Photo: Keybdn at English Wikipedia · CC BY-SA 3.0Elgin Community College is 6.8 miles from St. Charles
No college sits inside St. Charles’ boundary, but Elgin Community College’s campus in Elgin, with 8,241 students on campus, is 6.8 miles from the center of town. About 5% of St. Charles’ residents are enrolled in college, below Illinois (6%).
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 St. Charles. Colleges are described, not graded.
What stands out about college from St. Charles
Facts about the town and its distance to campus; each college’s own figures follow.
Colleges within 15 miles of St. Charles
Eight private colleges within 14.7 miles, and three community colleges. The nearest public four-year college, Northern Illinois University, is 23.4 miles away.
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 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.
Starts at Over $110k, where St. Charles’ median household income ($114,300) falls.
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.
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.
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: DeVry University-Illinois (11); Chamberlain University-Illinois (15).
Questions about college near St. Charles
Is St. Charles a college town?
No. About 5 of every 100 St. Charles residents are enrolled in college (Census, 2020–24), below Illinois (6). The nearest campus, Elgin Community College, is 6.8 miles away in Elgin.
What colleges are near St. Charles?
11 colleges are within 15 miles. The largest: College of DuPage (13.4 miles, 18,795 students on campus), Elgin Community College (6.8 miles, 8,241) and Waubonsee Community College (11.5 miles, 7,090).
What is the closest community college to St. Charles, and what does it cost?
Elgin Community College in Elgin, 6.8 miles away. Tuition and fees are $3,252 a year for Illinois residents; the federal net price, $6,026, counts housing and food at full cost.
How much does Northern Illinois University cost if we live in Illinois?
Tuition and fees are $13,248 a year in-state and $13,248 from out of state. After grants, families on federal aid paid an average of $10,126 (under $30,000 income) to $21,834 (over $110,000), housing and food included.
Neighbors talk college
Students, parents, alumni and the neighbors next door.
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 St. Charles. 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 →