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Colleges in and near Park Ridge

City Colleges of Chicago-Wilbur Wright College is 4.6 miles from Park Ridge

No college sits inside Park Ridge’s boundary, but City Colleges of Chicago-Wilbur Wright College’s campus in Chicago, with 5,977 students on campus, is 4.6 miles from the center of town, and Oakton College is 4 miles away in Des Plaines. About 4% of Park Ridge’s residents are enrolled in college, below Illinois (6%).

Oakton CollegeCity Colleges of Chicago-Wilbur Wright 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 Park Ridge. Colleges are described, not graded.

Within 15 miles
39
181,920 students on campus
Nearest college
4 mi
Oakton College
Residents in college
4%
Below IL (6%)
Nearest community college
4 mi
Oakton College · $3,985 tuition
Nearest public university
6.7 mi
Northeastern Illinois University · $12,383 in-state
Median household income
$143K
prices below start here

What stands out about college from Park Ridge

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

Two colleges within 4.6 milesTogether they have 11,001 students on campus.A community college 4 miles awayOakton College in Des Plaines: tuition and fees $3,985 a year for Illinois residents.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 Park Ridge

29 private colleges within 15 miles, two public colleges within 13.8 miles, and eight community colleges.

5 mi10 mi15 miUniversity of Illinois ChicagoNorthwestern UniversityDePaul UniversityPark Ridge
University or collegeCommunity college
Oakton CollegeCommunity college · Public · 5,024 on campus · 4 mi · Des Plaines$5knet price37%graduate$48kearningsTuition and fees: $3,985 a year. The net price counts housing and food at full cost.Hebrew Theological CollegeUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 190 on campus · 4.2 mi · Skokie57%admitted$27knet price50%graduate$33kearningsCity Colleges of Chicago-Wilbur Wright CollegeCommunity college · Public · 5,977 on campus · 4.6 mi · Chicago$6knet price31%graduate$42kearningsTuition and fees: $4,590 a year. The net price counts housing and food at full cost.Triton CollegeCommunity college · Public · 8,418 on campus · 6.6 mi · River Grove$4knet price29%graduate$42kearningsTuition and fees: $5,070 a year. The net price counts housing and food at full cost.Northeastern Illinois UniversityUniversity or college · Public · 4,492 on campus · 6.7 mi · Chicago75%admitted$14knet price22%graduate$52kearningsNorth Park UniversityUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 2,385 on campus · 7.3 mi · Chicago69%admitted$17knet price58%graduate$60kearningsLincoln College of Technology-Melrose ParkUniversity or college · For-profit · 1,345 on campus · 7.4 mi · Melrose Park$26knet price68%graduate$39kearningsEarnings are reported for all 8 campuses that file with it.Dominican UniversityUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 2,726 on campus · 7.6 mi · River Forest90%admitted$12knet price55%graduate$60kearningsConcordia University-ChicagoUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 1,535 on campus · 8 mi · River Forest · mostly online93%admitted$18knet price36%graduate$54kearnings70% of its students study only online; price, graduation and earnings count them too.Northwestern UniversityUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 22,245 on campus · 8.8 mi · Evanston8%admitted$29knet price95%graduate$89kearningsGarrett-Evangelical Theological SeminaryUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 236 on campus · 9.1 mi · EvanstonGraduate students only; the Scorecard reports no undergraduate figures.Elmhurst UniversityUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 3,251 on campus · 9.5 mi · Elmhurst74%admitted$24knet price70%graduate$61kearningsLoyola University ChicagoUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 16,038 on campus · 9.6 mi · Chicago82%admitted$36knet price73%graduate$72kearningsSt. Augustine CollegeUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 774 on campus · 9.7 mi · ChicagoInstitute for Clinical Social WorkUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 109 on campus · 9.7 mi · ChicagoGraduate students only; the Scorecard reports no undergraduate figures.City Colleges of