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Palos Heights Public Library, Palos Heights, IllinoisPhoto: Digital Bookmobile · CC BY 2.0
Colleges in and near Palos Heights

Moraine Valley Community College is 3 miles from Palos Heights

Trinity Christian College (883 students on campus) is inside the city, and Moraine Valley Community College (9,764) is 3 miles from the center, just over the line in Palos Hills. About 5% of Palos Heights’ residents are enrolled in college, about the same as Illinois (6%).

Moraine Valley Community 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 Palos Heights. Colleges are described, not graded.

Within 15 miles
19
60,953 students on campus
Nearest college
0.7 mi
Trinity Christian College
Residents in college
5%
About the same as IL (6%)
Nearest community college
3 mi
Moraine Valley · $3,822 tuition
Nearest public university
10.4 mi
Chicago State · $12,754 in-state
Median household income
$109K
prices below start here

What stands out about college in Palos Heights

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

A community college 3 miles awayMoraine Valley Community College has 9,764 students on campus in Palos Hills, 40% of whom graduate within three years.In-state price at Chicago StateLiving in Illinois, Chicago State University charges $12,754 in tuition and fees, the same for every student.Students are 5% 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 Palos Heights

11 private colleges within 14.9 miles, one public college within 10.4 miles, and seven community colleges.

5 mi10 mi15 miUniversity of ChicagoMoraine ValleyIllinois Institute of TechnologyPalos Heights
University or collegeCommunity college
Trinity Christian CollegeUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 883 on campus · In Palos Heights85%admitted$19knet price58%graduate$56kearningsMoraine Valley Community CollegeCommunity college · Public · 9,764 on campus · 3 mi · Palos Hills$3knet price40%graduate$44kearningsTuition and fees: $3,822 a year. The net price counts housing and food at full cost.Northwestern CollegeUniversity or college · For-profit · 273 on campus · 4.9 mi · Oak LawnSaint Xavier UniversityUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 3,228 on campus · 5.2 mi · Chicago84%admitted$11knet price57%graduate$59kearningsFox CollegeUniversity or college · For-profit · 239 on campus · 6.9 mi · Tinley Park70%admitted$13knet price71%graduate$42kearningsCity Colleges of Chicago-Richard J Daley CollegeCommunity college · Public · 4,708 on campus · 7.4 mi · Chicago$8knet price27%graduate$38kearningsTuition and fees: $4,590 a year. The net price counts housing and food at full cost.South Suburban CollegeCommunity college · Public · 3,085 on campus · 9.9 mi · South Holland$3knet price28%graduate$34kearningsTuition and fees: $5,093 a year. The net price counts housing and food at full cost.Chicago State UniversityUniversity or college · Public · 1,916 on campus · 10.4 mi · Chicago43%admitted$12knet price15%graduate$43kearningsCity Colleges of Chicago-Olive-Harvey CollegeCommunity college · Public · 2,061 on campus · 11.1 mi · Chicago$9knet price21%graduate$31kearningsTuition and fees: $4,590 a year. The net price counts housing and food at full cost.Morton CollegeCommunity college · Public · 3,619 on campus · 11.3 mi · Cicero$5knet price31%graduate$42kearningsTuition and fees: $5,502 a year. The net price counts housing and food at full cost.City Colleges of Chicago-Kennedy-King CollegeCommunity college · Public · 2,020 on campus · 11.3 mi · Chicago$9knet price31%graduate$28kearningsTuition and fees: $4,590 a year. The net price counts housing and food at full cost.Prairie State CollegeCommunity college · Public · 2,611 on campus · 12.5 mi · Chicago Heights$5knet price21%graduate$37kearningsTuition and fees: $4,176 a year. The net price counts housing and food at full cost.University of ChicagoUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 18,240 on campus · 13.3 mi · Chicago4%admitted$15knet price96%graduate$92kearningsCatholic Theological Union at ChicagoUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 182 on campus · 14.3 mi · ChicagoGraduate students only; the Scorecard reports no undergraduate figures.McCormick Theological SeminaryUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 121 on campus · 14.3 mi · ChicagoGraduate students only; the Scorecard reports no undergraduate figures.Lutheran School of Theology at ChicagoUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 114 on campus · 14.3 mi · ChicagoGraduate students only; the Scorecard reports no undergraduate figures.Illinois Institute of TechnologyUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 7,273 on campus · 14.5 mi · Chicago55%admitted$18knet price75%graduate$83kearningsVanderCook College of MusicUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 133 on campus · 14.7 mi · Chicago · mostly online89%admitted$20knet price67%graduate$48kearnings61% of its students study only online; price, graduation and earnings count them too.Illinois College of OptometryUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 483 on campus · 14.9 mi · ChicagoGraduate students only; the Scorecard reports no undergraduate figures.

