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Colleges in and near Highland

Purdue University Northwest is 2.7 miles from Highland

No college sits inside Highland’s boundary, but Purdue University Northwest’s campus in Hammond, with 7,964 students on campus, is 2.7 miles from the center of town, and Ivy Tech Community College is 138.3 miles away in Indianapolis. About 4% of Highland’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 Highland. Colleges are described, not graded.

Within 15 miles
8
23,171 students on campus
Nearest college
2.7 mi
Purdue University Northwest
Residents in college
4%
Below IN (6%)
Nearest community college
138.3 mi
Ivy Tech · $5,154 tuition
Nearest public university
2.7 mi
Purdue University Northwest · $8,675 in-state
Median household income
$78K
prices below start here

What stands out about college from Highland

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

A university 2.7 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 138.3 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 Highland

One private college within 8.8 miles, four public colleges within 15 miles, and three community colleges.

5 mi10 mi15 miPurdue University NorthwestSouth Suburban CollegeGovernors StateHighland
University or collegeCommunity college
Purdue University NorthwestUniversity or college · Public · 7,964 on campus · 2.7 mi · Hammond72%admitted$6knet price43%graduate$48kearningsIndiana University-NorthwestUniversity or college · Public · 2,280 on campus · 6.3 mi · Gary73%admitted$5knet price37%graduate$43kearningsCalumet College of Saint JosephUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 481 on campus · 8.8 mi · Whiting$22knet price23%graduate$47kearningsSouth Suburban CollegeCommunity college · Public · 3,085 on campus · 9.3 mi · South Holland, IL$3knet price28%graduate$34kearningsTuition and fees: $5,093 a year. The net price counts housing and food at full cost.Prairie State CollegeCommunity college · Public · 2,611 on campus · 9.5 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-Olive-Harvey CollegeCommunity college · Public · 2,061 on campus · 13.2 mi · Chicago, IL$9knet price21%graduate$31kearningsTuition and fees: $4,590 a year. The net price counts housing and food at full cost.Chicago State UniversityUniversity or college · Public · 1,916 on campus · 14.2 mi · Chicago, IL43%admitted$12knet price15%graduate$43kearningsGovernors State UniversityUniversity or college · Public · 2,773 on campus · 15 mi · University Park, IL48%admitted$12knet price22%graduate$58kearnings

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 $75–110k, where Highland’s median household income ($78,062) falls.

South Suburban College9.3 mi · South Holland, IL · sticker $10,834 · tuition $5,093$7,583a year
Indiana University-Northwest6.3 mi · Gary · sticker $13,989$10,047a year
Prairie State College9.5 mi · Chicago Heights, IL · sticker $13,908 · tuition $4,176$11,127a year
Purdue University Northwest2.7 mi · Hammond · sticker $15,571$12,452a year
Chicago State University14.2 mi · Chicago, IL · sticker $29,764$13,899a year
City Colleges of Chicago-Olive-Harvey College13.2 mi · Chicago, IL · sticker $16,126 · tuition $4,590$14,177a year
Governors State University15 mi · University Park, IL · sticker $24,227$16,741a year
Calumet College of Saint Joseph8.8 mi · Whiting · sticker $32,968$23,358a 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 Highland: 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 →Purdue University NorthwestIndiana University-NorthwestSouth Suburban CollegePrairie State CollegeCity Colleges of Chicago-Olive-Harvey CollegeGovernors State
Purdue University Northwest43% graduate$48k earnings$21k typical debt
South Suburban College28% graduate$34k earnings
Governors State University22% graduate$58k earnings$19k typical debt
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
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 Highland

Is Highland a college town?

No. About 4 of every 100 Highland residents are enrolled in college (Census, 2020–24), below Indiana (6). The nearest campus, Purdue University Northwest, is 2.7 miles away in Hammond.

What colleges are near Highland?

8 colleges are within 15 miles. The largest: Purdue University Northwest (2.7 miles, 7,964 students on campus), South Suburban College (9.3 miles, 3,085) and Governors State University (15 miles, 2,773).

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

Ivy Tech Community College in Indianapolis, 138.3 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.

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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 Highland. 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 →