Chicago-Harry S Truman CollegeCommunity college · Public · 4,540 on campus · 10 mi · Chicago$8knet price32%graduate$36kearningsTuition and fees: $4,590 a year. The net price counts housing and food at full cost.Chamberlain University-IllinoisUniversity or college · For-profit · 2,540 on campus · 10.9 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.City Colleges of Chicago-Malcolm X CollegeCommunity college · Public · 5,516 on campus · 12.6 mi · Chicago$7knet price18%graduate$32kearningsTuition and fees: $4,590 a year. The net price counts housing and food at full cost.William Rainey Harper CollegeCommunity college · Public · 10,894 on campus · 12.7 mi · Palatine$12knet price48%graduate$48kearningsTuition and fees: $3,894 a year. The net price counts housing and food at full cost.Trinity International University-IllinoisUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 520 on campus · 13 mi · Deerfield100%admitted$3knet price46%graduate$47kearningsEarnings are reported for all 2 campuses that file with it.Rush UniversityUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 1,757 on campus · 13.1 mi · Chicago$75kearningsMoody Bible InstituteUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 1,478 on campus · 13.4 mi · Chicago83%admitted$22knet price62%graduate$45kearningsMorton CollegeCommunity college · Public · 3,619 on campus · 13.6 mi · Cicero$5knet price31%graduate$42kearningsTuition and fees: $5,502 a year. The net price counts housing and food at full cost.National University of Health SciencesUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 481 on campus · 13.6 mi · Lombard$59kearningsThe Chicago School at ChicagoUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 1,147 on campus · 13.7 mi · Chicago34%admitted$57kearningsEarnings are reported for all 8 campuses that file with it.Erikson InstituteUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 252 on campus · 13.7 mi · ChicagoGraduate students only; the Scorecard reports no undergraduate figures.University of Illinois ChicagoUniversity or college · Public · 29,607 on campus · 13.8 mi · Chicago77%admitted$11knet price62%graduate$69kearningsMidwestern Career CollegeUniversity or college · For-profit · 756 on campus · 13.9 mi · Chicago$20knet price54%graduate$36kearningsCity Colleges of Chicago-Harold Washington CollegeCommunity college · Public · 3,693 on campus · 14.1 mi · Chicago$7knet price26%graduate$37kearningsTuition and fees: $4,590 a year. The net price counts housing and food at full cost.Adler UniversityUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 1,245 on campus · 14.2 mi · ChicagoPacific College of Health and ScienceUniversity or college · For-profit · 201 on campus · 14.2 mi · Chicago78%graduate$26kearningsEarnings are reported for all 3 campuses that file with it.Taylor Business InstituteUniversity or college · For-profit · 172 on campus · 14.3 mi · Chicago91%admitted$13knet price59%graduate$26kearningsSchool of the Art Institute of ChicagoUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 3,327 on campus · 14.4 mi · Chicago77%admitted$50knet price67%graduate$40kearningsDePaul UniversityUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 18,382 on campus · 14.5 mi · Chicago76%admitted$31knet price68%graduate$69kearningsNational Louis UniversityUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 3,751 on campus · 14.5 mi · Chicago · mostly online95%admitted$13knet price30%graduate$46kearnings55% of its students study only online; price, graduation and earnings count them too.Roosevelt UniversityUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 3,623 on campus · 14.6 mi · Chicago97%admitted$20knet price35%graduate$49kearningsColumbia College ChicagoUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 6,475 on campus · 14.7 mi · Chicago89%admitted$27knet price52%graduate$42kearningsEast-West UniversityUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 528 on campus · 14.8 mi · Chicago$22knet price16%graduate$30kearningsMidwestern University-Downers GroveUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 2,671 on campus · 15 mi · Downers GroveGraduate 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 Over $110k, where Park Ridge’s median household income ($142,986) falls.

