Dr. Howard Spearman President | Rock Valley College
Dr. Howard Spearman President | Rock Valley College
Data shows that students paid $13,863 on average to attend higher education courses at the time, $1,014 more than the previous school year.
Among the seven institutions in the county, Rockford University stood out with the highest tuition fees, reaching an average of $35,050. Saint Anthony College of Nursing followed with an average of $27,811 per year. Rock Valley College students were offered the lowest annual tuition fees at $10,584.
At the time, at least $7.7 million in grants or scholarships were awarded to full-time undergraduates who started at the Winnebago County universities in the 2022-23 school year. Additionally, federal student loans reached more than $3.8 million.
Currently there are seven higher education institutions in Winnebago County, including Stautzenberger College-Rockford Career College, Saint Anthony College of Nursing, and Tricoci University of Beauty Culture-Rockford.
Undergraduate education costs have seen a significant increase over the past few decades. Data shows a 169% rise in the average total cost, including tuition, fees, room, and board, between 1980 and 2020.
According to a 2023 College Board report, in-state students at public universities paid an average of $11,260, while out-of-state students paid $29,150 in the 2023-24 academic year.
Meanwhile, student loan debt has steadily increased over the last 30 years, reaching $1.75 trillion in 2024, averaging a total of $28,950 per borrower. Federal loans make up 92% of the debt, with over half of students at both public and private four-year colleges graduating with student loans.
Available data sometimes exceeds 100% due to rounding and administrative calculations.
| Institution | Number of Students Receiving Grants | Total Amount of Grants Received | Average Amount of Grant Per Student | Number of Students Receiving Loans | Total Amount of Loans Received | Average Amount of Loans Per Student |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rasmussen University-Illinois | 76 | $514,048 | $6,764 | 71 | $627,400 | $8,837 |
| Rock Valley College | 342 | $1,946,948 | $5,693 | 48 | $228,280 | $4,756 |
| Rockford University | 168 | $3,847,707 | $22,903 | 124 | $911,611 | $7,352 |
| Stautzenberger College-Rockford Career College | 137 | $978,070 | $7,139 | 140 | $1,440,425 | $10,289 |
| Saint Anthony College of Nursing | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- |
| Tricoci University of Beauty Culture-Rockford | 34 | $196,338 | $5,775 | 41 | $378,169 | $9,224 |
| Educators of Beauty College of Cosmetology-Rockford | 37 | $180,870 | $4,888 | 41 | $259,710 | $6,334 |
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