Photo: Cosmo1976 · Public domainCrystal Lake is home to McHenry County College
McHenry County College (7,985 students on campus) is inside the city. About 5% of Crystal Lake’s residents are enrolled in college, below 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 Crystal Lake. Colleges are described, not graded.
What stands out about college in Crystal Lake
Facts about the town and its distance to campus; each college’s own figures follow.
Colleges within 15 miles of Crystal Lake
Two private colleges within 12.6 miles, and two community colleges. The nearest public four-year college, Northern Illinois University, is 30.3 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 $75–110k, where Crystal Lake’s median household income ($108,418) 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.
What students study in Crystal Lake
Share of bachelor’s and associate degrees by field at McHenry County College, 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.
Questions about college in Crystal Lake
Is Crystal Lake a college town?
No. About 5 of every 100 Crystal Lake residents are enrolled in college (Census, 2020–24), below Illinois (6). The largest campus in the city, McHenry County College, has 7,985 students on campus.
What colleges are in Crystal Lake?
McHenry County College is inside the city.
What is the closest community college to Crystal Lake, and what does it cost?
McHenry County College in Crystal Lake, 2.5 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 Northern Illinois University cost if we live in Illinois?
Tuition and fees are $13,248 a year in-state and $13,248 from out of state. After grants, families on federal aid paid an average of $10,126 (under $30,000 income) to $21,834 (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 Crystal Lake. 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 →