Head-to-head comparison
Knox College vs Rockford University: which has better ROI?
Option A Galesburg, IL
Knox College
- Net price / year
- $24,595
- Earnings, 10 years
- $54,820
- Payback
- 15.2 yrs
Option B Rockford, IL
Rockford University
- Net price / year
- $22,436
- Earnings, 10 years
- $54,794
- Payback
- 13.9 yrs
Rockford University has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $89,744 in 13.9 years versus 15.2 years at Knox College, on median earnings of $54,794 vs $54,820 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Knox College | Rockford University |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $24,595 | $22,436 |
| Total net cost | $98,380 | $89,744 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $54,820 | $54,794 |
| Median debt | $27,000 | $22,274 |
| Payback | 15.2 yrs | 13.9 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $30,820 | $38,936 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Knox College or Rockford University?
Rockford University, at $22,436 a year after aid versus $24,595 — a gap of $2,159 a year, or $8,636 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
The short answer
Do Knox College or Rockford University graduates earn more?
Knox College graduates report a median $54,820 ten years after entry, $26 more than the $54,794 at Rockford University. Both are institution-wide medians from federal tax records, so a high-paying major at the lower school can beat the average at the higher one.
The short answer
Which leaves students with less debt, Knox College or Rockford University?
Rockford University: its completers carry a median $22,274 in federal loans versus $27,000 at Knox College, a difference of $4,726. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
The short answer
Which graduates more of its students?
68% of students finish at Knox College, against 47% at Rockford University. Completion matters to the ROI arithmetic because a degree that is never finished still carries its cost and its debt, but earns none of the graduate premium above the $48,360 high-school baseline.