Rockford University
Rockford, Illinois · Private Nonprofit · 92.9% acceptance rate
ROI Score: 47/100 · Below Average Value
Rockford University earns an ROI score of 47 out of 100, landing in the Below Average Value tier. The financial picture is mixed. The school's $37,780 sticker tuition is aggressive for a small private institution, but tuition discounting brings the net price down to $22,436, a more digestible $89,744 four-year total. Graduates earn a median of $38,300 six years out and $54,794 at ten years, with a $22,274 median debt and a 0.58 debt-to-earnings ratio that sits below the federal warning line. The 11.6-year payback period is in line with private regional peers. The hard drag on the score is a 47.2% completion rate, meaning more than half of entering students never graduate, and a 69.6% repayment rate. The school's nursing program is a clear bright spot, but the overall completion challenge means many students borrow without earning the degree. For a high-graduating-from-Rockford-area student aiming at nursing or business, this is workable; for marginal admits, the financial risk is substantial.
Rockford University
Quick Numbers
| In-state tuition + fees | $37,780/yr |
| Out-of-state tuition + fees | $37,780/yr |
| Average net price | $22,436/yr |
| Total 4-year cost (net) | $89,744 |
| Median earnings (10yr post-entry) | $54,794 |
| Median earnings (6yr post-entry) | $38,300 |
| Median debt at graduation | $22,274 |
| Estimated monthly loan payment | $236 |
| Estimated payback period | 11.6 years |
| 6-year graduation rate | 47.2% |
| Undergraduate enrollment | 972 |
Data as of 2024-2025. Source: College Scorecard API (U.S. Department of Education).
The Full Financial Picture
The sticker price at Rockford University is $37,780/year. But sticker price isn't what most students pay. After grants, scholarships, and financial aid, the average student pays a net price of $22,436/year, or roughly $89,744 over four years.
That net price varies significantly by family income. The lowest-income families (under $30,000/year) pay an average of $20,877/year, while families earning over $110,000 pay $27,097/year.
The median graduate leaves with $22,274 in federal loan debt, translating to an estimated monthly payment of $236 on a standard 10-year repayment plan. Against median earnings of $54,794 ten years out, the debt-to-earnings ratio is 0.58 - within the recommended range but worth monitoring.
Net Price by Family Income
What families actually pay after grants and scholarships, by income bracket.
| Family Income | Avg Net Price/Year |
|---|---|
| $0 - $30,000 | $20,877 |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $20,841 |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $22,987 |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $21,229 |
| $110,001+ | $27,097 |
Cost by Income Bracket Explained
Lower-income families (under $30K)
Families earning under $30,000 pay $20,877, and the $30,001-$48,000 band actually pays slightly less at $20,841. These figures are within roughly $40 of each other, indicating Rockford essentially flattens aid across the bottom two income brackets. Combined with Pell Grant eligibility, low-income families face about $80,000 in four-year net cost against $54,794 ten-year earnings.
Middle-income families ($30K-$110K)
The $48,001-$75,000 band pays $22,987 (slightly more than lower brackets, a mild inversion), then the $75,001-$110,000 band drops back to $21,229. The grid is uneven, with little consistent relationship between income and net price. Middle-income families see total four-year costs near $85,000-$90,000, a tight return against the modest expected earnings.
Higher-income families ($110K+)
Families above $110,000 pay $27,097, the highest in the grid but still well below the $37,780 sticker. Over four years, high-income families face roughly $108,000 in net cost. For these families, Rockford likely loses against a flagship Illinois public or a more selective private; the modest earnings outcomes do not justify the premium.
Earnings by Major
Top 4 most popular majors at Rockford University with available earnings data.
| Major | Median Earnings | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Registered Nursing | $70,537 | B |
| Business Administration, Management, and Operations | $63,331 | C+ |
| Teacher Education | $46,780 | C |
| Teacher Education, Subject-Specific | $46,642 | D |
Earnings reflect median 4-year post-completion (or 1-year where 4-year unavailable). Grades based on debt-to-earnings ratio.
Program Analysis
Why these programs deliver their earnings outcomes.
Registered Nursing
Nursing is Rockford's standout, with 51 graduates earning $70,940 in year one and $70,537 at four years. Median debt of $30,500 produces a 0.43 debt-to-earnings ratio and a B ROI grade. The Illinois nursing market absorbs new RNs at strong wages, and Rockford-area hospitals (Mercyhealth, OSF) provide clinical rotation and placement pipelines. This is the cleanest financial decision available on campus and the program most likely to justify the school choice.
