Rock Valley College vs. Waubonsee

Comparable Facts

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

Waubonsee Community College is larger than Rock Valley College based on total student enrollment (8,305 students vs. 5,978 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Rock Valley College is located in Rockford, IL (Midsize City setting); Waubonsee Community College is in Sugar Grove, IL (Rural Fringe setting).
• Rock Valley College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Waubonsee Community College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Rock Valley College 19:1; Waubonsee Community College 21:1.

Rock Valley College vs. Waubonsee Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Rock Valley College or Waubonsee ? 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 Waubonsee ($5,445 vs. $12,754).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Rock Valley College are 52.4% lower than at Waubonsee Community College ($10,808 vs. $22,700).
• Waubonsee Community College is 27.3% more expensive for in-state tuition than Rock Valley College (about $2,011 more per year; $9,390.00 vs. $7,379.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 42% higher at Waubonsee than at Rock Valley College (about $3,098 more per year; $10,477.00 vs. $7,379.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Waubonsee Community College than at Rock Valley College (75% vs. 49%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Rock Valley College students is 3.8% larger than aid received by Waubonsee Community College students ($6,288 vs. $6,055).

Rock Valley College vs. Waubonsee Admissions comparison

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

Rock Valley College vs. Waubonsee Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Rock Valley College and Waubonsee ? 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 Waubonsee Community College earn a median of about $500 more per year than Rock Valley College graduates about ten years after starting college ($34,900 vs. $34,400), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Rock Valley College graduates have a $208 lower median loan debt than Waubonsee graduates ($6,292 vs. $6,500).
• Among borrowers, Rock Valley College graduates have an estimated $2 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Waubonsee graduates ($65 vs. $67).
• More Waubonsee 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.