Oakton College

1600 E Golf Rd.
Des Plaines, IL 60016
Top-Ranked (2026): View Rankings
  • Oakton Community College, a two-year community college was established in 1969 and is accredited by The Higher Learning Commission and the North Central Association. The College is recognized by the Illinois Community College Board and is a member of the American Association of Community Colleges, as well as numerous professional organizations.

School Highlights

Oakton College serves 8,329 students (25% of students are full-time).
The college's student-teacher ratio of 28:1 is lower than the state community college average of 34:1.
Minority enrollment is 58% of the student body (majority Asian and Hispanic), which is more than the state average of 54%.

Quick Facts (2026)

  • Enrollment: 8,329 students
  • In-state tuition: $8,808
  • Out-state tuition: $10,536
  • Student-teacher ratio: 28:1
  • Minority enrollment: 58%
  • Source: Verified school update

Top Rankings

Oakton College ranks among the top 20% of public schools in Illinois for:

Category
Attribute
Community Size

School Overview

The teacher population of 295 teachers has declined by 54% over five years.
Oakton College
(IL) Community College Avg.
Carnegie Classification
Associate's Colleges
Associate's Colleges
Institution Level
At least 2 but less than 4 years
At least 2 but less than 4 years
Institution Control
Public
Public
Total Faculty
295 staff
94 staff
School Calendar

Student Body

The student population of Oakton College has grown by 32% over five years.
The student-teacher ratio of 28:1 has increased from 13:1 over five years.
The Oakton College diversity score of 0.74 is more than the state average of 0.00. The school's diversity has stayed relatively flat over five years.
Total Enrollment
8,329 students
2,836 students
Student-Teacher Ratio
28:1
34:1
# Full-Time Students
2,047 students
1,028 students
# Part-Time Students
6,282 students
2,082 students
# Enrollment Undergraduate
8,329 students
2,720 students
# Full-Time Undergraduate Students
2,047 students
1,082 students
# Part-Time Undergraduate Students
6,282 students
2,308 students
% Asian
21%
5%
% Hispanic
17%
28%
% Black
7%
13%
% White
42%
46%
% Two or more races
3%
3%
% Non Resident races
4%
1%
% Unknown races
5%
4%
Diversity Score
0.74
0.00
College Completion Rate (Students who graduate in less than 4 years)
28%
38%
Average Graduate Earnings (10 Years)
$41,000
$31,800

Tuition and Acceptance Rate

The public in-state tuition of $8,808 is more than the state average of $8,019. The in-state tuition has declined by 15% over four years.
The public out-state tuition of $10,536 is less than the state average of $10,874. The out-state tuition has declined by 15% over four years.
In-State Tuition Fees
$8,808
$8,019
Out-State Tuition Fees
$10,536
$10,874
Tuition Notes
In-district tuition: $3270
% Students Receiving Some Financial Aid
63%
80%
Median Debt for Graduates
$5,500
$8,029
Median Debt for Dropouts
$3,500
$4,618

Sports

Total Sports Offered
9 sports
Sports
BaseballBasketball
Cross CountryGolf
SoccerSoftball
TennisTrack and Field
Volleyball
Source: 2025 (or latest year available) Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) , School Administrators

School Notes

  • Oakton Community College District 535 serves 450,000 residents in the communities of Des Plaines, Evanston, Glencoe, Glenview, Golf, Kenilworth, Lincolnwood, Morton Grove, Mount Prospect, Niles, Northbrook, Northfield, Park Ridge, Rosemont, Skokie, Wilmette, and Winnetka. Oakton's main campus in Des Plaines is located on 147 acres of woodlands and prairie, bordered on the west by the Des Plaines River. The College,a modern, red-brick building with 435,000 square feet, houses 65 classrooms and 46 educational laboratories, as well as student services, administrative and faculty offices. Special facilities include 19 computer classrooms; a Performing Arts Center; the Business Institute; the Koehnline Visual Arts Center; a Child Care Center; and a teleconferencing center, gym, fitness center, library and bookstore. Oakton's faculty and staff are committed to excellence; our students are achievers, enthusiastic about learning; and our facilities are state-of-the-art. College life at Oakton includes a wide variety of extracurricular activities and student services, designed to provide a well-rounded experience. The Business Institute at Oakton was established in 1982 to help companies improve their technical, operational and leadership skills. Through consulting services and customized training programs, companies have defined new goals, refined existing procedures and developed new strategies for success. Thousands of people have acquired new skills in order to meet higher standards of efficiency, productivity and quality.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does Oakton College cost?
Oakton College's tuition is approximately $8,808 for In-State students and $10,536 for Out-State students.
What sports does Oakton College offer?
Oakton College offers 9 interscholastic sports: Baseball, Basketball, Cross Country, Golf, Soccer, Softball, Tennis, Track and Field and Volleyball.
What is Oakton College's ranking?
Oakton College ranks among the top 20% of community college in Illinois for: Diversity in US community colleges, Largest student body and Least debt for graduating students.

Recent Articles

Healthcare Workforce Programs: Fast Track or Overcrowded Path?
Healthcare Workforce Programs: Fast Track or Overcrowded Path?
Explore whether community college healthcare programs still offer a fast track to rewarding careers or if growing enrollment and competition are changing the landscape.
How to Judge Job Placement Claims Before Enrolling
How to Judge Job Placement Claims Before Enrolling
Learn how to evaluate community college job placement claims, understand employment statistics, and identify programs with proven career outcomes before you enroll.
Employer Partnerships: Real Hiring Pipeline or Marketing Claim?
Employer Partnerships: Real Hiring Pipeline or Marketing Claim?
Explore how community college employer partnerships work, learn how to identify genuine hiring pipelines, and discover the questions every prospective student should ask before enrolling in a career-focused program.

Quick Facts (2026)

  • Enrollment: 8,329 students
  • In-state tuition: $8,808
  • Out-state tuition: $10,536
  • Student-teacher ratio: 28:1
  • Minority enrollment: 58%
  • Source: Verified school update

Related School Videos

Did You Know?

The average community college acceptance rate in Cook County, IL is 52%. Read more about national community college acceptance rates.

Cook County, IL community colleges have a diversity score of 0.56, which is higher than the national average of 0.00. The most diverse community college in Cook County, IL is Midwestern Career College. Read more about community college diversity statistics in the USA.

Quick Links