Photo: Randy Escalada · CC BY-SA 2.0Des Plaines is home to Oakton College
Oakton College (5,024 students on campus) is inside the city. About 5% of Des Plaines’ 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 Des Plaines. Colleges are described, not graded.
What stands out about college in Des Plaines
Facts about the town and its distance to campus; each college’s own figures follow.
Colleges within 15 miles of Des Plaines
14 private colleges within 13.2 miles, one public college within 10.1 miles, and five 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 Des Plaines’ median household income ($97,875) 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 Des Plaines: 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: Chamberlain University-Illinois (15); Lincoln College of Technology-Melrose Park (8); Trinity International University-Illinois (2).
What students study in Des Plaines
Share of bachelor’s and associate degrees by field at Oakton 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 Des Plaines
Is Des Plaines a college town?
No. About 5 of every 100 Des Plaines residents are enrolled in college (Census, 2020–24), below Illinois (6). The largest campus in the city, Oakton College, has 5,024 students on campus.
What colleges are in Des Plaines?
Oakton College is inside the city.
What is the closest community college to Des Plaines, and what does it cost?
Oakton College in Des Plaines, 2.2 miles away. Tuition and fees are $3,985 a year for Illinois residents; the federal net price, $5,183, 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 Des Plaines. 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 →