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The Rockford Promise Program at Northern Illinois University (NIU) will open next fall to eligible Rock Valley College (RVC) transfers. This new arrangement is made possible through a new partnership between NIU, RVC and the Rockford Promise organization.

To qualify, students must be Rockford Promise Scholars at RVC who earn their associates degree with a cumulative grade point average of 2.5 or better, and they must enroll at NIU as full-time students. Full eligibility requirements are listed on the NIU and RVC websites.

Currently, Rockford Promise is providing full-tuition scholarships to both RVC and NIU. But the program at NIU was previously open only to college freshmen who were Rockford residents and new graduates of Rockford public high schools with a 3.0 GPA or better. (Full eligibility requirements are available on the NIU website.)

“RVC is proud to partner once again with Rockford Promise and NIU to create a new pathway option for our students to complete a bachelor’s degree. Access is one of our strategic pillars, and this agreement is another important way to increase access, affordability, and success for Rockford Promise Scholars who begin their post-secondary journey at RVC,” RVC President and Chief Executive Officer Howard Spearman said.

RVC students who qualify to take advantage of the NIU program should complete an NIU application for admission and submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) or Alternative Application for Illinois Financial Aid by the appropriate deadlines.

NIU and RVC notably also collaborate on engineering degree-completion programs. NIU began its partnership with the Rockford Promise organization in 2021. That fall, the university welcomed its first cohort of freshman Rockford Promise Scholars. The program now has more than 340 scholars enrolled at NIU.

“This new partnership with NIU and RVC further demonstrates our commitment to enriching the Rockford community through educational attainment and providing a powerful economic incentive for residents and businesses to locate to the Rockford region,” said Kaylene Groh, executive director of the Rockford Promise organization.

About Rockford Promise
Rockford Promise is a nonprofit 501(c)3 organization and location-based scholarship program that enhances the economic vitality in the Rockford region by providing access to post-secondary education for local graduates. The organization removes financial barriers by offering full-tuition scholarship opportunities and providing multiple levels of support to increase student success and persistence.

Rockford Promise is based on Promise programs throughout the nation, most notably the Kalamazoo Promise in Kalamazoo, Michigan. One of the longest-running Promise programs, Kalamazoo Promise has positively impacted high school graduation, college attendance, property values and public-school enrollment. Local leaders seek to replicate the initiative in Rockford. Through Rockford Promise scholarships, financial aid, and partnerships with Rock Valley College, Rockford University and Northern Illinois University, Rockford Promise Scholars attend college tuition-free.

Currently, Rockford Promise has 448 students attending college on full-tuition scholarships.
The views expressed are those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of the Greater Rockford Chamber of Commerce.

The views expressed are those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of the Greater Rockford Chamber of Commerce.