Beloit College is 9.4 miles from Shirland Township
No college sits inside Shirland Township’s boundary, but Beloit College’s campus in Beloit, with 939 students on campus, is 9.4 miles from the center of town, and Rock Valley College is 15.8 miles away in Rockford. About 5% of Shirland Township’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 Shirland Township. Colleges are described, not graded.
What stands out about college from Shirland Township
Facts about the town and its distance to campus; each college’s own figures follow.
Colleges within 15 miles of Shirland Township
One private college within 9.4 miles, and Blackhawk Technical College 12.9 miles away. The nearest public four-year college, Northern Illinois University, is 43.5 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 $75–110k, where Shirland Township’s median household income ($93,750) 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.
Questions about college near Shirland Township
Is Shirland Township a college town?
No. About 5 of every 100 Shirland Township residents are enrolled in college (Census, 2020–24), about the same as Illinois (6). The nearest campus, Beloit College, is 9.4 miles away in Beloit.
What colleges are near Shirland Township?
Within 15 miles: Beloit College (9.4 miles, 939 students on campus) and Blackhawk Technical College (12.9 miles, 2,565).
What is the closest community college to Shirland Township, and what does it cost?
Rock Valley College in Rockford, 15.8 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 Shirland Township. 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 →