Rasmussen University-Illinois is 14.7 miles from Garden Prairie
No college sits inside Garden Prairie’s boundary, but Rasmussen University-Illinois’s campus in Rockford, with 1,004 students on campus, is 14.7 miles from the center of town, and Rock Valley College is 14.8 miles away in Rockford. About 6% of Garden Prairie’s residents are enrolled in college, about the same as Illinois (6%).
From the U.S. Department of Education (College Scorecard, June 2026; IPEDS fall 2023 enrollment) and the Census Bureau’s American Community Survey, 2020–24. Straight-line distances from the center of Garden Prairie. Colleges are described, not graded.
What stands out about college from Garden Prairie
Facts about the town and its distance to campus; each college’s own figures follow.
Colleges within 15 miles of Garden Prairie
Two private colleges within 14.8 miles, and Rock Valley College 14.8 miles away. The nearest public four-year college, Northern Illinois University, is 22.3 miles away.
Degree-granting colleges with 100 or more students on campus (fall 2023 enrollment, minus students who study only online). Admitted: share of applicants offered a place. Net price: the average a year after grants, for students on federal aid. Graduate: within 6 years (4-year colleges) or 3 (2-year). Earnings: median, 10 years after starting.
What would your family pay?
The average a year after grants, for families on federal aid, at the colleges within 15 miles and the nearest public four-year college. Pick your family’s income.
Starts at $48–75k, where Garden Prairie’s median household income ($68,319) falls.
The average a year after grants and scholarships, for first-time, full-time students on federal aid, from the College Scorecard. Your own price depends on your aid package; every college has a net price calculator. For community colleges the net price counts housing and food at full cost, so tuition is shown beside it. “—”: not reported for that income.
Do students finish, and does it pay?
Each dot is a college: across is the share who graduate, up is what they earn ten years after starting.
Graduation: first-time, full-time students within 6 years (4-year colleges) or 3 years (2-year). Earnings: median, 10 years after starting, for students who got federal aid. *Reported for all the campuses that file together: Rasmussen University-Illinois (6).
Questions about college near Garden Prairie
Is Garden Prairie a college town?
No. About 6 of every 100 Garden Prairie residents are enrolled in college (Census, 2020–24), about the same as Illinois (6). The nearest campus, Rasmussen University-Illinois, is 14.7 miles away in Rockford.
What colleges are near Garden Prairie?
Within 15 miles: Rasmussen University-Illinois (14.7 miles, 1,004 students on campus), Rock Valley College (14.8 miles, 4,475) and Saint Anthony College of Nursing (14.8 miles, 156).
What is the closest community college to Garden Prairie, and what does it cost?
Rock Valley College in Rockford, 14.8 miles away. Tuition and fees are $4,334 a year for Illinois residents; the federal net price, $5,242, counts housing and food at full cost.
How much does Northern Illinois University cost if we live in Illinois?
Tuition and fees are $13,248 a year in-state and $13,248 from out of state. After grants, families on federal aid paid an average of $10,126 (under $30,000 income) to $21,834 (over $110,000), housing and food included.
Neighbors talk college
Students, parents, alumni and the neighbors next door.
Colleges: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard and IPEDS (Scorecard 06/10/2026 · IPEDS 2024 · fall 2023 enrollment). “On campus” is fall enrollment minus students who study only online. Distances are straight-line from the center of Garden Prairie. Residents in college, age, rent and poverty (including poverty without college students, table B14006): U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020–24. Colleges are described, not graded; the College town label marks towns where 15% or more of residents are enrolled. How TownRatings describes colleges →