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Colleges in and near Prospect Heights

Oakton College is 3.8 miles from Prospect Heights

No college sits inside Prospect Heights’ boundary, but Oakton College’s campus in Des Plaines, with 5,024 students on campus, is 3.8 miles from the center of town. About 5% of Prospect Heights’ residents are enrolled in college, about the same as Illinois (6%).

Oakton 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 Prospect Heights. Colleges are described, not graded.

Within 15 miles
18
74,340 students on campus
Nearest college
3.8 mi
Oakton College
Residents in college
5%
About the same as IL (6%)
Nearest community college
3.8 mi
Oakton College · $3,985 tuition
Nearest public university
13.7 mi
Northeastern Illinois University · $12,383 in-state
Median household income
$85K
prices below start here

What stands out about college from Prospect Heights

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

A community college 3.8 miles awayOakton College has 5,024 students on campus in Des Plaines, 37% 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 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 Prospect Heights

13 private colleges within 14.9 miles, one public college within 13.7 miles, and four community colleges.

5 mi10 mi15 miNorthwestern UniversityWilliam Rainey Harper CollegeTriton CollegeProspect Heights
University or collegeCommunity college
Oakton CollegeCommunity college · Public · 5,024 on campus · 3.8 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 · 7 mi · Deerfield100%admitted$3knet price46%graduate$47kearningsEarnings are reported for all 2 campuses that file with it.William Rainey Harper CollegeCommunity college · Public · 10,894 on campus · 7.5 mi · Palatine$12knet price48%graduate$48kearningsTuition and fees: $3,894 a year. The net price counts housing and food at full cost.Hebrew Theological CollegeUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 190 on campus · 10.8 mi · Skokie57%admitted$27knet price50%graduate$33kearningsLake Forest CollegeUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 1,818 on campus · 11.3 mi · Lake Forest57%admitted$29knet price78%graduate$62kearningsChamberlain University-IllinoisUniversity or college · For-profit · 2,540 on campus · 12 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-Wilbur Wright CollegeCommunity college · Public · 5,977 on campus · 12.4 mi · Chicago$6knet price31%graduate$42kearningsTuition and fees: $4,590 a year. The net price counts housing and food at full cost.University of Saint Mary of the LakeUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 173 on campus · 12.8 mi · MundeleinGraduate students only; the Scorecard reports no undergraduate figures.Northwestern UniversityUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 22,245 on campus · 13.3 mi · Evanston8%admitted$29knet price95%graduate$89kearningsGarrett-Evangelical Theological SeminaryUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 236 on campus · 13.4 mi · EvanstonGraduate students only; the Scorecard reports no undergraduate figures.Triton CollegeCommunity college · Public · 8,418 on campus · 13.7 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 · 13.7 mi · Chicago75%admitted$14knet price22%graduate$52kearningsRosalind Franklin University of Medicine and ScienceUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 1,911 on campus · 14 mi · North ChicagoGraduate students only; the Scorecard reports no undergraduate figures.Elmhurst UniversityUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 3,251 on campus · 14.3 mi · Elmhurst74%admitted$24knet price70%graduate$61kearningsNorth Park UniversityUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 2,385 on campus · 14.3 mi · Chicago69%admitted$17knet price58%graduate$60kearningsLincoln College of Technology-Melrose ParkUniversity or college · For-profit · 1,345 on campus · 14.6 mi · Melrose Park$26knet price68%graduate$39kearningsEarnings are reported for all 8 campuses that file with it.Ambria College of NursingUniversity or college · For-profit · 195 on campus · 14.6 mi · Hoffman Estates$67kearningsDominican UniversityUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 2,726 on campus · 14.9 mi · River Forest90%admitted$12knet price55%graduate$60kearnings

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 Prospect Heights’ median household income ($85,008) falls.

Triton College13.7 mi · River Grove · sticker $12,235 · tuition $5,070$8,611a year
Oakton College3.8 mi · Des Plaines · sticker $11,431 · tuition $3,985$9,496a year
City Colleges of Chicago-Wilbur Wright College12.4 mi · Chicago · sticker $13,762 · tuition $4,590$9,691a year
Dominican University14.9 mi · River Forest · sticker $43,891$16,851a year
William Rainey Harper College7.5 mi · Palatine · sticker $19,288 · tuition $3,894$16,866a year
Northwestern University13.3 mi · Evanston · sticker $91,250$18,282a year
North Park University14.3 mi · Chicago · sticker $44,172$19,208a year
Northeastern Illinois University13.7 mi · Chicago · sticker $26,960$20,464a year
Elmhurst University14.3 mi · Elmhurst · sticker $54,679$25,419a year
Lake Forest College11.3 mi · Lake Forest · sticker $70,655$26,055a year
Lincoln College of Technology-Melrose Park14.6 mi · Melrose Park · sticker $29,496$28,261a year
Chamberlain University-Illinois12 mi · Addison · mostly online · sticker $40,826$32,607a year
Trinity International University-Illinois7 mi · Deerfield · sticker $16,515—a year
Hebrew Theological College10.8 mi · Skokie · sticker $35,559—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 Prospect 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 →Oakton CollegeWilliam Rainey Harper CollegeCity Colleges of Chicago-Wilbur Wright CollegeNorthwestern UniversityTriton CollegeNortheastern Illinois University
Northwestern University95% graduate$89k earnings$15k typical debt
William Rainey Harper College48% graduate$48k earnings$10k typical debt
Triton College29% graduate$42k earnings$9k typical debt
City Colleges of Chicago-Wilbur Wright College31% graduate$42k earnings$6k typical debt
Oakton College37% graduate$48k earnings$5k typical debt
Northeastern Illinois University22% graduate$52k earnings$15k typical debt
Elmhurst University70% graduate$61k earnings$20k typical debt
Dominican University55% graduate$60k earnings$24k typical debt
Chamberlain University-Illinois42% graduate$92k earnings*$21k typical debt
North Park University58% graduate$60k earnings$26k typical debt
Lake Forest College78% graduate$62k earnings$26k typical debt
Lincoln College of Technology-Melrose Park68% graduate$39k earnings*$11k 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); Lincoln College of Technology-Melrose Park (8).

Questions about college near Prospect Heights

Is Prospect Heights a college town?

No. About 5 of every 100 Prospect Heights residents are enrolled in college (Census, 2020–24), about the same as Illinois (6). The nearest campus, Oakton College, is 3.8 miles away in Des Plaines.

What colleges are near Prospect Heights?

18 colleges are within 15 miles. The largest: Northwestern University (13.3 miles, 22,245 students on campus), William Rainey Harper College (7.5 miles, 10,894) and Triton College (13.7 miles, 8,418).

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

Oakton College in Des Plaines, 3.8 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 Prospect 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 →