Head-to-head comparison
Rockford University vs Illinois College: which has better ROI?
Option A Rockford, IL
Rockford University
- Net price / year
- $22,436
- Earnings, 10 years
- $54,794
- Payback
- 13.9 yrs
Option B Jacksonville, IL
Illinois College
- Net price / year
- $18,298
- Earnings, 10 years
- $52,575
- Payback
- 17.4 yrs
Rockford University has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $89,744 in 13.9 years versus 17.4 years at Illinois College, on median earnings of $54,794 vs $52,575 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Rockford University | Illinois College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $22,436 | $18,298 |
| Total net cost | $89,744 | $73,192 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $54,794 | $52,575 |
| Median debt | $22,274 | $25,565 |
| Payback | 13.9 yrs | 17.4 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $38,936 | $11,108 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Rockford University or Illinois College?
Illinois College, at $18,298 a year after aid versus $22,436 — a gap of $4,138 a year, or $16,552 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 Rockford University or Illinois College graduates earn more?
Rockford University graduates report a median $54,794 ten years after entry, $2,219 more than the $52,575 at Illinois College. 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, Rockford University or Illinois College?
Rockford University: its completers carry a median $22,274 in federal loans versus $25,565 at Illinois College, a difference of $3,291. 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?
64% of students finish at Illinois 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.