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. Pick your family’s income.

Family income

Starts at $75–110k, where Palos Heights’ median household income ($108,740) falls.

South Suburban College9.9 mi · South Holland · sticker $10,834 · tuition $5,093$7,583a year
Morton College11.3 mi · Cicero · sticker $12,801 · tuition $5,502$9,356a year
Prairie State College12.5 mi · Chicago Heights · sticker $13,908 · tuition $4,176$11,127a year
City Colleges of Chicago-Richard J Daley College7.4 mi · Chicago · sticker $14,086 · tuition $4,590$11,415a year
City Colleges of Chicago-Kennedy-King College11.3 mi · Chicago · sticker $16,256 · tuition $4,590$11,530a year
University of Chicago13.3 mi · Chicago · sticker $90,360$12,602a year
Chicago State University10.4 mi · Chicago · sticker $29,764$13,899a year
City Colleges of Chicago-Olive-Harvey College11.1 mi · Chicago · sticker $16,126 · tuition $4,590$14,177a year
Saint Xavier University5.2 mi · Chicago · sticker $43,244$15,132a year
Trinity Christian CollegeIn Palos Heights · sticker $35,012$18,846a year
VanderCook College of Music14.7 mi · Chicago · mostly online · sticker $44,613$20,485a year
Illinois Institute of Technology14.5 mi · Chicago · sticker $68,164$21,858a year
Fox College6.9 mi · Tinley Park · sticker $22,971$22,971a year
Moraine Valley Community College3 mi · Palos Hills · sticker $13,971 · tuition $3,822—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 within 15 miles of Palos Heights: 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 →Moraine ValleySaint Xavier UniversityCity Colleges of Chicago-Richard J Daley CollegeMorton CollegeUniversity of ChicagoIllinois Institute of Technology
University of Chicago96% graduate$92k earnings$15k typical debt
Moraine Valley Community College40% graduate$44k earnings$10k typical debt
Illinois Institute of Technology75% graduate$83k earnings$25k typical debt
City Colleges of Chicago-Richard J Daley College27% graduate$38k earnings$4k typical debt
Morton College31% graduate$42k earnings$8k typical debt
Saint Xavier University57% graduate$59k earnings$22k typical debt
South Suburban College28% graduate$34k earnings
Prairie State College21% graduate$37k earnings$11k typical debt
City Colleges of Chicago-Olive-Harvey College21% graduate$31k earnings$8k typical debt
City Colleges of Chicago-Kennedy-King College31% graduate$28k earnings$6k typical debt
Chicago State University15% graduate$43k earnings$31k typical debt
Trinity Christian College58% 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.

Majors

What students study in Palos Heights

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

Education 28%Business 17%Parks & recreation 9%Public administration 9%Health professions 8%Biology 7%Everything else 23%

Biggest programs

Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing22 graduates a year
$80k4 yrs out
Psychology, General19 graduates a year
$51k4 yrs out
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods14 graduates a year
$49k4 yrs out
Special Education and Teaching13 graduates a year
$56k4 yrs out
Social Work12 graduates a year
$52k4 yrs out
Communication and Media Studies7 graduates a year
$48k4 yrs out
Criminal Justice and Corrections6 graduates a year
$78k4 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 Palos Heights

Is Palos Heights a college town?

No. About 5 of every 100 Palos Heights residents are enrolled in college (Census, 2020–24), about the same as Illinois (6). The largest campus in the city, Trinity Christian College, has 883 students on campus.

What colleges are in Palos Heights?

Trinity Christian College is inside the city. Moraine Valley Community College is 3 miles from the center, in Palos Hills.

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

Moraine Valley Community College in Palos Hills, 3 miles away. Tuition and fees are $3,822 a year for Illinois residents; the federal net price, $2,829, counts housing and food at full cost.

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

Tuition and fees are $12,754 a year in-state and $12,754 from out of state. After grants, families on federal aid paid an average of $9,073 (under $30,000 income) to $28,427 (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 Palos Heights. 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 →