College of Lake County is 14 miles from Salem Lakes
No college sits inside Salem Lakes’ boundary, but College of Lake County’s campus in Grayslake, with 9,144 students on campus, is 14 miles from the center of town, and Gateway Technical College is 15.3 miles away in Kenosha. About 5% of Salem Lakes’ residents are enrolled in college, about the same as Wisconsin (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 Salem Lakes. Colleges are described, not graded.
What stands out about college from Salem Lakes
Facts about the town and its distance to campus; each college’s own figures follow.
Colleges within 15 miles of Salem Lakes
It is public. Every other college is more than 15 miles from Salem Lakes.
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 $75–110k, where Salem Lakes’ median household income ($94,819) 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: University of Wisconsin-Parkside (2).
Questions about college near Salem Lakes
Is Salem Lakes a college town?
No. About 5 of every 100 Salem Lakes residents are enrolled in college (Census, 2020–24), about the same as Wisconsin (6). The nearest campus, College of Lake County, is 14 miles away in Grayslake.
What colleges are near Salem Lakes?
Within 15 miles: College of Lake County (14 miles, 9,144 students on campus).
What is the closest community college to Salem Lakes, and what does it cost?
Gateway Technical College in Kenosha, 15.3 miles away. Tuition and fees are $4,956 a year for Wisconsin residents; the federal net price, $12,928, counts housing and food at full cost.
How much does the University of Wisconsin-Parkside cost if we live in Wisconsin?
Tuition and fees are $8,270 a year in-state and $17,429 from out of state. After grants, families on federal aid paid an average of $7,425 (under $30,000 income) to $17,917 (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 Salem Lakes. 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 →