Richland Community College vs Rock Valley College
Richland Community College and Rock Valley College, both esteemed institutions of higher learning, offer diverse educational opportunities to students in Illinois. Richland, located in Decatur, boasts an acceptance rate of 100%, welcoming all aspiring learners. Rock Valley, situated in Rockford, maintains a slightly more selective admissions process, with an acceptance rate of 98%. While Richland's student body predominantly comprises females (58%), Rock Valley's student population is more evenly balanced, with 51% females and 49% males. Both colleges offer a wide range of academic programs, with popular majors including Business, Health Professions, and Liberal Arts. However, Richland excels in the graduation rate category, with 25% of its students completing their studies within three years, compared to Rock Valley's 15% three-year graduation rate. To help you make an informed decision about your educational journey, we've compiled a comprehensive comparison table below, highlighting key differences between these two esteemed
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![]() Richland Community College |
![]() Rock Valley College |
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Overview |
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Location | Decatur, Illinois | Rockford, Illinois |
Campus setting | City: Small | City: Midsize |
College type | 2 year | 2 year |
Control/business model | Public | Public |
Calendar system | Semester | Semester |
Degrees offered | Undergraduate | Undergraduate |
Students retention rate | 65.0% | 68.0% |
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No | No |
Religious affiliation | ||
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Admission |
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Acceptance rate | Open Admission | Open Admission |
Application fees | ||
SAT range | N/A | N/A |
ACT range | N/A | N/A |
Students submitting SAT score | ||
Students submitting ACT score | ||
Total number of applicants | ||
Total number of admissions given out | ||
Admitted students who chose to enroll | ||
Yield rate | ||
Test scores (SAT/ACT) | Not required | Not required |
High school GPA | N/A | N/A |
Recommendation letters | N/A | N/A |
High school transcript | N/A | N/A |
English proficiency test (e.g. TOEFL) | N/A | N/A |
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Tuition and Fees |
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Sticker price |
In state:
$21,860
Out of state:
$32,030
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In state:
$21,135
Out of state:
$29,775
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Average net price | $5,524 | $9,676 |
Tuition |
In state:
$8,670
Out of state:
$18,840
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In state:
$8,400
Out of state:
$17,040
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Room & board | ||
Available payment plans |
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Financial Aid |
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Students receiving financial aid
(Grants & scholarships) |
90.0%
Average amount $4,268 |
50.0%
Average amount $4,546 |
Students receiving federal student loan |
11.0%
Average amount $4,988 |
6.0%
Average amount $4,170 |
Students taking out private loans |
0.0%
Average amount $0 |
0.0%
Average amount $0 |
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Students and Campus |
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Undergraduate students |
2,252
Men 36.4% Women 63.6% |
5,494
Men 42.8% Women 57.2% |
Graduate students | N/A | N/A |
Racial/ethnic diversity |
Low
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Low
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Out-of-state students | 0.4% | 0.9% |
International students | 0.2% | 0.3% |
Campus local/setting | City: Small | City: Midsize |
Dormitory capacity | N/A | N/A |
First year students are required to live on campus? | N/A | N/A |
Top 5 states where most U.S. students come from | Illinois California | Illinois Wisconsin Alabama Ohio |
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Academics |
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Popular study areas |
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Students to faculty ratio | 13:1 | 17:1 |
Institutional accreditation | Higher Learning Commission | Higher Learning Commission |
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Outcome |
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Graduation rate | 37.8% | 31.7% |
Dropout rate | 35.9% | 42.3% |
Transferred out | 18.7% | 15.5% |
Alumni salary by major (Top 10) |
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Associate's Degrees)
Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions (Associate's Degrees)
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities (Associate's Degrees)
Biological and Physical Sciences (Associate's Degrees)
Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies (Associate's Degrees)
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Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Associate's Degrees)
Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions (Associate's Degrees)
Biological and Physical Sciences (Associate's Degrees)
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities (Associate's Degrees)
Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies (Undergraduate Certificates or Diplomas)
Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies (Associate's Degrees)
Dental Support Services and Allied Professions (Undergraduate Certificates or Diplomas)
Dental Support Services and Allied Professions (Associate's Degrees)
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Undergraduate Certificates or Diplomas)
Practical Nursing, Vocational Nursing and Nursing Assistants (Undergraduate Certificates or Diplomas)
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