Practical Nursing, Vocational Nursing and Nursing Assistants at Rock Valley College

The small sample size here is important context, but the pattern is troubling: Rock Valley's nursing assistant graduates earn roughly $27,500 in their first year—nearly $16,000 below the Illinois state median and landing in just the 10th percentile statewide. When other Illinois programs like Illinois Central College and CAAN Academy regularly place graduates above $55,000, this gap demands explanation.

The debt burden looks manageable at $8,000, which is actually below both state and national averages. Yet even this modest debt becomes concerning when paired with such low earnings—graduates barely clear poverty-line wages in their first year. The 15% earnings growth to about $31,600 by year four helps, but still leaves graduates earning $12,000 less than their peers from median Illinois programs. Among the state's 56 programs, there's clearly better preparation available elsewhere.

With fewer than 30 graduates in this data, these numbers might not tell the full story. But unless there's a compelling reason to attend Rock Valley specifically—perhaps proximity to home or unique scheduling—Illinois families should seriously explore alternatives. Programs at community colleges like Illinois Central and Illinois Eastern deliver dramatically better outcomes for similar or lower cost. This isn't about small differences; it's about your child potentially starting their nursing career earning 40-50% less than peers who chose different Illinois programs.