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Second Avenue - Rock Island, IllinoisPhoto: Farragutful · CC BY-SA 4.0
Colleges in and near Rock Island

Rock Island is home to Augustana College

Augustana College (2,484 students on campus) is inside the city, and Eastern Iowa Community College District (5,075) is 3.7 miles from the center, in Davenport. About 10% of Rock Island’s residents are enrolled in college, above Illinois (6%).

Augustana CollegeEastern Iowa Community College DistrictPalmer College of ChiropracticSaint Ambrose University

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 Rock Island. Colleges are described, not graded.

Within 15 miles
5
15,567 students on campus
Nearest college
2.9 mi
Augustana College
Residents in college
10%
Above IL (6%)
Nearest community college
7.1 mi
Black Hawk College · $4,920 tuition
Nearest public university
69.4 mi
Western Illinois University · $15,264 in-state
Median household income
$59K
prices below start here

What stands out about college in Rock Island

Facts about the town and its distance to campus; each college’s own figures follow.

Four colleges within 4.9 milesAugustana College admits 63% of applicants; Saint Ambrose University admits 77%. Together they have 12,240 students on campus.A community college 7.1 miles awayBlack Hawk College in Moline: tuition and fees $4,920 a year for Illinois residents.In-state price at Western Illinois UniversityLiving in Illinois, Western Illinois University charges $15,264 in tuition and fees, the same for every student.Students are 10% of residentsAbove Illinois (6%). The Census counts anyone enrolled, including part-time and online students.
Every college

Colleges within 15 miles of Rock Island

Three private colleges within 4.9 miles, and two community colleges. The nearest public four-year college, Western Illinois University, is 69.4 miles away.

5 mi10 mi15 miEastern Iowa Community College DistrictBlack Hawk CollegeAugustana CollegeRock Island
University or collegeCommunity college
Augustana CollegeUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 2,484 on campus · In Rock Island63%admitted$23knet price73%graduate$63kearningsEastern Iowa Community College DistrictCommunity college · Public · 5,075 on campus · 3.7 mi · Davenport, IA$14knet price45%graduate$39kearningsTuition and fees: $4,848 a year. The net price counts housing and food at full cost.Palmer College of ChiropracticUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 2,213 on campus · 4.2 mi · Davenport, IA$59kearningsSaint Ambrose UniversityUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 2,468 on campus · 4.9 mi · Davenport, IA77%admitted$25knet price61%graduate$60kearningsBlack Hawk CollegeCommunity college · Public · 3,327 on campus · 7.1 mi · Moline$7knet price40%graduate$37kearningsTuition and fees: $4,920 a year. The net price counts housing and food at full cost.

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 it costs

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.

Family income

Starts at $48–75k, where Rock Island’s median household income ($59,041) falls.

Black Hawk College7.1 mi · Moline · sticker $12,291 · tuition $4,920$7,220a year
Western Illinois University69.4 mi · Macomb · sticker $28,254$12,062a year
Eastern Iowa Community College District3.7 mi · Davenport, IA · sticker $19,170 · tuition $4,848$14,703a year
Augustana CollegeIn Rock Island · sticker $63,553$16,865a year
Saint Ambrose University4.9 mi · Davenport, IA · sticker $51,141$22,408a year

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.

Outcomes

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.

$0$20k$40k$60k$80k0%25%50%75%100%Graduate →Augustana CollegeEastern Iowa Community College DistrictSaint Ambrose UniversityBlack Hawk CollegeWestern Illinois University
Western Illinois University45% graduate$54k earnings$25k typical debt
Eastern Iowa Community College District45% graduate$39k earnings$13k typical debt
Black Hawk College40% graduate$37k earnings$8k typical debt
Augustana College73% graduate$63k earnings$27k typical debt
Saint Ambrose University61% graduate$60k earnings$25k typical debt

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.

Majors

What students study in Rock Island

Share of bachelor’s and associate degrees by field at Augustana College, weighted by undergraduates; then the biggest programs.

Biology 21%Business 18%Psychology 8%Education 8%Social sciences 6%Computer science 6%Everything else 33%

Biggest programs

Biology, General69 graduates a year
$69k4 yrs out
Psychology, General47 graduates a year
$53k4 yrs out
Accounting and Related Services43 graduates a year
$91k4 yrs out
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas42 graduates a year
$52k4 yrs out
Business Administration, Management and Operations41 graduates a year
$82k4 yrs out
Communication and Media Studies39 graduates a year
$64k4 yrs out
Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics25 graduates a year
$56k4 yrs out
Natural Resources Conservation and Research21 graduates a year
$63k4 yrs out

College Scorecard: degree shares (PCIP; each college’s six largest fields are kept, the rest count as everything else) and the field-of-study file, median earnings 4 years after graduating.

Questions about college in Rock Island

Is Rock Island a college town?

No. About 10 of every 100 Rock Island residents are enrolled in college (Census, 2020–24), above Illinois (6). The largest campus in the city, Augustana College, has 2,484 students on campus.

What colleges are in Rock Island?

Augustana College is inside the city. Eastern Iowa Community College District is 3.7 miles from the center, in Davenport, Saint Ambrose University is 4.9 miles from the center, in Davenport, Palmer College of Chiropractic is 4.2 miles from the center, in Davenport, and Black Hawk College is 7.1 miles away in Moline.

What is the closest community college to Rock Island, and what does it cost?

Black Hawk College in Moline, 7.1 miles away. Tuition and fees are $4,920 a year for Illinois residents; the federal net price, $6,944, counts housing and food at full cost.

How much does Western Illinois University cost if we live in Illinois?

Tuition and fees are $15,264 a year in-state and $15,264 from out of state. After grants, families on federal aid paid an average of $6,941 (under $30,000 income) to $19,701 (over $110,000), housing and food included.

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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 Rock Island. 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 →