C
Average
Score: 53/100
Overall (traditional)
B+
Outcome Rating
74/100 · earnings-weighted

Oakton College

2-Year Public
📍 Des Plaines, Illinois 60016
Oakton College campus, Des Plaines, IL
Oakton College campus, Des Plaines, IL. Photo: Oakton Community College, Copyrighted free use via Wikimedia Commons.
ℹ️
Rating Context: ⚠️ Limited Data Available. Some metrics for this institution are incomplete or unavailable, which may affect the overall grade. Consider researching this school directly for the most current information.

Suggested Focus: For this type of institution, we recommend prioritizing the Outcomes Score (C) which measures graduation and job placement rates — the most relevant metrics for career programs.
Graduation Rate: 31%
Outcomes
C
49/100
Affordability
B+
76/100
Resources
B
70/100
Experience
D
40/100
Prestige
F
28/100

Two ratings: the overall grade compares colleges the conventional way (outcomes, cost, resources, experience, reputation). The Outcome Rating asks what students earn: 60% wage-adjusted earnings 10 years after enrolling, 25% graduation, 15% retention. Methodology

Quick Stats

7,032
Total Enrollment
31%
Graduation Rate
72%
Retention Rate
13.0:1
Student-Faculty Ratio
N/A
Acceptance Rate
$8,161
Avg Net Price
🏠 Housing Market Near Oakton College ▼

21% of first-year students live off campus and not with family (U.S. Dept. of Education, IPEDS). Upper-year students at most universities move off campus at much higher rates, so near-campus rental demand is typically larger than this figure suggests.

Avg Home Value
$342,082
Avg Monthly Rent
$2,069
1-Year Change
+11.2%

Earnings, Debt & Completion

What happens to students who enroll at Oakton College, from the U.S. Department of Education’s College Scorecard.

$47,852
Median earnings 10 yrs after entry
$38,528
Median earnings 6 yrs after entry
$5,250
Median debt at graduation
37%
Completion rate (within 150% of normal time)
19%
Students receiving Pell grants

Typical debt at graduation equals about 11% of one year’s median earnings ten years after entry.

Earnings rank: 93rd percentile among certificate-focused colleges after a partial adjustment for local wage levels (IL wage index 1.04). This drives the Outcome Rating.

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, retrieved Oct 2026. Earnings are for federally aided students who enrolled, whether or not they graduated.

Earnings by Major at Oakton College

Median pay of associate's degree graduates by field of study, and how each program ranks against every college reporting that major — by raw pay and adjusted for state wage levels. Same school, very different paychecks.

Major1 yr after4 yrs aftervs. nationalRank (pay)Rank (wage-adj.)Median debt
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing$69,434$83,364+3%#345 of 962#529—
Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services$52,161$60,208+42%#34 of 476#48—
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities$24,918$49,225+12%#110 of 947#213—
Biological and Physical Sciences—$48,644-3%#52 of 85#47—

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, field-of-study data. Earnings are for graduates who received federal aid and were working; small programs are not reported.

For parents & investors

The Oakton College Town Property Report

  • Avg home value near campus: $342,082
  • Avg rent near campus: $2,069/mo
  • Top nearby ZIP by cap rate: 60090 (5.2% cap, Wheeling)

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🏆 Where Oakton College Ranks

Rankings based on Repit College Grade among schools offering each program.

#22
CAD/CADD Drafting and/or Design Technology/Technician
of 27 schools

Costs & Financial Aid

Tuition & Fees

Category In-State Out-of-State
Tuition $10,276 $12,292

Financial Aid

98%
Receive Any Aid
39%
Receive Pell Grants
2%
Take Out Loans
$8,161
Avg Net Price

Net Price by Family Income

Family Income Average Net Price
$0 - $30,000$5,081
$30,001 - $48,000$5,804
$48,001 - $75,000$8,259
$75,001 - $110,000$10,394
$110,001+$10,325

Programs & Career Paths

Top Degree Programs

Programs ranked by number of degrees awarded annually.