Business Administration, Management, and Operations
Business Administration graduates 26 students with $51,314 first-year and $63,331 four-year earnings. Median debt of $24,000 yields a 0.47 debt-to-earnings ratio and a C+ ROI grade. Earnings are solid for a small regional private, reflecting access to the Rockford and Chicago metropolitan job markets. A defensible second choice behind nursing.
Teacher Education
Teacher Education graduates 21 students with $38,867 first-year and $46,780 four-year earnings. Median debt of $27,000 produces a 0.70 debt-to-earnings ratio and a C grade. Illinois teacher pay is stronger than many states, and the program feeds local Rockford and Winnebago County districts. PSLF eligibility for public school teachers materially improves the long-run picture beyond what these numbers show.
Teacher Education, Subject-Specific
Subject-specific teacher education shows weaker results: $31,892 first-year and $46,642 four-year earnings against $30,875 median debt produces a 0.97 debt-to-earnings ratio and a D grade, hovering at the federal warning line. The reported graduate count of 0 in the data signals a very small or transitional program; treat the numbers as directional only.
How Graduates Do
Earnings
Loan Repayment
| Metric | This School | Nat'l Avg |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year repayment | 68.1% | 52.0% |
| 3-year repayment | 69.6% | 62.0% |
| 5-year repayment | 63.4% | 68.0% |
| 7-year repayment | 75.6% | 72.0% |
Completion Rate
Admissions Snapshot
| Acceptance rate | 92.9% |
| SAT Math (25th-75th) | 400-535 |
| SAT Reading (25th-75th) | 450-535 |
| ACT Composite (25th-75th) | 17-23 |
| Enrollment | 972 |
| Pell Grant recipients | 48.4% |
| Avg faculty salary (monthly) | $6,658 |
Rockford admits 92.9% of applicants, making it essentially open-admission. SAT mid-ranges of 400-535 in math and 450-535 in reading, plus an ACT mid-range of 17-23, indicate a student body well below national medians. These academic metrics correlate directly with the 47.2% completion rate: open-admission private schools that draw academically underprepared students often see roughly half of entrants leave without a degree. Selectivity and completion track tightly here.
Compared to Similar Schools
Peer institutions matched by type, size, and selectivity.
Rockford's peer set is a mix of small private institutions. Augustana College in Illinois is a stronger peer, posting better ROI scores driven by higher completion and selectivity. Westminster College in PA and Georgetown College in Kentucky are comparable small religious-tradition institutions with similar challenges. West Virginia Wesleyan is in the same Below Average band. School of the Art Institute of Chicago is an outlier comparison given its specialized art-school mission. Rockford is performing roughly at peer level for non-selective small private colleges, with the completion-rate drag holding it back from a higher tier.
| School | ROI | Net Price | 10yr Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rockford University (this school) | 47 | $22,436 | $54,794 |
| Augustana College | 67 | $22,736 | $62,971 |
| Westminster College | 52 | $19,859 | $53,861 |
| Georgetown College | 47 | $14,095 | $52,074 |
| West Virginia Wesleyan College | 44 | $18,083 | $51,593 |
| School of the Art Institute of Chicago | 21 | $49,790 | $40,151 |
Who Thrives Here
Rockford serves 972 students, making it one of the smallest schools in our database, with a 48.4% Pell rate indicating a heavily working-class student body. The fit profile is a regional Illinois student who wants small classes, lives at home or nearby in Rockford, and targets one of the school's stronger pathways (nursing especially). The 48.4% Pell rate combined with the 47.2% completion rate suggests the school is serving an at-risk population that needs more academic and financial support than current outcomes suggest it provides. Outcomes look strong only for the nursing track.
The Verdict: Proceed With Caution
The financial case for Rockford University is mixed. At $22,436 per year net cost, graduates earn a median of $54,794 ten years after entry - a payback period of 11.6 years. That's below the average return for four-year institutions, and prospective students should carefully consider whether the investment aligns with their financial goals.
Areas of concern include a 47.2% graduation rate and concerning loan repayment rates.
Median debt of $22,274 against $54,794 in earnings is reasonable, though major choice matters significantly. Students in higher-earning programs will see better returns.
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Data: College Scorecard API (U.S. Department of Education)
Vintage: 2024-2025 · Last updated: 2026-03-25
Earnings reflect median outcomes for all federal financial aid recipients. Individual results vary by major, effort, and career path.