Guest, Sign inJoin

Post to Forest Lake

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
Colleges in and near Forest Lake

The University of Saint Mary of the Lake is 5.5 miles from Forest Lake

No college sits inside Forest Lake’s boundary, but the University of Saint Mary of the Lake’s campus in Mundelein, with 173 students on campus, is 5.5 miles from the center of town, and William Rainey Harper College is 9 miles away in Palatine. About 3% of Forest 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 Forest Lake. Colleges are described, not graded.

Within 15 miles
8
29,679 students on campus
Nearest college
5.5 mi
University of Saint Mary of the Lake
Residents in college
3%
Below IL (6%)
Nearest community college
9 mi
William Rainey Harper College · $3,894 tuition
Nearest public university
23.4 mi
Northeastern Illinois University · $12,383 in-state
Median household income
$96K
prices below start here

What stands out about college from Forest Lake

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

A university 5.5 miles awayThe University of Saint Mary of the Lake has 173 students on campus in Mundelein.A community college 9 miles awayWilliam Rainey Harper College in Palatine: tuition and fees $3,894 a year for Illinois residents.In-state price at Northeastern Illinois UniversityLiving in Illinois, Northeastern Illinois University charges $12,383 in tuition and fees; from out of state, $22,726. State residency rules decide which a new arrival pays.Students are 3% of residentsBelow Illinois (6%). The Census counts anyone enrolled, including part-time and online students.
Every college

Colleges within 15 miles of Forest Lake

Five private colleges within 12.4 miles, and three community colleges. The nearest public four-year college, Northeastern Illinois University, is 23.4 miles away.

5 mi10 mi15 miWilliam Rainey Harper CollegeCollege of Lake CountyOakton CollegeForest Lake
University or collegeCommunity college
University of Saint Mary of the LakeUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 173 on campus · 5.5 mi · MundeleinGraduate students only; the Scorecard reports no undergraduate figures.Trinity International University-IllinoisUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 520 on campus · 8.8 mi · Deerfield100%admitted$3knet price46%graduate$47kearningsEarnings are reported for all 2 campuses that file with it.William Rainey Harper CollegeCommunity college · Public · 10,894 on campus · 9 mi · Palatine$12knet price48%graduate$48kearningsTuition and fees: $3,894 a year. The net price counts housing and food at full cost.College of Lake CountyCommunity college · Public · 9,144 on campus · 10 mi · Grayslake$8knet price37%graduate$43kearningsTuition and fees: $4,788 a year. The net price counts housing and food at full cost.Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and ScienceUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 1,911 on campus · 11.6 mi · North ChicagoGraduate students only; the Scorecard reports no undergraduate figures.Lake Forest CollegeUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 1,818 on campus · 11.8 mi · Lake Forest57%admitted$29knet price78%graduate$62kearningsAmbria College of NursingUniversity or college · For-profit · 195 on campus · 12.4 mi · Hoffman Estates$67kearningsOakton CollegeCommunity college · Public · 5,024 on campus · 13.6 mi · Des Plaines$5knet price37%graduate$48kearningsTuition and fees: $3,985 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 $75–110k, where Forest Lake’s median household income ($96,250) falls.

Oakton College13.6 mi · Des Plaines · sticker $11,431 · tuition $3,985$9,496a year
William Rainey Harper College9 mi · Palatine · sticker $19,288 · tuition $3,894$16,866a year
Northeastern Illinois University23.4 mi · Chicago · sticker $26,960$20,464a year
Lake Forest College11.8 mi · Lake Forest · sticker $70,655$26,055a year
Trinity International University-Illinois8.8 mi · Deerfield · sticker $16,515—a year
College of Lake County10 mi · Grayslake · sticker $12,694 · tuition $4,788—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$80k0%25%50%75%100%Graduate →Trinity International University-IllinoisWilliam Rainey Harper CollegeCollege of Lake CountyLake Forest CollegeOakton CollegeNortheastern Illinois University
William Rainey Harper College48% graduate$48k earnings$10k typical debt
College of Lake County37% graduate$43k earnings$9k typical debt
Oakton College37% graduate$48k earnings$5k typical debt
Northeastern Illinois University22% graduate$52k earnings$15k typical debt
Lake Forest College78% graduate$62k earnings$26k typical debt
Trinity International University-Illinois46% graduate$47k earnings*$26k 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: Trinity International University-Illinois (2).

Questions about college near Forest Lake

Is Forest Lake a college town?

No. About 3 of every 100 Forest Lake residents are enrolled in college (Census, 2020–24), below Illinois (6). The nearest campus, the University of Saint Mary of the Lake, is 5.5 miles away in Mundelein.

What colleges are near Forest Lake?

8 colleges are within 15 miles. The largest: William Rainey Harper College (9 miles, 10,894 students on campus), College of Lake County (10 miles, 9,144) and Oakton College (13.6 miles, 5,024).

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

William Rainey Harper College in Palatine, 9 miles away. Tuition and fees are $3,894 a year for Illinois residents; the federal net price, $11,607, 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.

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 Forest 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 →