Northern Illinois University
Northern Illinois University is a premier regional university located in DeKalb, Illinois, forty-five minutes southeast of Rockford.

Northern Illinois University-Rockford
Northern Illinois University opened an Outreach Center in Rockford to serve the educational needs of the Rockford area.  The Center offers a number of courses and degree programs at the graduate and post-graduate levels.

Rock Valley College
Rock Valley College is a community college offering a wide range of degree programs, transfer credit courses, certificate and apprenticeship programs.  Community educational opportunities are also offered.

Rockford Career College
Rockford Career College has been advancing lives through education and training since it was founded in 1862. Programs are kept constantly in tune with the needs of area employers. Rockford Career College offers occupational associate degrees, one-year diplomas, and certificate programs in areas such as : business, accounting, information technology, paralegal, veterinary, and a variety of health occupations.

Rockford College
Founded in 1847, Rockford College is an independent, coeducational, liberal arts institution of about 800 students. The college offers Bachelor's degree programs in 31 majors as well as Master's degree programs in business and teaching. Rockford College is accredited by the North Central Association and is one of only 11 institutions in Illinois with a Phi Beta Kappa chapter. The best known alumna, Jane Addams (Class Valedictorian of 1881), received the Nobel Prize for Peace in 1931.

University of Illinois College of Medicine-Rockford
The University of Illinois College of Medicine-Rockford is a regional medical program that encompasses the second, third, and fourth years of medical education.

University of Illinois Extension
The University of Illinois Extension provides practical, research-based information to the community.

St. Anthony College of Nursing
The St. Anthony College of Nursing is a private, Catholic institution offering degree programs in nursing.  It is affiliated with OSF St. Anthony Medical Center.

Judson College
Judson College offers an extension site in Rockford which includes their AIM Program, an accelerated, evening, one night a week format which allows adults to finish a degree in as few as 15 months.