Guest, Sign inJoin

Post to East Chicago

We’ll email a one-tap link to publish your post. No password, and nothing is public until you click it.
Already a member? Sign in
Ameristar Casino East Chicago 2022Photo: Sea Cow · CC BY-SA 4.0
Colleges in and near East Chicago

Purdue University Northwest is 4.5 miles from East Chicago

No college sits inside East Chicago’s boundary, but Purdue University Northwest’s campus in Hammond, with 7,964 students on campus, is 4.5 miles from the center of town, and Ivy Tech Community College is 144.3 miles away in Indianapolis. About 4% of East Chicago’s residents are enrolled in college, below Indiana (6%).

Purdue University Northwest

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 East Chicago. Colleges are described, not graded.

Within 15 miles
13
44,303 students on campus
Nearest college
2.7 mi
Calumet College of Saint Joseph
Residents in college
4%
Below IN (6%)
Nearest community college
144.3 mi
Ivy Tech · $5,154 tuition
Nearest public university
4.5 mi
Purdue University Northwest · $8,675 in-state
Median household income
$42K
prices below start here

What stands out about college from East Chicago

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

A university 4.5 miles awayPurdue University Northwest has 7,964 students on campus in Hammond, 43% of whom graduate within six years.In-state price at Purdue University NorthwestLiving in Indiana, Purdue University Northwest charges $8,675 in tuition and fees; from out of state, $16,094. State residency rules decide which a new arrival pays.A community college 144.3 miles awayIvy Tech Community College in Indianapolis: tuition and fees $5,154 a year for Indiana residents.Students are 4% of residentsBelow Indiana (6%). The Census counts anyone enrolled, including part-time and online students.
Every college

Colleges within 15 miles of East Chicago

Six private colleges within 14.1 miles, three public colleges within 9.4 miles, and four community colleges.

5 mi10 mi15 miUniversity of ChicagoPurdue University NorthwestSaint Xavier UniversityEast Chicago
University or collegeCommunity college
Calumet College of Saint JosephUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 481 on campus · 2.7 mi · Whiting$22knet price23%graduate$47kearningsPurdue University NorthwestUniversity or college · Public · 7,964 on campus · 4.5 mi · Hammond72%admitted$6knet price43%graduate$48kearningsCity Colleges of Chicago-Olive-Harvey CollegeCommunity college · Public · 2,061 on campus · 8.2 mi · Chicago, IL$9knet price21%graduate$31kearningsTuition and fees: $4,590 a year. The net price counts housing and food at full cost.Indiana University-NorthwestUniversity or college · Public · 2,280 on campus · 8.7 mi · Gary73%admitted$5knet price37%graduate$43kearningsSouth Suburban CollegeCommunity college · Public · 3,085 on campus · 9.1 mi · South Holland, IL$3knet price28%graduate$34kearningsTuition and fees: $5,093 a year. The net price counts housing and food at full cost.Chicago State UniversityUniversity or college · Public · 1,916 on campus · 9.4 mi · Chicago, IL43%admitted$12knet price15%graduate$43kearningsUniversity of ChicagoUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 18,240 on campus · 12.3 mi · Chicago, IL4%admitted$15knet price96%graduate$92kearningsCatholic Theological Union at ChicagoUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 182 on campus · 12.4 mi · Chicago, ILGraduate students only; the Scorecard reports no undergraduate figures.McCormick Theological SeminaryUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 121 on campus · 12.4 mi · Chicago, ILGraduate students only; the Scorecard reports no undergraduate figures.Lutheran School of Theology at ChicagoUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 114 on campus · 12.4 mi · Chicago, ILGraduate students only; the Scorecard reports no undergraduate figures.Prairie State CollegeCommunity college · Public · 2,611 on campus · 12.8 mi · Chicago Heights, IL$5knet price21%graduate$37kearningsTuition and fees: $4,176 a year. The net price counts housing and food at full cost.City Colleges of Chicago-Kennedy-King CollegeCommunity college · Public · 2,020 on campus · 13.4 mi · Chicago, IL$9knet price31%graduate$28kearningsTuition and fees: $4,590 a year. The net price counts housing and food at full cost.Saint Xavier UniversityUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 3,228 on campus · 14.1 mi · Chicago, IL84%admitted$11knet price57%graduate$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. Pick your family’s income.

Family income

Starts at $30–48k, where East Chicago’s median household income ($42,125) falls.

Indiana University-Northwest8.7 mi · Gary · sticker $13,989$331a year
University of Chicago12.3 mi · Chicago, IL · sticker $90,360$914a year
South Suburban College9.1 mi · South Holland, IL · sticker $10,834 · tuition $5,093$1,767a year
Purdue University Northwest4.5 mi · Hammond · sticker $15,571$2,428a year
Prairie State College12.8 mi · Chicago Heights, IL · sticker $13,908 · tuition $4,176$3,013a year
City Colleges of Chicago-Olive-Harvey College8.2 mi · Chicago, IL · sticker $16,126 · tuition $4,590$7,373a year
Saint Xavier University14.1 mi · Chicago, IL · sticker $43,244$7,702a year
City Colleges of Chicago-Kennedy-King College13.4 mi · Chicago, IL · sticker $16,256 · tuition $4,590$9,053a year
Chicago State University9.4 mi · Chicago, IL · sticker $29,764$9,550a year
Calumet College of Saint Joseph2.7 mi · Whiting · sticker $32,968$22,931a 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 East Chicago: 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 →Purdue University NorthwestSouth Suburban CollegeUniversity of ChicagoPrairie State CollegeSaint Xavier University
University of Chicago96% graduate$92k earnings$15k typical debt
Purdue University Northwest43% graduate$48k earnings$21k typical debt
Saint Xavier University57% graduate$59k earnings$22k typical debt
South Suburban College28% graduate$34k earnings
Prairie State College21% graduate$37k earnings$11k typical debt
Indiana University-Northwest37% graduate$43k earnings$22k typical debt
City Colleges of Chicago-Olive-Harvey College21% graduate$31k earnings$8k typical debt
City Colleges of Chicago-Kennedy-King College31% graduate$28k earnings$6k typical debt
Chicago State University15% graduate$43k earnings$31k typical debt
Calumet College of Saint Joseph23% graduate$47k earnings$22k 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.

Questions about college near East Chicago

Is East Chicago a college town?

No. About 4 of every 100 East Chicago residents are enrolled in college (Census, 2020–24), below Indiana (6). The nearest campus, Calumet College of Saint Joseph, is 2.7 miles away in Whiting.

What colleges are near East Chicago?

13 colleges are within 15 miles. The largest: the University of Chicago (12.3 miles, 18,240 students on campus), Purdue University Northwest (4.5 miles, 7,964) and Saint Xavier University (14.1 miles, 3,228).

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

Ivy Tech Community College in Indianapolis, 144.3 miles away. Tuition and fees are $5,154 a year for Indiana residents; the federal net price, $7,258, counts housing and food at full cost.

How much does Purdue University Northwest cost if we live in Indiana?

Tuition and fees are $8,675 a year in-state and $16,094 from out of state. After grants, families on federal aid paid an average of $1,432 (under $30,000 income) to $13,645 (over $110,000), housing and food included.

Neighbors talk college

Students, parents, alumni and the neighbors next door.

Town Square →
Start the conversation

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 East Chicago. 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 →