Oakton College is a public institution offering associate degrees based in Des Plaines, Illinois. It enrolls 6,072 students (a large student body), according to IPEDS 2023-24 data. Below you'll find verified data on admissions, cost, student outcomes, programs offered, and what graduates typically earn, all pulled from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard and IPEDS.
US College Data scores each college on four pillars (outcomes, value, affordability, and selectivity) on a 0–100 scale, ranked within its peer group (2-Year). Scores are calculated from verified College Scorecard and IPEDS data, not opinion or paid placement. Where data is missing, that pillar isn't scored.
Strong
73/100
UCD Score · 2-Year
Outcomes49
Value92
Affordability48
Selectivity—
Admissions & Acceptance Rate
As a two-year college, Oakton College generally admits all qualified applicants.
Acceptance Rate
Open
SAT Range (25th–75th)
—
Not reported
ACT Range (25th–75th)
—
Not reported
Cost & Financial Aid
The real cost of attending Oakton College isn't the sticker price. It's the net price,which is what most students actually pay after grants and scholarships. According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, the average net price is $5,183 per year. That's well below the typical net price for public colleges nationally.
Average Net Price
$5,183
Per year, after typical aid
Receive Pell Grants
19%
Need-based federal aid
Receive Federal Loans
0%
Borrowing to attend
Full Cost Breakdown
Published cost of attendance, the sticker price before grants and scholarships. Most students underestimate room & board and other expenses.
Tuition & Fees (in-state)
$3,985
Tuition & Fees (out-of-state)
$12,462
Room & Board (off-campus)
$8,994
Books & Supplies
$1,410
Other Expenses (off-campus)
$4,192
Total Cost of Attendance
$11,431
Application fee: $25 (one-time, due at submission)
Net Price by Family Income
Aid is need-based, so net price varies by family income. Here's what each bracket typically pays after grants and scholarships.
Under $30,000
$3,847
$30,001 – $48,000
$5,084
$48,001 – $75,000
$7,235
$75,001 – $110,000
$9,496
Over $110,000
$11,431
Debt at Graduation
Cumulative federal-loan debt across the full borrowing distribution. The 10th and 90th percentiles bracket the typical range; the median sits in the middle.
$1,31310%percentile
$2,16625%percentile
$5,250Medianpercentile
$5,50075%percentile
$10,75090%percentile
Median Debt by Student Type
Median federal-loan debt at graduation broken down by demographic. Each slice's size is proportional to the dollar amount that group typically borrows.
GroupDebtvs Median
Pell recipients $3,500
↓ $1,750
No Pell $3,500
↓ $1,750
Dependent students $3,500
↓ $1,750
Independent students $3,828
↓ $1,422
Female students $3,812
↓ $1,438
Male students $3,500
↓ $1,750
Worth knowing:
Students who don't finish leave with a median debt of $3,500, less than completers ($5,250), but still a meaningful obligation without a degree in hand.
Graduation Rate & Retention
17% of full-time students who enrolled at Oakton College graduate within six years, and 71% return for their second year, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
6-Year Graduation Rate
17%
Of students who graduate within six years
First-Year Retention
71%
Returning for their second year
What this means:
Lower than typical completion. Worth asking the school how they support students who fall behind.
After Graduation: Earnings & Outcomes
According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, students who entered Oakton College earn a median of $47,852 ten years after first enrolling. That's close to the national median for U.S. colleges.
Median Earnings (10 yrs)
$47,852
Earning > $25K
69%
10 yrs after entry
Earnings Growth After Graduation
Median annual earnings 6, 8, and 10 years after students first enrolled.
Earnings by Demographic
Mean annual earnings 10 years after entry, segmented by demographic. Reveals gaps the headline median can't show.
By Gender
Female graduates
$40,200
Median earnings for female grads ten years after first enrolling here.
Male graduates
$49,300
Median earnings for male grads ten years after first enrolling here.
The gender gap:
Male graduates earn $9,100, about 18% more than female graduates ten years out. The gap reflects industry mix, role choice, and structural pay differences that exist across most US colleges.
What this means:
Strong return on investment. Every dollar of net annual cost is matched by ~$9.2 of median earnings 10 years out.
Who Studies Here
Oakton College is home to 6,072 students, a large student community. Some distinctive traits: 43% are first-generation college students, 67% study part-time.
Total Enrolled
6,072
Part-Time
67%
First-Generation
43%
Race & Ethnicity Breakdown
Undergraduate student body composition reported to the US Department of Education.
