Photo: Cosmo1976 · Public domainMcHenry County College is 6.9 miles from Cary
No college sits inside Cary’s boundary, but McHenry County College’s campus in Crystal Lake, with 7,985 students on campus, is 6.9 miles from the center of town. About 6% of Cary’s residents are enrolled in college, about the same as Illinois (6%).
From the U.S. Department of Education (College Scorecard, June 2026; IPEDS fall 2023 enrollment) and the Census Bureau’s American Community Survey, 2020–24. Straight-line distances from the center of Cary. Colleges are described, not graded.
What stands out about college from Cary
Facts about the town and its distance to campus; each college’s own figures follow.
Colleges within 15 miles of Cary
Three private colleges within 13.6 miles, and three community colleges. The nearest public four-year college, Northeastern Illinois University, is 31.6 miles away.
Degree-granting colleges with 100 or more students on campus (fall 2023 enrollment, minus students who study only online). Admitted: share of applicants offered a place. Net price: the average a year after grants, for students on federal aid. Graduate: within 6 years (4-year colleges) or 3 (2-year). Earnings: median, 10 years after starting.
What would your family pay?
The average a year after grants, for families on federal aid, at the colleges within 15 miles and the nearest public four-year college. Pick your family’s income.
Starts at Over $110k, where Cary’s median household income ($113,026) falls.
The average a year after grants and scholarships, for first-time, full-time students on federal aid, from the College Scorecard. Your own price depends on your aid package; every college has a net price calculator. For community colleges the net price counts housing and food at full cost, so tuition is shown beside it. “—”: not reported for that income.
Do students finish, and does it pay?
Each dot is a college: across is the share who graduate, up is what they earn ten years after starting.
Graduation: first-time, full-time students within 6 years (4-year colleges) or 3 years (2-year). Earnings: median, 10 years after starting, for students who got federal aid.
Questions about college near Cary
Is Cary a college town?
No. About 6 of every 100 Cary residents are enrolled in college (Census, 2020–24), about the same as Illinois (6). The nearest campus, McHenry County College, is 6.9 miles away in Crystal Lake.
What colleges are near Cary?
Within 15 miles: McHenry County College (6.9 miles, 7,985 students on campus), Ambria College of Nursing (9.7 miles, 195), Judson University (10.7 miles, 958), William Rainey Harper College (12.8 miles, 10,894), the University of Saint Mary of the Lake (13.6 miles, 173) and Elgin Community College (14 miles, 8,241).
What is the closest community college to Cary, and what does it cost?
McHenry County College in Crystal Lake, 6.9 miles away. Tuition and fees are $4,162 a year for Illinois residents; the federal net price, $7,042, counts housing and food at full cost.
How much does Northeastern Illinois University cost if we live in Illinois?
Tuition and fees are $12,383 a year in-state and $22,726 from out of state. After grants, families on federal aid paid an average of $13,709 (under $30,000 income) to $25,001 (over $110,000), housing and food included.
Neighbors talk college
Students, parents, alumni and the neighbors next door.
Colleges: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard and IPEDS (Scorecard 06/10/2026 · IPEDS 2024 · fall 2023 enrollment). “On campus” is fall enrollment minus students who study only online. Distances are straight-line from the center of Cary. Residents in college, age, rent and poverty (including poverty without college students, table B14006): U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020–24. Colleges are described, not graded; the College town label marks towns where 15% or more of residents are enrolled. How TownRatings describes colleges →