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Downers Grove IL 2022Photo: Anonymous · CC BY-SA 4.0
Colleges in and near Downers Grove

Downers Grove is home to Midwestern University-Downers Grove

Midwestern University-Downers Grove (2,671 students on campus) is inside the village, and College of DuPage (18,795) is 4.1 miles from the center, in Glen Ellyn. About 6% of Downers Grove’s residents are enrolled in college, about the same as Illinois (6%).

Midwestern University-Downers GroveCollege of DuPageBenedictine University

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 Downers Grove. Colleges are described, not graded.

Within 15 miles
16
68,737 students on campus
Nearest college
2.6 mi
Midwestern University-Downers Grove
Residents in college
6%
About the same as IL (6%)
Nearest community college
4.1 mi
College of DuPage · $4,560 tuition
Nearest public university
19.8 mi
University of Illinois Chicago · $14,338 in-state
Median household income
$115K
prices below start here

What stands out about college in Downers Grove

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

Three colleges within 4.1 milesBenedictine University admits 95% of applicants. Together they have 23,406 students on campus.A community college 4.1 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 Downers Grove

12 private colleges within 13.4 miles, and four community colleges. The nearest public four-year college, University of Illinois Chicago, is 19.8 miles away.

5 mi10 mi15 miCollege of DuPageMoraine ValleyTriton CollegeDowners Grove
University or collegeCommunity college
Midwestern University-Downers GroveUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 2,671 on campus · In Downers GroveGraduate students only; the Scorecard reports no undergraduate figures.College of DuPageCommunity college · Public · 18,795 on campus · 4.1 mi · Glen Ellyn$7knet price25%graduate$47kearningsTuition and fees: $4,560 a year. The net price counts housing and food at full cost.Benedictine UniversityUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 1,940 on campus · 4.1 mi · Lisle95%admitted$22knet price50%graduate$63kearningsNational University of Health SciencesUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 481 on campus · 4.6 mi · Lombard$59kearningsDeVry University-IllinoisUniversity or college · For-profit · 1,101 on campus · 5 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.North Central CollegeUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 2,649 on campus · 6.4 mi · Naperville77%admitted$21knet price64%graduate$60kearningsWheaton CollegeUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 2,613 on campus · 6.6 mi · Wheaton87%admitted$27knet price85%graduate$64kearningsElmhurst UniversityUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 3,251 on campus · 8.1 mi · Elmhurst74%admitted$24knet price70%graduate$61kearningsChamberlain University-IllinoisUniversity or college · For-profit · 2,540 on campus · 10.7 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.Moraine Valley Community CollegeCommunity college · Public · 9,764 on campus · 11.8 mi · Palos Hills$3knet price40%graduate$44kearningsTuition and fees: $3,822 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 · 12.4 mi · Melrose Park$26knet price68%graduate$39kearningsEarnings are reported for all 8 campuses that file with it.Triton CollegeCommunity college · Public · 8,418 on campus · 12.5 mi · River Grove$4knet price29%graduate$42kearningsTuition and fees: $5,070 a year. The net price counts housing and food at full cost.Dominican UniversityUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 2,726 on campus · 12.6 mi · River Forest90%admitted$12knet price55%graduate$60kearningsConcordia University-ChicagoUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 1,535 on campus · 13 mi · River Forest · mostly online93%admitted$18knet price36%graduate$54kearnings70% of its students study only online; price, graduation and earnings count them too.Lewis UniversityUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 5,289 on campus · 13.4 mi · Romeoville71%admitted$17knet price67%graduate$66kearningsMorton CollegeCommunity college · Public · 3,619 on campus · 13.5 mi · Cicero$5knet price31%graduate$42kearningsTuition and fees: $5,502 a year. The net price counts housing and food at full cost.

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 Downers Grove’s median household income ($115,114) falls.

Triton College12.5 mi · River Grove · sticker $12,235 · tuition $5,070$12,235a year
Moraine Valley Community College11.8 mi · Palos Hills · sticker $13,971 · tuition $3,822$13,971a year
College of DuPage4.1 mi · Glen Ellyn · sticker $15,554 · tuition $4,560$15,308a year
Dominican University12.6 mi · River Forest · sticker $43,891$17,963a year
Concordia University-Chicago13 mi · River Forest · mostly online · sticker $45,383$23,907a year
Lewis University13.4 mi · Romeoville · sticker $47,313$25,035a year
University of Illinois Chicago19.8 mi · Chicago · sticker $27,521$25,047a year
North Central College6.4 mi · Naperville · sticker $57,219$26,961a year
Benedictine University4.1 mi · Lisle · sticker $46,713$27,454a year
Lincoln College of Technology-Melrose Park12.4 mi · Melrose Park · sticker $29,496$28,983a year
Elmhurst University8.1 mi · Elmhurst · sticker $54,679$30,232a year
Wheaton College6.6 mi · Wheaton · sticker $59,263$33,435a year
DeVry University-Illinois5 mi · Lisle · mostly online · sticker $38,660$35,359a year
Chamberlain University-Illinois10.7 mi · Addison · mostly online · sticker $40,826$40,826a year
Morton College13.5 mi · Cicero · sticker $12,801 · tuition $5,502—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 ValleyTriton CollegeLewis UniversityMorton 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
Morton College31% graduate$42k earnings$8k typical debt
Elmhurst University70% graduate$61k earnings$20k 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
Chamberlain University-Illinois42% graduate$92k earnings*$21k typical debt
Benedictine University50% graduate$63k earnings$22k 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); Chamberlain University-Illinois (15); Lincoln College of Technology-Melrose Park (8).

Questions about college in Downers Grove

Is Downers Grove a college town?

No. About 6 of every 100 Downers Grove residents are enrolled in college (Census, 2020–24), about the same as Illinois (6). The largest campus in the village, Midwestern University-Downers Grove, has 2,671 students on campus.

What colleges are in Downers Grove?

Midwestern University-Downers Grove is inside the village. College of DuPage is 4.1 miles from the center, in Glen Ellyn, and Benedictine University is 4.1 miles from the center, in Lisle.

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

College of DuPage in Glen Ellyn, 4.1 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.

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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 Downers Grove. 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 →