GroupShareStudents
White 38.6%2,344
Asian 21.8%1,322
Hispanic 21.5%1,307
Black 8.0%485
Other 3.6%220
International 2.2%133
Student Life & Campus Culture
Where students live, learn, and connect at Oakton College. The campus setting, housing profile, and signals that shape day-to-day life here.
Setting
Small CityDes Plaines, Illinois
Housing
Commuter campusNo on-campus housing
Adult Learners
32%of students are 25 or older
Athletics
NCAAathletic-conference member
Academic Calendar
Semesterscheduling structure
What You Can Study
Oakton College offers
an extensive catalog of programs:
46 distinct programs across
14 majors.
Below are its strongest majors, each with flagship programs and typical earnings.
Open a major to explore it in depth, or browse the full program catalog.
The student-to-faculty ratio at Oakton College is 13:1, close to the national average.
Student : Faculty
13:1
Students per instructional faculty member
Instruction / Student
$8,497
Annual instructional spending per enrolled student
Avg Faculty Salary
$92,564
9-month equivalent across all ranks
Faculty by Rank
141 instructional faculty across 5 ranks.
The rank mix shows how many senior faculty are teaching versus contingent or junior staff, with average salary equated to a 9-month contract.
Rank
Faculty Count
Share
Avg Salary
Full Professors
50
35%
$97,974
Associate Professors
24
17%
$73,953
Assistant Professors
10
7%
$68,667
Instructors
1
1%
$66,801
No Rank
56
40%
$100,438
Pros & Cons of Oakton College
A quick at-a-glance summary of how Oakton College tends to stack up for prospective students,weighing its data, size, setting, and cost profile together.
PROS
Very affordable net price after aid
Open admissions
Reasonable class sizes
Low typical debt at graduation
First-gen-friendly student body
Flexible part-time enrollment options
CONS
Low completion rate, many students don't graduate within six years
Modest first-year retention
Predominantly serves middle- and upper-income families
Mostly part-time student body, less full-time campus feel
Best for:
Based on the data, Oakton College is a fit for
students who want a clear path to start college without a competitive admissions barrier; families focused on keeping net cost low; working adults or students needing part-time study options.
Frequently Asked Questions about Oakton College
Quick answers to the questions most students and parents ask. Every answer below is calculated from verified government data about Oakton College.
Is Oakton College hard to get into?
Oakton College has open or near-open admissions. Most qualified applicants are accepted.
What is the acceptance rate at Oakton College?
Oakton College has an acceptance rate of 0%, according to College Scorecard 2023-24 admissions data.
How much does Oakton College cost?
The average net price after aid at Oakton College is $5,183 per year, this is what students typically pay after grants and scholarships are applied. Net price data: College Scorecard 2023-24.
Is Oakton College worth it?
Strong return on investment. Graduates earn a median of $47,852 ten years after entering, against an average net price of $5,183 per year. That's roughly 9.2x earnings-to-cost. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.
What is Oakton College known for?
Oakton College is best known for its programs in Liberal Arts, Liberal Arts, Practical Nursing. These are the most popular fields by completed degrees, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
What do Oakton College graduates earn?
Median earnings 10 years after entering Oakton College are $47,852, based on College Scorecard 2023-24 federal earnings data for Title IV recipients.
Is Oakton College accredited?
Yes. Oakton College is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.
How many students attend Oakton College?
Oakton College enrolls 6,072 students, per IPEDS 2023-24 fall enrollment data.
What is the graduation rate at Oakton College?
Oakton College graduates 17% of full-time students within six years, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
Is Oakton College a public or private college?
Oakton College is a Public institution.
Where is Oakton College located?
Oakton College is located in Des Plaines, Illinois.
What programs does Oakton College offer?
Oakton College offers 46 distinct programs. The most popular include Liberal Arts, Liberal Arts, Practical Nursing.
What is the student-to-faculty ratio at Oakton College?
The student-to-faculty ratio at Oakton College is 13:1, per IPEDS 2023-24 data.
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Across 1,645 four-year colleges, graduation rates climb steadily with selectivity, from 54% at open-admission schools to 93% at the most exclusive. The gap is real.
Graduation rate
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Completion
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Rankings That Feature Oakton College
Oakton College appears in these rankings, built from the same federal data and the UCD Score.
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$2,232 Lowest Net
$81,054 Top Earn
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$91,885 Top Earn
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91 UCD Score
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$2,232 Lowest Net
$91,885 Top Earn
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$2,232 Lowest Net
$77,709 Top Earn
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