Photo: File:Chicago River ferry.jpg: John Picken derivative work: Georgfotoart · CC BY 2.0Chicago is home to 36 colleges, with about 157,000 students on campus
The University of Illinois Chicago (29,607 students on campus) and DePaul University (18,382) are inside the city, and Morton College (3,619) is 4.1 miles from the center, just over the line in Cicero. About 7% of Chicago’s residents are enrolled in college, above 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 Chicago. Colleges are described, not graded.
What stands out about college in Chicago
Facts about the town and its distance to campus; each college’s own figures follow.
Colleges within 15 miles of Chicago
34 private colleges within 14.7 miles, three public colleges within 10.1 miles, and 10 community colleges.
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. Pick your family’s income.
Starts at $75–110k, where Chicago’s median household income ($77,902) 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 within 15 miles of Chicago: 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. *Reported for all the campuses that file together: Pacific College of Health and Science (3); Lincoln College of Technology-Melrose Park (8).
What students study in Chicago
Share of bachelor’s and associate degrees by field across Chicago’s 27 colleges, weighted by undergraduates; then the biggest programs.
Biggest programs
College Scorecard: degree shares (PCIP; each college’s six largest fields are kept, the rest count as everything else) and the field-of-study file, median earnings 4 years after graduating. Left out: VanderCook College of Music, National Louis University, where most students study only online.
Questions about college in Chicago
Is Chicago a college town?
No. About 7 of every 100 Chicago residents are enrolled in college (Census, 2020–24), above Illinois (6). The largest campus in the city, the University of Illinois Chicago, has 29,607 students on campus.
What colleges are in Chicago?
The University of Illinois Chicago, DePaul University, the University of Chicago, Loyola University Chicago and 32 more are inside the city. Morton College is 4.1 miles from the center, in Cicero.
What is the closest community college to Chicago, and what does it cost?
City Colleges of Chicago-Malcolm X College in Chicago, 2.9 miles away. Tuition and fees are $4,590 a year for Illinois residents; the federal net price, $7,220, counts housing and food at full cost.
How much does the University of Illinois Chicago cost if we live in Illinois?
Tuition and fees are $14,338 a year in-state and $29,884 from out of state. After grants, families on federal aid paid an average of $7,529 (under $30,000 income) to $25,047 (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 Chicago. 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 →