Guest, Sign inJoin

Post to Darien

We’ll email a one-tap link to publish your post. No password, and nothing is public until you click it.
Already a member? Sign in
Rocky Glen WaterfallPhoto: Bnperdue2010 · CC BY-SA 4.0
Colleges in and near Darien

Midwestern University-Downers Grove is 5.8 miles from Darien

No college sits inside Darien’s boundary, but Midwestern University-Downers Grove’s campus in Downers Grove, with 2,671 students on campus, is 5.8 miles from the center of town, and College of DuPage is 8.1 miles away in Glen Ellyn. About 6% of Darien’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 Darien. Colleges are described, not graded.

Within 15 miles
20
77,829 students on campus
Nearest college
5.8 mi
Midwestern University-Downers Grove
Residents in college
6%
About the same as IL (6%)
Nearest community college
8.1 mi
College of DuPage · $4,560 tuition
Nearest public university
19.1 mi
University of Illinois Chicago · $14,338 in-state
Median household income
$111K
prices below start here

What stands out about college from Darien

Facts about the town and its distance to campus; each college’s own figures follow.

A university 5.8 miles awayMidwestern University-Downers Grove has 2,671 students on campus in Downers Grove.A community college 8.1 miles awayCollege of DuPage in Glen Ellyn: tuition and fees $4,560 a year for Illinois residents.In-state price at University of Illinois ChicagoLiving in Illinois, the University of Illinois Chicago charges $14,338 in tuition and fees; from out of state, $29,884. State residency rules decide which a new arrival pays.Students are 6% of residentsAbout the same as Illinois (6%). The Census counts anyone enrolled, including part-time and online students.
Every college

Colleges within 15 miles of Darien

15 private colleges within 14.4 miles, and five community colleges. The nearest public four-year college, University of Illinois Chicago, is 19.1 miles away.

5 mi10 mi15 miCollege of DuPageMoraine ValleyTriton CollegeDarien
University or collegeCommunity college
Midwestern University-Downers GroveUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 2,671 on campus · 5.8 mi · Downers GroveGraduate students only; the Scorecard reports no undergraduate figures.Benedictine UniversityUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 1,940 on campus · 6.4 mi · Lisle95%admitted$22knet price50%graduate$63kearningsCollege of DuPageCommunity college · Public · 18,795 on campus · 8.1 mi · Glen Ellyn$7knet price25%graduate$47kearningsTuition and fees: $4,560 a year. The net price counts housing and food at full cost.Moraine Valley Community CollegeCommunity college · Public · 9,764 on campus · 8.2 mi · Palos Hills$3knet price40%graduate$44kearningsTuition and fees: $3,822 a year. The net price counts housing and food at full cost.DeVry University-IllinoisUniversity or college · For-profit · 1,101 on campus · 8.2 mi · Lisle · mostly online98%admitted$31knet price37%graduate$46kearnings96% of its students study only online; price, graduation and earnings count them too.Earnings are reported for all 11 campuses that file with it.National University of Health SciencesUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 481 on campus · 8.2 mi · Lombard$59kearningsNorth Central CollegeUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 2,649 on campus · 8.6 mi · Naperville77%admitted$21knet price64%graduate$60kearningsWheaton CollegeUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 2,613 on campus · 10.5 mi · Wheaton87%admitted$27knet price85%graduate$64kearningsElmhurst UniversityUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 3,251 on campus · 10.6 mi · Elmhurst74%admitted$24knet price70%graduate$61kearningsLewis UniversityUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 5,289 on campus · 10.9 mi · Romeoville71%admitted$17knet price67%graduate$66kearningsTrinity Christian CollegeUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 883 on campus · 11.5 mi · Palos Heights85%admitted$19knet price58%graduate$56kearningsNorthwestern CollegeUniversity or college · For-profit · 273 on campus · 12.4 mi · Oak LawnMorton CollegeCommunity college · Public · 3,619 on campus · 12.5 mi · Cicero$5knet price31%graduate$42kearningsTuition and fees: $5,502 a year. The net price counts housing and food at full cost.City Colleges of Chicago-Richard J Daley CollegeCommunity college · Public · 4,708 on campus · 13.3 mi · Chicago$8knet price27%graduate$38kearningsTuition and fees: $4,590 a year. The net price counts housing and food at full cost.Lincoln College of Technology-Melrose ParkUniversity or college · For-profit · 1,345 on campus · 13.5 mi · Melrose Park$26knet price68%graduate$39kearningsEarnings are reported for all 8 campuses that file with it.Dominican UniversityUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 2,726 on campus · 13.6 mi · River Forest90%admitted$12knet price55%graduate$60kearningsTriton CollegeCommunity college · Public · 8,418 on campus · 13.8 mi · River Grove$4knet price29%graduate$42kearningsTuition and fees: $5,070 a year. The net price counts housing and food at full cost.Concordia University-ChicagoUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 1,535 on campus · 13.8 mi · River Forest · mostly online93%admitted$18knet price36%graduate$54kearnings70% of its students study only online; price, graduation and earnings count them too.Saint Xavier UniversityUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 3,228 on campus · 14 mi · Chicago84%admitted$11knet price57%graduate$59kearningsChamberlain University-IllinoisUniversity or college · For-profit · 2,540 on campus · 14.4 mi · Addison · mostly online83%admitted$32knet price42%graduate$92kearnings91% of its students study only online; price, graduation and earnings count them too.Earnings are reported for all 15 campuses that file with it.