Liberal Arts and Sciences/Liberal Studies 997 grads/yr Nursing Assistant/Aide and Patient Care Assistant/Aide 198 grads/yr Automobile/Automotive Mechanics Technology/Technician 181 grads/yr Emergency Medical Technology/Technician (EMT Paramedic) 142 grads/yr Biological and Physical Sciences 51 grads/yr Child Care Provider/Assistant 50 grads/yr Accounting Technology/Technician and Bookkeeping 47 grads/yr Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse 45 grads/yr Heating, Air Conditioning, Ventilation and Refrigeration Maintenance Technology/Technician 37 grads/yr Logistics, Materials, and Supply Chain Management 35 grads/yr CAD/CADD Drafting and/or Design Technology/Technician 29 grads/yr Information Science/Studies 24 grads/yr Criminal Justice/Police Science 19 grads/yr General Studies 14 grads/yr Pharmacy Technician/Assistant 13 grads/yr Phlebotomy Technician/Phlebotomist 13 grads/yr Electromechanical/Electromechanical Engineering Technology/Technician 13 grads/yr Clinical/Medical Laboratory Technician 12 grads/yr Computer Systems Networking and Telecommunications 12 grads/yr Medical Insurance Specialist/Medical Biller 11 grads/yr

Related Career Paths

Careers that graduates from Oakton College's top programs commonly pursue.

Postsecondary teachers, all other
$78k/yr 183,400 jobs
Nursing assistants
$40k/yr 1,441,500 jobs
Electrical and electronics installers and repairers, transportation equipment
$83k/yr 7,000 jobs
Automotive service technicians and mechanics
$50k/yr 805,600 jobs
Electronic equipment installers and repairers, motor vehicles
$48k/yr 10,300 jobs
Health specialties teachers, postsecondary
$106k/yr 289,600 jobs
Paramedics
$58k/yr 101,900 jobs
Emergency medical technicians
$41k/yr 181,000 jobs

Student Demographics

7,032
Total Students
52%
Women
61%
Traditional Age (18-24)
21%
Off-Campus Renters

👥 Race & Ethnicity

White 40%
Hispanic 20%
Black 8%
Asian 21%
Two or More 3%
Non-Resident 2%

🏠 Living Arrangements

Off-Campus (Renters) 21%
With Family 79%
🏘️ Rental Demand: ~1,463 students need off-campus housing

💻 Learning Mode

In-Person 41%
Hybrid (Some Online) 31%
Fully Online 29%

📊 Age Distribution

18-24 (Traditional) 61%
25-64 (Adult) 30%

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the acceptance rate at Oakton College?
Acceptance rate data is not available for this institution. Many schools with open enrollment or specialized programs do not report traditional acceptance rates.
How much does it cost to attend Oakton College?
Tuition at Oakton College is $10,276 for in-state students and $12,292 for out-of-state students . However, the average net price after financial aid is $8,161.
What is the graduation rate at Oakton College?
The graduation rate at Oakton College is 31%. This graduation rate is low, which may reflect the institution's student population, program types, or other factors worth investigating.
Is Oakton College a good school?
Oakton College has a Repit College Score of 53/100 (Grade: C). Our rating evaluates five key factors:
  • Outcomes (C): Graduation and retention rates
  • Affordability (B+): Net cost and financial aid access
  • Resources (B): Class sizes and selectivity
  • Experience (D): Campus life and learning format
  • Prestige (F): Reputation and recognition
Note: As a smaller institution, we recommend focusing on the Outcomes score when evaluating this school.
How many students attend Oakton College?
Oakton College has a total enrollment of 7,032 students.
Is there rental demand near Oakton College?
Yes! Approximately 21% of students at Oakton College live off-campus (not with family). That's roughly 1,463 students who need rental housing near campus. This represents significant rental demand, which affects housing availability and pricing in the Des Plaines area.

Deciding between a dorm and buying near campus? Run the numbers for Oakton College — four years of dorm costs vs. owning, including what you’d recover at resale. Buy vs Dorm calculator →

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Data source: IPEDS 2023-24 | Last updated: October 2026 | Methodology