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Colleges in and near Hoffman Estates

William Rainey Harper College is 3.9 miles from Hoffman Estates

Ambria College of Nursing (195 students on campus) is inside the village, and William Rainey Harper College (10,894) is 3.9 miles from the center, in Palatine. About 4% of Hoffman Estates’ residents are enrolled in college, below Illinois (6%).

William Rainey Harper College

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 Hoffman Estates. Colleges are described, not graded.

Within 15 miles
7
30,465 students on campus
Nearest college
3.5 mi
Ambria College of Nursing
Residents in college
4%
Below IL (6%)
Nearest community college
3.9 mi
William Rainey Harper College · $3,894 tuition
Nearest public university
22.6 mi
Northeastern Illinois University · $12,383 in-state
Median household income
$107K
prices below start here

What stands out about college in Hoffman Estates

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

A community college 3.9 miles awayWilliam Rainey Harper College has 10,894 students on campus in Palatine, 48% of whom graduate within three years.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 4% of residentsBelow Illinois (6%). The Census counts anyone enrolled, including part-time and online students.
Every college

Colleges within 15 miles of Hoffman Estates

Four private colleges within 13.6 miles, and three community colleges. The nearest public four-year college, Northeastern Illinois University, is 22.6 miles away.

5 mi10 mi15 miWilliam Rainey Harper CollegeElginOakton CollegeHoffman Estates
University or collegeCommunity college
Ambria College of NursingUniversity or college · For-profit · 195 on campus · In Hoffman Estates$67kearningsWilliam Rainey Harper CollegeCommunity college · Public · 10,894 on campus · 3.9 mi · Palatine$12knet price48%graduate$48kearningsTuition and fees: $3,894 a year. The net price counts housing and food at full cost.Judson UniversityUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 958 on campus · 7.5 mi · Elgin48%admitted$19knet price60%graduate$56kearningsChamberlain University-IllinoisUniversity or college · For-profit · 2,540 on campus · 9.6 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.Elgin Community CollegeCommunity college · Public · 8,241 on campus · 9.7 mi · Elgin$6knet price41%graduate$46kearningsTuition and fees: $3,252 a year. The net price counts housing and food at full cost.Oakton CollegeCommunity college · Public · 5,024 on campus · 13.5 mi · Des Plaines$5knet price37%graduate$48kearningsTuition and fees: $3,985 a year. The net price counts housing and food at full cost.Wheaton CollegeUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 2,613 on campus · 13.6 mi · Wheaton87%admitted$27knet price85%graduate$64kearnings

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 Hoffman Estates’ median household income ($106,806) falls.

Elgin Community College9.7 mi · Elgin · sticker $10,408 · tuition $3,252$8,562a year
Oakton College13.5 mi · Des Plaines · sticker $11,431 · tuition $3,985$9,496a year
William Rainey Harper College3.9 mi · Palatine · sticker $19,288 · tuition $3,894$16,866a year
Northeastern Illinois University22.6 mi · Chicago · sticker $26,960$20,464a year
Judson University7.5 mi · Elgin · sticker $43,137$21,124a year
Wheaton College13.6 mi · Wheaton · sticker $59,263$24,176a year
Chamberlain University-Illinois9.6 mi · Addison · mostly online · sticker $40,826$32,607a 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 →William Rainey Harper CollegeChamberlain University-IllinoisElginOakton CollegeWheaton CollegeNortheastern Illinois University
William Rainey Harper College48% graduate$48k earnings$10k typical debt
Elgin Community College41% graduate$46k earnings$7k typical debt
Oakton College37% graduate$48k earnings$5k typical debt
Northeastern Illinois University22% graduate$52k earnings$15k typical debt
Wheaton College85% graduate$64k earnings$23k typical debt
Chamberlain University-Illinois42% graduate$92k earnings*$21k typical debt
Judson University60% graduate$56k earnings$25k 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: Chamberlain University-Illinois (15).

Majors

What students study in Hoffman Estates

Share of bachelor’s and associate degrees by field at Ambria College of Nursing, weighted by undergraduates; then the biggest programs.

Health professions 100%Everything else 0%

Biggest programs

Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing48 graduates a year
$93k4 yrs out

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 Hoffman Estates

Is Hoffman Estates a college town?

No. About 4 of every 100 Hoffman Estates residents are enrolled in college (Census, 2020–24), below Illinois (6). The largest campus in the village, Ambria College of Nursing, has 195 students on campus.

What colleges are in Hoffman Estates?

Ambria College of Nursing is inside the village. William Rainey Harper College is 3.9 miles from the center, in Palatine.

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

William Rainey Harper College in Palatine, 3.9 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.

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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 Hoffman Estates. 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 →