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East State Street in downtown RockfordPhoto: Alexbaumgarner · CC BY-SA 3.0
Colleges in and near Rockford

Rockford is home to five colleges, with 7,175 students on campus

Rock Valley College (4,475 students on campus) and Rasmussen University-Illinois (1,004) are inside the city. About 5% of Rockford’s residents are enrolled in college, below Illinois (6%).

Rasmussen University-IllinoisRock Valley College

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 Rockford. Colleges are described, not graded.

Within 15 miles
5
7,175 students on campus
Nearest college
1.9 mi
Stautzenberger College-Rockford Career College
Residents in college
5%
Below IL (6%)
Nearest community college
4.8 mi
Rock Valley College · $4,334 tuition
Nearest public university
27.2 mi
Northern Illinois University · $13,248 in-state
Median household income
$55K
prices below start here

What stands out about college in Rockford

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

Two colleges within 4.8 milesTogether they have 5,479 students on campus.A community college 4.8 miles awayRock Valley College in Rockford: tuition and fees $4,334 a year for Illinois residents.In-state price at Northern Illinois UniversityLiving in Illinois, Northern Illinois University charges $13,248 in tuition and fees, the same for every student.Students are 5% of residentsBelow Illinois (6%). The Census counts anyone enrolled, including part-time and online students.
Every college

Colleges within 15 miles of Rockford

Four private colleges within 5.1 miles, and Rock Valley College 4.8 miles away. The nearest public four-year college, Northern Illinois University, is 27.2 miles away.

5 mi10 mi15 miRock Valley CollegeRasmussen University-IllinoisRockford UniversityRockford
University or collegeCommunity college
Stautzenberger College-Rockford Career CollegeUniversity or college · For-profit · 575 on campus · In Rockford$22knet price66%graduate$34kearningsEarnings are reported for all 3 campuses that file with it.Rockford UniversityUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 965 on campus · In Rockford93%admitted$22knet price47%graduate$55kearningsRasmussen University-IllinoisUniversity or college · For-profit · 1,004 on campus · In Rockford$20knet price43%graduate$39kearningsEarnings are reported for all 6 campuses that file with it.Rock Valley CollegeCommunity college · Public · 4,475 on campus · In Rockford$5knet price37%graduate$39kearningsTuition and fees: $4,334 a year. The net price counts housing and food at full cost.Saint Anthony College of NursingUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 156 on campus · In Rockford$78kearnings

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 Rockford’s median household income ($54,752) falls.

Rock Valley CollegeIn Rockford · sticker $11,920 · tuition $4,334$6,756a year
Northern Illinois University27.2 mi · Dekalb · sticker $28,851$12,797a year
Stautzenberger College-Rockford Career CollegeIn Rockford · sticker $28,452$22,651a year
Rockford UniversityIn Rockford · sticker $49,169$22,987a year
Rasmussen University-IllinoisIn Rockford · sticker $27,601—a 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 →Stautzenberger College-Rockford Career CollegeRockford UniversityRasmussen University-IllinoisRock Valley CollegeNorthern Illinois University
Northern Illinois University49% graduate$58k earnings$22k typical debt
Rock Valley College37% graduate$39k earnings$8k typical debt
Rasmussen University-Illinois43% graduate$39k earnings*$21k typical debt
Rockford University47% graduate$55k earnings$22k typical debt
Stautzenberger College-Rockford Career College66% graduate$34k earnings*$14k 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. *Reported for all the campuses that file together: Stautzenberger College-Rockford Career College (3); Rasmussen University-Illinois (6).

Majors

What students study in Rockford

Share of bachelor’s and associate degrees by field across Rockford’s 5 colleges, weighted by undergraduates; then the biggest programs.

Health professions 39%Liberal arts 21%Mechanics & repair 7%Interdisciplinary 7%Business 3%Computer science 3%Everything else 20%

Biggest programs

Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and HumanitiesRock Valley College · 509 graduates a year
$44k4 yrs out
Biological and Physical SciencesRock Valley College · 145 graduates a year
$48k4 yrs out
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical NursingSaint Anthony College of Nursing · 89 graduates a year
$80k4 yrs out
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical NursingRockford University · 51 graduates a year
$71k4 yrs out
Business Administration, Management and OperationsRockford University · 26 graduates a year
$63k4 yrs out
Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies/TechniciansRock Valley College · 23 graduates a year
$83k4 yrs out
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and MethodsRockford University · 21 graduates a year
$47k4 yrs out
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical NursingRock Valley College · 19 graduates a year
$83k4 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 Rockford

Is Rockford a college town?

No. About 5 of every 100 Rockford residents are enrolled in college (Census, 2020–24), below Illinois (6). The largest campus in the city, Rock Valley College, has 4,475 students on campus.

What colleges are in Rockford?

Rock Valley College, Rasmussen University-Illinois, Rockford University, Stautzenberger College-Rockford Career College and 1 more are inside the city.

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

Rock Valley College in Rockford, 4.8 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.

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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 Rockford. 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 →