Oakton College4 mi · Des Plaines · sticker $11,431 · tuition $3,985$11,431a year
City Colleges of Chicago-Harry S Truman College10 mi · Chicago · sticker $15,063 · tuition $4,590$11,489a year
City Colleges of Chicago-Harold Washington College14.1 mi · Chicago · sticker $14,726 · tuition $4,590$11,657a year
Triton College6.6 mi · River Grove · sticker $12,235 · tuition $5,070$12,235a year
City Colleges of Chicago-Malcolm X College12.6 mi · Chicago · sticker $14,355 · tuition $4,590$14,355a year
National Louis University14.5 mi · Chicago · mostly online · sticker $24,154$17,956a year
Dominican University7.6 mi · River Forest · sticker $43,891$17,963a year
William Rainey Harper College12.7 mi · Palatine · sticker $19,288 · tuition $3,894$18,676a year
Moody Bible Institute13.4 mi · Chicago · sticker $34,327$22,897a year
North Park University7.3 mi · Chicago · sticker $44,172$22,964a year
Concordia University-Chicago8 mi · River Forest · mostly online · sticker $45,383$23,907a year
Northeastern Illinois University6.7 mi · Chicago · sticker $26,960$25,001a year
University of Illinois Chicago13.8 mi · Chicago · sticker $27,521$25,047a year
Roosevelt University14.6 mi · Chicago · sticker $35,332$27,157a year
Lincoln College of Technology-Melrose Park7.4 mi · Melrose Park · sticker $29,496$28,983a year
Elmhurst University9.5 mi · Elmhurst · sticker $54,679$30,232a year
Hebrew Theological College4.2 mi · Skokie · sticker $35,559$35,059a year
Columbia College Chicago14.7 mi · Chicago · sticker $51,889$36,436a year
DePaul University14.5 mi · Chicago · sticker $63,052$37,092a year
Chamberlain University-Illinois10.9 mi · Addison · mostly online · sticker $40,826$40,826a year
Loyola University Chicago9.6 mi · Chicago · sticker $67,408$42,346a year
Northwestern University8.8 mi · Evanston · sticker $91,250$48,777a year
School of the Art Institute of Chicago14.4 mi · Chicago · sticker $75,625$55,790a year
City Colleges of Chicago-Wilbur Wright College4.6 mi · Chicago · sticker $13,762 · tuition $4,590—a year
Trinity International University-Illinois13 mi · Deerfield · sticker $16,515—a year
Morton College13.6 mi · Cicero · sticker $12,801 · tuition $5,502—a year
Midwestern Career College13.9 mi · Chicago · sticker $24,216—a year
Taylor Business Institute14.3 mi · Chicago · sticker $22,775—a year
East-West University14.8 mi · Chicago · sticker $32,606—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 Park Ridge: 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 →Triton CollegeNorthwestern UniversityWilliam Rainey Harper CollegeUniversity of Illinois ChicagoDePaul University
University of Illinois Chicago62% graduate$69k earnings$17k typical debt
Northwestern University95% graduate$89k earnings$15k typical debt
DePaul University68% graduate$69k earnings$23k typical debt
Loyola University Chicago73% graduate$72k earnings$24k typical debt
William Rainey Harper College48% graduate$48k earnings$10k typical debt
Triton College29% graduate$42k earnings$9k typical debt
Columbia College Chicago52% graduate$42k earnings$25k typical debt
City Colleges of Chicago-Wilbur Wright College31% graduate$42k earnings$6k typical debt
City Colleges of Chicago-Malcolm X College18% graduate$32k earnings$8k typical debt
Oakton College37% graduate$48k earnings$5k typical debt
City Colleges of Chicago-Harry S Truman College32% graduate$36k earnings$7k typical debt
Northeastern Illinois University22% graduate$52k earnings$15k 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: Lincoln College of Technology-Melrose Park (8); Chamberlain University-Illinois (15); Trinity International University-Illinois (2); Pacific College of Health and Science (3).

Questions about college near Park Ridge

Is Park Ridge a college town?

No. About 4 of every 100 Park Ridge residents are enrolled in college (Census, 2020–24), below Illinois (6). The nearest campus, Oakton College, is 4 miles away in Des Plaines.

What colleges are near Park Ridge?

39 colleges are within 15 miles. The largest: the University of Illinois Chicago (13.8 miles, 29,607 students on campus), Northwestern University (8.8 miles, 22,245) and DePaul University (14.5 miles, 18,382).

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

Oakton College in Des Plaines, 4 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.

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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 Park Ridge. 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 →