Flexible, Fulfilling Liberal Arts Education at Rockford
Rockford University appears in our ranking of the 50 Most Technologically Advanced Small Colleges.
Ranked the Midwest’s 101st best choice by the U.S. News & World Report, Rockford University is a nonprofit, nonsectarian CIC member in Northern Illinois that grants 58 bachelor’s and 12 master’s degrees, including three online, at a 10:1 student-teacher ratio with 66 percent retention. For example, the B.S. in Chemistry follows a 124-credit, ACS-certified path managed by Dr. Matthew Bork where undergrads can conduct Hutchcroft Prairie Project research, intern with Saint Anthony Medical Center, and join Alpha-Helix. Starting Fall 2019, the 124-credit B.A. in Criminal Justice directed by Dr. Lynn Newhart will provide opportunities to select electives like Terrorism, intern with the Winnebago County Sheriff’s Office, run for the Student Senate, and exchange to Kobe College Japan.
Online on Moodle, the PURI School of Business led by Dr. Jason Hunter delivers a 124-credit B.S. in Management Studies for cohorts of 15 adult transfers to complete accelerated, eight-week courses from Team Dynamics to Organizational Communication in as little as 18 months. Chaired by Dr. Kimberlee Wagner, the M.Ed. in Pedagogical Practice builds a 36-credit, hybrid curriculum for the Illinois ESL, Bilingual Education, or Learning Behavior Specialist endorsement with 100 hours at practicum sites like Jefferson High or Cherry Valley Elementary.
Other Rockford offerings include the B.A. in Theatre Arts, B.A. in Philosophy, B.S. in Web Development, B.S. in Computational Mathematics, B.A. in Romance Languages, Master of Business Administration, and Master of Arts in Teaching.
About Rockford University
Rockford University originated in 1847 when the Illinois General Assembly chartered the Rockford Female Seminary as Beloit College’s sister school at the courthouse. In 1849, Principal Anna Peck Sill acquired its first campus on the Rock River. In 1882, Nobel Peace Prize recipient Jane Addams earned the Seminary’s earliest baccalaureate. One decade later, its name became Rockford College to showcase its four-year status. In 1919, Rockford led the adult education movement with new evening courses. During World War II, Rockford partnered with the Illinois Institute of Technology for male programs. In 1952, Rockford College opened the Center for Learning Strategies. In 1958, Rockford College became fully coeducational. By the 1960s, Rockford relocated again to its current 33-building, park-like campus. On October 2, 2012, the Board of Trustees voted unanimously for the Rockford University name.
Endowed for $22.6 million, Rockford University now employs 73 full-time faculty teaching 1,062 undergrad and 200 post-grad Regents from 17 countries online or at the 150-acre “Forest City” campus near the Wisconsin border with 40+ clubs like Phi Beta Kappa. Since 2008, Rockford has been consistently placed on the President’s Higher Education Community Service Honor Roll. In 2017, Rockford earned a Bronze ADDY Award from the American Advertising Federation of Northern Illinois. Rockford University won a 2019 ABCA Team Academic Excellence Award too. WalletHub distinguished Rockford for the 180th best teaching resources and 145th most selectivity. On Niche, Rockford boasts America’s 211th most conservative students and 354th hardest academics. Money magazine declared Rockford University the 630th top value. College Factual crowned Rockford the 13th best sociology school.
Rockford University Accreditation Details
On August 19, 2016, the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association (HLC-NCA) Institutional Actions Council reaffirmed the Level III accreditation status at Rockford University through the next 2025-26 evaluation under the 18th president, Dr. Eric Fulcomer, who earned the Rockford Chamber of Commerce’s People You Should Know Award. Located 87 miles east via Interstate 290 in Chicago, this giant 19-state Great Lakes Region accreditor is recognized by the U.S. Education Department and Illinois Board of Higher Education (IBHE). The Association of American Colleges member also lists the following accreditations:
- Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing
- International Assembly for Collegiate Business Education
- American Chemical Society Committee on Professional Training
Rockford University Application Requirements
Getting into Rockford University is classified “moderately difficult” by Peterson’s because 1,315 of the 2,682 Fall 2018 applicants were victorious for selective 49 percent acceptance. Freshmen becoming Rock Solid Regents must have culminated a qualifying high school curriculum or equivalency diploma. Ranking in the top 50 percent of one’s class is required. First-year candidates need minimum 2.65 GPAs on the four-point scale. Undergrads must exceed the 990 SAT or 19 ACT mark. Incoming transfers generally have 12+ accredited college credits and GPAs above 2.3. Students with at least 60 credits and 3.5 major GPAs can enter the Honors Program. The Graduate Studies Office seeks entrants with four-year bachelor’s majors in any discipline. Only the Master of Education requires a teaching major for current K-12 certification. Cumulative GPAs of 2.5 and better are mandatory. Graduate entrance exams are optional though.
Rockford University has adopted a rolling admission policy. Suggested deadlines are August 1st for Fall and January 1st for Spring starts. Tuition deposits of $100 are only refundable until May 1st and December 15th respectively. For priority financial aid consideration, apply before March 1st. Accordingly, complete the Rockford Application online for $35 ($50 if graduate). Forward official sealed transcripts to 5050 East State Street in Rockford, IL 61108. Request testing results with SAT/TOEFL code 1665 or ACT code 1122. Attach supplemental materials, such as the immunization record, personal statement, resume, educator license, and 1-3 references. Contact (815) 226-4000 or [email protected] with questions.
Tuition and Financial Aid
For 2019-20, Rockford University is billing full-time undergrads $15,950 each semester or $31,900 annually. Traditional part-time enrollment costs $805 per credit. Summer classes are discounted to $605 per credit. Bachelor’s majors cover the $200 activity fee yearly. Health insurance is $2,200 each year unless waived. Living at the Winnebago County campus’ dorms like Olson Hall adds $5,414 for annual housing. Standard 19-meal plans for Burpee Dining Center are $4,080 extra. Rockford budgets $1,200 for books and $3,460 for miscellaneous. Annual undergrad attendance equals $44,270 on-site or $36,030 at home. Online B.S. in Management Studies courses are $440 per credit. Graduate education programs cost $650 per credit. Master of Business Administration cohorts spend $720 per credit.
According to the NCES College Navigator, the Student Administrative Services Office on Nelson Hall’s 1st Floor helps 87 percent of full-time Rockford Regents find median tuition aid of $15,171 apiece for $13.94 million combined. University funds include the Charles & Dianna Colman Scholarship, Pfeffer STEM Scholarship, Carol McDonald Education Scholarship, Alan Hutchcroft Chemistry Scholarship, Sally Lo Ware Modern Language Award, Shirley Jones-Bailey Scholarship, Jeremy Ingalls Memorial Scholarship, Colleen Holmbeck Poetry Prize, and Gertrude Lund Hognander Leadership Scholarship. The International Merit Scholarship gifts up to $14,000 annually for non-U.S. residents with a minimum 77 TOEFL iBT or 5.5 IELTS score. The Phi Theta Kappa Award covers 50 percent of tuition for outstanding transfers who hold GPAs above 3.5. Federal programs, such as the Pell Grant and Teach Grant, require FAFSA applications coded 001748. Illinoisans could also claim the Manson Stewart Scholarship, Horatio Alger Scholarship, Golden Apple Scholarship, MIA/POW Scholarship, and more.
Explore three distinct colleges conferring 70+ innovative liberal arts programs ranked 388th overall by Washington Monthly at the Rockford University website.