Photo: CL Minecraft · CC BY-SA 4.0Oakton College is 5.2 miles from Northbrook
No college sits inside Northbrook’s boundary, but Oakton College’s campus in Des Plaines, with 5,024 students on campus, is 5.2 miles from the center of town. About 6% of Northbrook’s residents are enrolled in college, about the same as 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 Northbrook. Colleges are described, not graded.
What stands out about college from Northbrook
Facts about the town and its distance to campus; each college’s own figures follow.
Colleges within 15 miles of Northbrook
11 private colleges within 14 miles, one public college within 11.9 miles, and five community colleges.
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 would your family pay?
The average a year after grants, for families on federal aid, at the colleges within 15 miles. Pick your family’s income.
Starts at Over $110k, where Northbrook’s median household income ($157,782) falls.
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.
Do students finish, and does it pay?
Each dot is a college within 15 miles of Northbrook: across is the share who graduate, up is what they earn ten years after starting.
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 Northbrook
Is Northbrook a college town?
No. About 6 of every 100 Northbrook residents are enrolled in college (Census, 2020–24), about the same as Illinois (6). The nearest campus, Oakton College, is 5.2 miles away in Des Plaines.
What colleges are near Northbrook?
17 colleges are within 15 miles. The largest: Northwestern University (9.6 miles, 22,245 students on campus), Loyola University Chicago (12.7 miles, 16,038) and William Rainey Harper College (12.6 miles, 10,894).
What is the closest community college to Northbrook, and what does it cost?
Oakton College in Des Plaines, 5.2 miles away. Tuition and fees are $3,985 a year for Illinois residents; the federal net price, $5,183, 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.
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 Northbrook. 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 →