. $6,374).
• Among borrowers in the federal data, Frontier Community College and Rock Valley College graduates have the same median monthly federal student loan payment ($65 vs. $65).
• More Frontier Community College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Rock Valley College students, three years after graduation. (44% 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.