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Naperville IL Skyline 2022Photo: Sea Cow · CC BY-SA 4.0
Colleges in and near Naperville

Naperville is home to North Central College

North Central College (2,649 students on campus) is inside the city, and Benedictine University (1,940) is 3.9 miles from the center, just over the line in Lisle. About 6% of Naperville’s residents are enrolled in college, about the same as Illinois (6%).

North Central CollegeBenedictine 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 Naperville. Colleges are described, not graded.

Within 15 miles
9
39,708 students on campus
Nearest college
2.1 mi
North Central College
Residents in college
6%
About the same as IL (6%)
Nearest community college
7.9 mi
College of DuPage · $4,560 tuition
Nearest public university
27.7 mi
University of Illinois Chicago · $14,338 in-state
Median household income
$155K
prices below start here

What stands out about college in Naperville

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

Two colleges within 3.9 milesNorth Central College admits 77% of applicants; Benedictine University admits 95%. Together they have 4,589 students on campus.A community college 7.9 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 Naperville

Eight private colleges within 10.9 miles, and College of DuPage 7.9 miles away. The nearest public four-year college, University of Illinois Chicago, is 27.7 miles away.

5 mi10 mi15 miCollege of DuPageLewis UniversityAurora UniversityNaperville
University or collegeCommunity college
North Central CollegeUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 2,649 on campus · In Naperville77%admitted$21knet price64%graduate$60kearningsBenedictine UniversityUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 1,940 on campus · 3.9 mi · Lisle95%admitted$22knet price50%graduate$63kearningsDeVry University-IllinoisUniversity or college · For-profit · 1,101 on campus · 4.6 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.College of DuPageCommunity college · Public · 18,795 on campus · 7.9 mi · Glen Ellyn$7knet price25%graduate$47kearningsTuition and fees: $4,560 a year. The net price counts housing and food at full cost.Wheaton CollegeUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 2,613 on campus · 9 mi · Wheaton87%admitted$27knet price85%graduate$64kearningsAurora UniversityUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 4,169 on campus · 9.6 mi · Aurora81%admitted$19knet price60%graduate$59kearningsMidwestern University-Downers GroveUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 2,671 on campus · 10 mi · Downers GroveGraduate students only; the Scorecard reports no undergraduate figures.Lewis UniversityUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 5,289 on campus · 10.8 mi · Romeoville71%admitted$17knet price67%graduate$66kearningsNational University of Health SciencesUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 481 on campus · 10.9 mi · Lombard$59kearnings

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 Naperville’s median household income ($155,105) falls.

College of DuPage7.9 mi · Glen Ellyn · sticker $15,554 · tuition $4,560$15,308a year
Aurora University9.6 mi · Aurora · sticker $40,625$24,595a year
Lewis University10.8 mi · Romeoville · sticker $47,313$25,035a year
University of Illinois Chicago27.7 mi · Chicago · sticker $27,521$25,047a year
North Central CollegeIn Naperville · sticker $57,219$26,961a year
Benedictine University3.9 mi · Lisle · sticker $46,713$27,454a year
Wheaton College9 mi · Wheaton · sticker $59,263$33,435a year
DeVry University-Illinois4.6 mi · Lisle · mostly online · sticker $38,660$35,359a 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 →North Central CollegeCollege of DuPageWheaton CollegeAurora UniversityLewis UniversityUniversity of Illinois Chicago
University of Illinois Chicago62% graduate$69k earnings$17k typical debt
College of DuPage25% graduate$47k earnings$10k typical debt
Lewis University67% graduate$66k earnings$22k typical debt
Aurora University60% graduate$59k earnings$20k typical debt
North Central College64% graduate$60k earnings$24k typical debt
Wheaton College85% graduate$64k earnings$23k typical debt
Benedictine University50% graduate$63k earnings$22k typical debt
DeVry University-Illinois37% graduate$46k 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: DeVry University-Illinois (11).

Majors

What students study in Naperville

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

Business 26%Psychology 10%Parks & recreation 10%Social sciences 8%Visual & performing arts 7%Biology 6%Everything else 33%

Biggest programs

Psychology, General74 graduates a year
$52k4 yrs out
Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness50 graduates a year
$60k4 yrs out
Marketing44 graduates a year
$71k4 yrs out
Finance and Financial Management Services35 graduates a year
$82k4 yrs out
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods33 graduates a year
$49k4 yrs out
Accounting and Related Services29 graduates a year
$78k4 yrs out
Business Administration, Management and Operations26 graduates a year
$66k4 yrs out
Computer Science24 graduates a year
$80k4 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 Naperville

Is Naperville a college town?

No. About 6 of every 100 Naperville residents are enrolled in college (Census, 2020–24), about the same as Illinois (6). The largest campus in the city, North Central College, has 2,649 students on campus.

What colleges are in Naperville?

North Central College is inside the city. Benedictine University is 3.9 miles from the center, in Lisle, and College of DuPage is 7.9 miles away in Glen Ellyn.

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

College of DuPage in Glen Ellyn, 7.9 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 Naperville. 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 →