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George Clayson HouseGeorge Clayson House · Photo: G LeTourneau · CC BY-SA 3.0
Colleges in and near Palatine

Palatine is home to William Rainey Harper College

William Rainey Harper College (10,894 students on campus) is inside the village. About 4% of Palatine’s 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 Palatine. Colleges are described, not graded.

Within 15 miles
8
22,122 students on campus
Nearest college
2.8 mi
William Rainey Harper College
Residents in college
4%
Below IL (6%)
Nearest community college
2.8 mi
William Rainey Harper College · $3,894 tuition
Nearest public university
19.2 mi
Northeastern Illinois University · $12,383 in-state
Median household income
$98K
prices below start here

What stands out about college in Palatine

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

A community college in PalatineWilliam 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 Palatine

Six private colleges within 14.4 miles, and two community colleges. The nearest public four-year college, Northeastern Illinois University, is 19.2 miles away.

5 mi10 mi15 miWilliam Rainey Harper CollegeOakton CollegeChamberlain University-IllinoisPalatine
University or collegeCommunity college
William Rainey Harper CollegeCommunity college · Public · 10,894 on campus · In Palatine$12knet price48%graduate$48kearningsTuition and fees: $3,894 a year. The net price counts housing and food at full cost.Ambria College of NursingUniversity or college · For-profit · 195 on campus · 9 mi · Hoffman Estates$67kearningsOakton CollegeCommunity college · Public · 5,024 on campus · 9.2 mi · Des Plaines$5knet price37%graduate$48kearningsTuition and fees: $3,985 a year. The net price counts housing and food at full cost.Trinity International University-IllinoisUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 520 on campus · 10.1 mi · Deerfield100%admitted$3knet price46%graduate$47kearningsEarnings are reported for all 2 campuses that file with it.Chamberlain University-IllinoisUniversity or college · For-profit · 2,540 on campus · 11.5 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.University of Saint Mary of the LakeUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 173 on campus · 11.6 mi · MundeleinGraduate students only; the Scorecard reports no undergraduate figures.Judson UniversityUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 958 on campus · 13.2 mi · Elgin48%admitted$19knet price60%graduate$56kearningsLake Forest CollegeUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 1,818 on campus · 14.4 mi · Lake Forest57%admitted$29knet price78%graduate$62kearnings

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 Palatine’s median household income ($97,819) falls.

Oakton College9.2 mi · Des Plaines · sticker $11,431 · tuition $3,985$9,496a year
William Rainey Harper CollegeIn Palatine · sticker $19,288 · tuition $3,894$16,866a year
Northeastern Illinois University19.2 mi · Chicago · sticker $26,960$20,464a year
Judson University13.2 mi · Elgin · sticker $43,137$21,124a year
Lake Forest College14.4 mi · Lake Forest · sticker $70,655$26,055a year
Chamberlain University-Illinois11.5 mi · Addison · mostly online · sticker $40,826$32,607a year
Trinity International University-Illinois10.1 mi · Deerfield · sticker $16,515—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$80k$100k0%25%50%75%100%Graduate →William Rainey Harper CollegeOakton CollegeChamberlain University-IllinoisJudson UniversityLake Forest CollegeNortheastern Illinois University
William Rainey Harper College48% graduate$48k earnings$10k typical debt
Oakton College37% graduate$48k earnings$5k typical debt
Northeastern Illinois University22% graduate$52k earnings$15k typical debt
Chamberlain University-Illinois42% graduate$92k earnings*$21k typical debt
Lake Forest College78% graduate$62k earnings$26k typical debt
Judson University60% graduate$56k earnings$25k 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); Chamberlain University-Illinois (15).

Majors

What students study in Palatine

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

Liberal arts 36%Health professions 23%Business 9%Interdisciplinary 9%Family sciences 4%Mechanics & repair 3%Everything else 16%

Biggest programs

Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities1,093 graduates a year
$50k4 yrs out
Biological and Physical Sciences440 graduates a year
$54k4 yrs out
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing82 graduates a year
$82k4 yrs out
Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions55 graduates a year
$81k4 yrs out
Business Administration, Management and Operations47 graduates a year
$78k4 yrs out
Engineering, General44 graduates a year
$76k4 yrs out
Health and Medical Administrative Services26 graduates a year
$46k4 yrs out
Dental Support Services and Allied Professions24 graduates a year
$70k4 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 Palatine

Is Palatine a college town?

No. About 4 of every 100 Palatine residents are enrolled in college (Census, 2020–24), below Illinois (6). The largest campus in the village, William Rainey Harper College, has 10,894 students on campus.

What colleges are in Palatine?

William Rainey Harper College is inside the village.

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

William Rainey Harper College in Palatine, 2.8 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 Palatine. 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 →