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 it costs

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.

Family income

Starts at Over $110k, where Darien’s median household income ($111,215) falls.

Triton College13.8 mi · River Grove · sticker $12,235 · tuition $5,070$12,235a year
Moraine Valley Community College8.2 mi · Palos Hills · sticker $13,971 · tuition $3,822$13,971a year
College of DuPage8.1 mi · Glen Ellyn · sticker $15,554 · tuition $4,560$15,308a year
Saint Xavier University14 mi · Chicago · sticker $43,244$17,864a year
Dominican University13.6 mi · River Forest · sticker $43,891$17,963a year
Concordia University-Chicago13.8 mi · River Forest · mostly online · sticker $45,383$23,907a year
Trinity Christian College11.5 mi · Palos Heights · sticker $35,012$23,986a year
Lewis University10.9 mi · Romeoville · sticker $47,313$25,035a year
University of Illinois Chicago19.1 mi · Chicago · sticker $27,521$25,047a year
North Central College8.6 mi · Naperville · sticker $57,219$26,961a year
Benedictine University6.4 mi · Lisle · sticker $46,713$27,454a year
Lincoln College of Technology-Melrose Park13.5 mi · Melrose Park · sticker $29,496$28,983a year
Elmhurst University10.6 mi · Elmhurst · sticker $54,679$30,232a year
Wheaton College10.5 mi · Wheaton · sticker $59,263$33,435a year
DeVry University-Illinois8.2 mi · Lisle · mostly online · sticker $38,660$35,359a year
Chamberlain University-Illinois14.4 mi · Addison · mostly online · sticker $40,826$40,826a year
Morton College12.5 mi · Cicero · sticker $12,801 · tuition $5,502—a year
City Colleges of Chicago-Richard J Daley College13.3 mi · Chicago · sticker $14,086 · tuition $4,590—a year

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.

Outcomes

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.

$0$20k$40k$60k$80k$100k0%25%50%75%100%Graduate →College of DuPageMoraine ValleyLewis UniversityCity Colleges of Chicago-Richard J Daley CollegeTriton CollegeUniversity of Illinois Chicago
University of Illinois Chicago62% graduate$69k earnings$17k typical debt
College of DuPage25% graduate$47k earnings$10k typical debt
Moraine Valley Community College40% graduate$44k earnings$10k typical debt
Triton College29% graduate$42k earnings$9k typical debt
Lewis University67% graduate$66k earnings$22k typical debt
City Colleges of Chicago-Richard J Daley College27% graduate$38k earnings$4k typical debt
Morton College31% graduate$42k earnings$8k typical debt
Elmhurst University70% graduate$61k earnings$20k typical debt
Saint Xavier University57% graduate$59k earnings$22k typical debt
Dominican University55% graduate$60k earnings$24k typical debt
North Central College64% graduate$60k earnings$24k typical debt
Wheaton College85% graduate$64k earnings$23k typical debt

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: DeVry University-Illinois (11); Lincoln College of Technology-Melrose Park (8); Chamberlain University-Illinois (15).

Questions about college near Darien

Is Darien a college town?

No. About 6 of every 100 Darien residents are enrolled in college (Census, 2020–24), about the same as Illinois (6). The nearest campus, Midwestern University-Downers Grove, is 5.8 miles away in Downers Grove.

What colleges are near Darien?

20 colleges are within 15 miles. The largest: College of DuPage (8.1 miles, 18,795 students on campus), Moraine Valley Community College (8.2 miles, 9,764) and Triton College (13.8 miles, 8,418).

What is the closest community college to Darien, and what does it cost?

College of DuPage in Glen Ellyn, 8.1 miles away. Tuition and fees are $4,560 a year for Illinois residents; the federal net price, $7,401, 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.

Town Square →
Start the conversation

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 Darien. 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 →