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Colleges in and near Rolling Meadows

William Rainey Harper College is 2.5 miles from Rolling Meadows

No college sits inside Rolling Meadows’ boundary, but William Rainey Harper College’s campus in Palatine, with 10,894 students on campus, is 2.5 miles from the center of town. About 5% of Rolling Meadows’ 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 Rolling Meadows. Colleges are described, not graded.

Within 15 miles
13
41,234 students on campus
Nearest college
2.5 mi
William Rainey Harper College
Residents in college
5%
Below IL (6%)
Nearest community college
2.5 mi
William Rainey Harper College · $3,894 tuition
Nearest public university
17 mi
Northeastern Illinois University · $12,383 in-state
Median household income
$99K
prices below start here

What stands out about college from Rolling Meadows

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

A community college 2.5 miles awayWilliam 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 5% of residentsBelow Illinois (6%). The Census counts anyone enrolled, including part-time and online students.
Every college

Colleges within 15 miles of Rolling Meadows

Nine private colleges within 14.7 miles, and four community colleges. The nearest public four-year college, Northeastern Illinois University, is 17 miles away.

5 mi10 mi15 miWilliam Rainey Harper CollegeTriton CollegeCity Colleges of Chicago-Wilbur Wright CollegeRolling Meadows
University or collegeCommunity college
William Rainey Harper CollegeCommunity college · Public · 10,894 on campus · 2.5 mi · Palatine$12knet price48%graduate$48kearningsTuition and fees: $3,894 a year. The net price counts housing and food at full cost.Oakton CollegeCommunity college · Public · 5,024 on campus · 7.5 mi · Des Plaines$5knet price37%graduate$48kearningsTuition and fees: $3,985 a year. The net price counts housing and food at full cost.Chamberlain University-IllinoisUniversity or college · For-profit · 2,540 on campus · 8.7 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.Ambria College of NursingUniversity or college · For-profit · 195 on campus · 9.5 mi · Hoffman Estates$67kearningsTrinity International University-IllinoisUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 520 on campus · 11.3 mi · Deerfield100%admitted$3knet price46%graduate$47kearningsEarnings are reported for all 2 campuses that file with it.Elmhurst UniversityUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 3,251 on campus · 13 mi · Elmhurst74%admitted$24knet price70%graduate$61kearningsJudson UniversityUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 958 on campus · 13.7 mi · Elgin48%admitted$19knet price60%graduate$56kearningsHebrew Theological CollegeUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 190 on campus · 14.3 mi · Skokie57%admitted$27knet price50%graduate$33kearningsUniversity of Saint Mary of the LakeUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 173 on campus · 14.3 mi · MundeleinGraduate students only; the Scorecard reports no undergraduate figures.Triton CollegeCommunity college · Public · 8,418 on campus · 14.5 mi · River Grove$4knet price29%graduate$42kearningsTuition and fees: $5,070 a year. The net price counts housing and food at full cost.City Colleges of Chicago-Wilbur Wright CollegeCommunity college · Public · 5,977 on campus · 14.6 mi · Chicago$6knet price31%graduate$42kearningsTuition and fees: $4,590 a year. The net price counts housing and food at full cost.Wheaton CollegeUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 2,613 on campus · 14.7 mi · Wheaton87%admitted$27knet price85%graduate$64kearningsNational University of Health SciencesUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 481 on campus · 14.7 mi · Lombard$59kearnings

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 Rolling Meadows’ median household income ($98,514) falls.

Triton College14.5 mi · River Grove · sticker $12,235 · tuition $5,070$8,611a year
Oakton College7.5 mi · Des Plaines · sticker $11,431 · tuition $3,985$9,496a year
City Colleges of Chicago-Wilbur Wright College14.6 mi · Chicago · sticker $13,762 · tuition $4,590$9,691a year
William Rainey Harper College2.5 mi · Palatine · sticker $19,288 · tuition $3,894$16,866a year
Northeastern Illinois University17 mi · Chicago · sticker $26,960$20,464a year
Judson University13.7 mi · Elgin · sticker $43,137$21,124a year
Wheaton College14.7 mi · Wheaton · sticker $59,263$24,176a year
Elmhurst University13 mi · Elmhurst · sticker $54,679$25,419a year
Chamberlain University-Illinois8.7 mi · Addison · mostly online · sticker $40,826$32,607a year
Trinity International University-Illinois11.3 mi · Deerfield · sticker $16,515—a year
Hebrew Theological College14.3 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: 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 CollegeElmhurst UniversityTriton CollegeCity Colleges of Chicago-Wilbur Wright CollegeNortheastern Illinois University
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
Wheaton College85% graduate$64k earnings$23k typical debt
Chamberlain University-Illinois42% graduate$92k earnings*$21k typical debt
Judson University60% graduate$56k earnings$25k typical debt
Trinity International University-Illinois46% graduate$47k earnings*$26k typical debt
Hebrew Theological College50% graduate$33k earnings$14k 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: Chamberlain University-Illinois (15); Trinity International University-Illinois (2).

Questions about college near Rolling Meadows

Is Rolling Meadows a college town?

No. About 5 of every 100 Rolling Meadows residents are enrolled in college (Census, 2020–24), below Illinois (6). The nearest campus, William Rainey Harper College, is 2.5 miles away in Palatine.

What colleges are near Rolling Meadows?

13 colleges are within 15 miles. The largest: William Rainey Harper College (2.5 miles, 10,894 students on campus), Triton College (14.5 miles, 8,418) and City Colleges of Chicago-Wilbur Wright College (14.6 miles, 5,977).

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

William Rainey Harper College in Palatine, 2.5 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 Rolling Meadows. 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 →