Photo: bogdanstepniak · CC BY 3.0Oakton College is 5 miles from Wheeling
No college sits inside Wheeling’s boundary, but Oakton College’s campus in Des Plaines, with 5,024 students on campus, is 5 miles from the center of town. About 5% of Wheeling’s 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 Wheeling. Colleges are described, not graded.
What stands out about college from Wheeling
Facts about the town and its distance to campus; each college’s own figures follow.
Colleges within 15 miles of Wheeling
Eight private colleges within 13.7 miles, one public college within 14.5 miles, and three community colleges.
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. Pick your family’s income.
Starts at $75–110k, where Wheeling’s median household income ($85,205) 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 within 15 miles of Wheeling: 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: Trinity International University-Illinois (2); Chamberlain University-Illinois (15).
Questions about college near Wheeling
Is Wheeling a college town?
No. About 5 of every 100 Wheeling residents are enrolled in college (Census, 2020–24), below Illinois (6). The nearest campus, Oakton College, is 5 miles away in Des Plaines.
What colleges are near Wheeling?
12 colleges are within 15 miles. The largest: Northwestern University (13.5 miles, 22,245 students on campus), William Rainey Harper College (8.4 miles, 10,894) and City Colleges of Chicago-Wilbur Wright College (13.5 miles, 5,977).
What is the closest community college to Wheeling, and what does it cost?
Oakton College in Des Plaines, 5 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.
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 Wheeling. 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 →