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Wauconda Illinois downtown aerial viewPhoto: Transport6087 · CC BY-SA 4.0
Colleges in and near Wauconda

The University of Saint Mary of the Lake is 6.9 miles from Wauconda

No college sits inside Wauconda’s boundary, but the University of Saint Mary of the Lake’s campus in Mundelein, with 173 students on campus, is 6.9 miles from the center of town, and College of Lake County is 8.2 miles away in Grayslake. About 6% of Wauconda’s residents are enrolled in college, about the same as 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 Wauconda. Colleges are described, not graded.

Within 15 miles
7
30,822 students on campus
Nearest college
6.9 mi
University of Saint Mary of the Lake
Residents in college
6%
About the same as IL (6%)
Nearest community college
8.2 mi
College of Lake County · $4,788 tuition
Nearest public university
29.6 mi
Northeastern Illinois University · $12,383 in-state
Median household income
$111K
prices below start here

What stands out about college from Wauconda

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

A university 6.9 miles awayThe University of Saint Mary of the Lake has 173 students on campus in Mundelein.A community college 8.2 miles awayCollege of Lake County in Grayslake: tuition and fees $4,788 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 6% 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 Wauconda

Four private colleges within 14.4 miles, and three community colleges. The nearest public four-year college, Northeastern Illinois University, is 29.6 miles away.

5 mi10 mi15 miWilliam Rainey Harper CollegeCollege of Lake CountyWauconda
University or collegeCommunity college
University of Saint Mary of the LakeUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 173 on campus · 6.9 mi · MundeleinGraduate students only; the Scorecard reports no undergraduate figures.College of Lake CountyCommunity college · Public · 9,144 on campus · 8.2 mi · Grayslake$8knet price37%graduate$43kearningsTuition and fees: $4,788 a year. The net price counts housing and food at full cost.McHenry County CollegeCommunity college · Public · 7,985 on campus · 12 mi · Crystal Lake$7knet price37%graduate$45kearningsTuition and fees: $4,162 a year. The net price counts housing and food at full cost.William Rainey Harper CollegeCommunity college · Public · 10,894 on campus · 13.9 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 · 14.1 mi · Deerfield100%admitted$3knet price46%graduate$47kearningsEarnings are reported for all 2 campuses that file with it.Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and ScienceUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 1,911 on campus · 14.2 mi · North ChicagoGraduate students only; the Scorecard reports no undergraduate figures.Ambria College of NursingUniversity or college · For-profit · 195 on campus · 14.4 mi · Hoffman Estates$67kearnings

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 Over $110k, where Wauconda’s median household income ($111,239) falls.

College of Lake County8.2 mi · Grayslake · sticker $12,694 · tuition $4,788$11,025a year
McHenry County College12 mi · Crystal Lake · sticker $12,345 · tuition $4,162$12,345a year
William Rainey Harper College13.9 mi · Palatine · sticker $19,288 · tuition $3,894$18,676a year
Northeastern Illinois University29.6 mi · Chicago · sticker $26,960$25,001a year
Trinity International University-Illinois14.1 mi · Deerfield · sticker $16,515—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$80k0%25%50%75%100%Graduate →College of Lake CountyMcHenry County CollegeWilliam Rainey Harper CollegeNortheastern Illinois University
William Rainey Harper College48% graduate$48k earnings$10k typical debt
College of Lake County37% graduate$43k earnings$9k typical debt
McHenry County College37% graduate$45k earnings$6k typical debt
Northeastern Illinois University22% graduate$52k earnings$15k typical debt
Trinity International University-Illinois46% graduate$47k earnings*$26k 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).

Questions about college near Wauconda

Is Wauconda a college town?

No. About 6 of every 100 Wauconda residents are enrolled in college (Census, 2020–24), about the same as Illinois (6). The nearest campus, the University of Saint Mary of the Lake, is 6.9 miles away in Mundelein.

What colleges are near Wauconda?

7 colleges are within 15 miles. The largest: William Rainey Harper College (13.9 miles, 10,894 students on campus), College of Lake County (8.2 miles, 9,144) and McHenry County College (12 miles, 7,985).

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

College of Lake County in Grayslake, 8.2 miles away. Tuition and fees are $4,788 a year for Illinois residents; the federal net price, $7,607, 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 Wauconda. 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 →