Rock Valley College vs. SSC

Comparable Facts

Compare Rock Valley College in Rockford, IL with South Suburban College in South Holland, IL on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Rock Valley College is larger than SSC based on total student enrollment (5,978 students vs. 3,818 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Rock Valley College is located in Rockford, IL (Midsize City setting); South Suburban College is in South Holland, IL (Large Suburban setting).
• Rock Valley College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. South Suburban College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Rock Valley College 19:1; South Suburban College 17:1.

Rock Valley College vs. SSC Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Rock Valley College or SSC? 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 South Suburban College than Rock Valley College ($3,814 vs. $5,445).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at South Suburban College are 45.8% lower than at Rock Valley College ($5,856 vs. $10,808).
• South Suburban College is 49.5% more expensive for in-state tuition than Rock Valley College (about $3,654 more per year; $11,033.00 vs. $7,379.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 71.9% higher at SSC than at Rock Valley College (about $5,304 more per year; $12,683.00 vs. $7,379.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at South Suburban College than at Rock Valley College (69% vs. 49%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by South Suburban College students is 12.3% larger than aid received by Rock Valley College students ($7,063 vs. $6,288).

Rock Valley College vs. SSC Admissions comparison

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

Rock Valley College vs. SSC Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Rock Valley College and SSC? 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 $4,000 more per year than SSC graduates about ten years after starting college ($34,400 vs. $30,400), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.

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.