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Kankakee County CourthousePhoto: MrHarman at English Wikipedia · Public domain
Colleges in and near Kankakee

Kankakee is home to Kankakee Community College

Kankakee Community College (2,174 students on campus) is inside the city, and Olivet Nazarene University (2,498) is 3.8 miles from the center, in Bourbonnais. About 4% of Kankakee’s residents are enrolled in college, below Illinois (6%).

Kankakee Community CollegeOlivet Nazarene 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 Kankakee. Colleges are described, not graded.

Within 15 miles
2
4,672 students on campus
Nearest college
0.7 mi
Kankakee
Residents in college
4%
Below IL (6%)
Nearest community college
0.7 mi
Kankakee · $5,220 tuition
Nearest public university
25.2 mi
Governors State · $12,004 in-state
Median household income
$48K
prices below start here

What stands out about college in Kankakee

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

Two colleges within 3.8 milesOlivet Nazarene University admits 56% of applicants. Together they have 4,672 students on campus.A community college 0.7 miles awayKankakee Community College in Kankakee: tuition and fees $5,220 a year for Illinois residents.In-state price at Governors StateLiving in Illinois, Governors State University charges $12,004 in tuition and fees, the same for every student.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 Kankakee

One private college within 3.8 miles, and Kankakee Community College 0.7 miles away. The nearest public four-year college, Governors State University, is 25.2 miles away.

5 mi10 mi15 miOlivet Nazarene UniversityKankakeeKankakee
University or collegeCommunity college
Kankakee Community CollegeCommunity college · Public · 2,174 on campus · In Kankakee$5knet price32%graduate$39kearningsTuition and fees: $5,220 a year. The net price counts housing and food at full cost.Olivet Nazarene UniversityUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 2,498 on campus · 3.8 mi · Bourbonnais56%admitted$21knet price61%graduate$53kearnings

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 $30–48k, where Kankakee’s median household income ($47,514) falls.

Kankakee Community CollegeIn Kankakee · sticker $11,612 · tuition $5,220$2,781a year
Governors State University25.2 mi · University Park · sticker $24,227$10,933a year
Olivet Nazarene University3.8 mi · Bourbonnais · sticker $51,981$15,056a 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 →KankakeeOlivet Nazarene UniversityGovernors State
Governors State University22% graduate$58k earnings$19k typical debt
Olivet Nazarene University61% graduate$53k earnings$25k typical debt
Kankakee Community College32% graduate$39k earnings$10k 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.

Majors

What students study in Kankakee

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

Liberal arts 22%Mechanics & repair 22%Health professions 15%Family sciences 11%Precision production 9%Engineering tech 6%Everything else 15%

Biggest programs

Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities152 graduates a year
$44k4 yrs out
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing44 graduates a year
$78k4 yrs out
Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions24 graduates a year
$59k4 yrs out
Business Administration, Management and Operations9 graduates a year
$58k4 yrs out
Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services6 graduates a year
$55k4 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 Kankakee

Is Kankakee a college town?

No. About 4 of every 100 Kankakee residents are enrolled in college (Census, 2020–24), below Illinois (6). The largest campus in the city, Kankakee Community College, has 2,174 students on campus.

What colleges are in Kankakee?

Kankakee Community College is inside the city. Olivet Nazarene University is 3.8 miles from the center, in Bourbonnais.

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

Kankakee Community College in Kankakee, 0.7 miles away. Tuition and fees are $5,220 a year for Illinois residents; the federal net price, $4,665, counts housing and food at full cost.

How much does Governors State University cost if we live in Illinois?

Tuition and fees are $12,004 a year in-state and $12,004 from out of state. After grants, families on federal aid paid an average of $9,563 (under $30,000 income) to $22,076 (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 Kankakee. 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 →