/Institutions/Rock-Valley-College/json/name/2026-2027-College-Catalog-local.json

/Institutions/Rock-Valley-College/json/name/2026-2027-College-Catalog.json

Tuition & Fees

By registering for a course, students agree to pay the required tuition and fees for that course. Tuition is charged per semester hour for credit courses and varies depending upon residency. Tuition rates and fees are subject to change without prior notice.

For current tuition rates and specific class fees, refer to the RVC Tuition and Fees webpage.

Residency

Students applying to Rock Valley College are classified for the purpose of determining tuition and fee rates. Evidence of resident status is provided on each applicant via the application they submitted. Residency status will not be changed after the 10th day of each semester.

Questions regarding classification should be directed to the Records and Registration Office at (815) 921-4250 or the RVC Residency Requirements webpage.

In-District Students

To be classified as a District 511 resident, students must have resided within the district for at least 30 days prior to the start of the semester. Students who have moved from an out-of-district or out-of-state residence to an in-district residence for reasons other than attending Rock Valley College are exempt from the 30-day requirement upon verification.

Residency verification requires one of the following: an official signed lease or rental agreement, a current Illinois driver’s license or State ID, a utility bill in the student’s name, or a valid Illinois voter registration card.

A student living outside the district or state, but who is employed at least 35 hours per week within the district, must present a letter from the employer prior to each semester verifying employment in order to have out-of-district or out-of-state fees waived.

Note: If a person is active duty in the military or utilizing military educational benefits, the Board shall deem that person an in-district resident for tuition purposes. International students may be considered in-district students if they:

1. Graduated from a high school in the Rock Valley College district and hold a student visa; or
2. Are F‑1 international students who have a sponsor living within the Rock Valley College district and complete a “Live‑In Guest” waiver verifying sponsorship and guaranteeing payment of tuition, fees, and miscellaneous college charges. Questions should be directed to the International Students Office at (815) 921-4116 or the RVC Residency Requirements webpage.

Courses that are taught 100% online are charged at the in-district tuition rate for all students, regardless of residency. All other courses are billed based on residency.

Out-of-District Students

A student who has not established residency within Community College District 511, but is a resident of the State of Illinois, is classified as out-of-district and charged the appropriate tuition. Out-of-district students seeking an approved occupational program degree or certificate offered only at Rock Valley College, and not at their home district community college, should refer to the Cooperative Agreement Program.

Out-of-State Students

Students whose legal residence is outside of Illinois are classified as out-of-state and charged the appropriate tuition. International students who are not citizens of the United States and who do not meet the criteria listed above are also classified as out-of-state.

Tuition for Senior Citizens (Age 62 and Over)

Students 62–64 years of age, prior to the start of the semester, who are residents of Rock Valley College District 511 qualify for a reduced tuition rate of $25 per credit hour for credit courses only.

Students age 65 and over, prior to the start of the semester, who are district residents may attend credit classes tuition free.

All other fees are assessed at the full rate for students in both age categories. The tuition reduction does not apply to noncredit seminars, classes, or programs.

Tuition Refund

Rock Valley College has determined that students may receive a tuition refund upon dropping credit courses based on the guidelines below. If a student drops courses by the specified date, all tuition and fees are refunded. There is no prorated refund schedule.

Tuition refund requests must be submitted to the Records and Registration Office during normal business hours. Refunds are processed according to the following schedule.

Tuition Refund Schedule

Course Length	100% Refund	No Refund
16-week course (fall and spring)	Before or during the first 9 business days of the semester	After the 9th business day of the semester*
4–15-week course	On or before the 4th business day from the start of class	After the 4th business day*
Less than 4-week course	On or before the 3rd business day from the start of class	After the 3rd business day*

* Saturdays are scheduled course days and are included when calculating business days.

The college reserves the right to make the final decision on all refunds.

• It is the student’s responsibility to know the refund dates for their courses.
• Nonattendance does not constitute a course drop or qualify for a refund.
• Students are responsible for dropping themselves from courses.
• Failure to properly drop a course may result in a failing grade.
• No refunds are granted when a student is dismissed or suspended for disciplinary reasons.
• For nonattendance due to military service, contact the Veterans Services Office at (815) 921-4163.

Tuition Appeals

No tuition refund is granted after the tuition refund deadline. If extenuating circumstances exist, such as military activation, death of an immediate family member, or a serious medical condition, a student may submit a Tuition Appeal with supporting documentation to the Records and Registration Office.

A Tuition Appeal does not guarantee a refund. Appeals may be submitted during the semester of enrollment or up to six months after the semester ends. Students who received financial aid do not qualify for a tuition appeal refund; however, an enrollment appeal may be filed.

Payment Information

Two payment options are available.

1. Pay Online. Log in to your student Self Service account to pay in full or enroll in a payment plan. Accepted methods include credit or debit cards (Visa, Mastercard, Discover, and American Express) or ACH electronic transfer from a checking account.
2. Visit the Payment Center. Payments may be made in person at the Payment Center in the Stenstrom Student Center (second floor). Accepted methods include cash, check, money order, and credit or debit cards.

All credit and debit card payments are assessed a 2.5% nonrefundable transaction fee.

Students who do not pay in full, are not awarded financial aid, or have not enrolled in a payment plan will have their classes canceled for nonpayment.

Tax information from the prior year (IRS Form 1098‑T) is available in Self Service by January 31 each year. Under Tax Information, select the “1098 Information” tab and choose the applicable year. A Social Security number must be on file.