Oakton College : Overview, Courses, Scholarships & Rankings
About Oakton College
Set beside leafy preserves, Oakton College in Des Plaines pairs a calm, green setting with a get-things-done energy. It's known for transfer-focused academics and hands-on learning across the sciences, business and tech, creative work, and the social sciences. Light-filled classrooms, labs, studios, and a solid library anchor the academics, with tutoring, advising, counseling, and transfer support close at hand. The culture is welcoming and down-to-earth, with students of many ages sharing the same halls.
Clubs, cultural groups, student leadership, and relaxed intramurals give commuters a reason to linger, while fitness spaces and nearby trails help clear a busy mind. Career prep leans practical: employer visits, internships, and service projects link students to local businesses, clinics, and nonprofits, with Chicago's opportunities just a quick train ride away. Oakton is known for green spaces, art showcases, and student-led events that make a commuter campus feel surprisingly connected.
Key Institutional Details
Contact & Profile
Academic & Institutional
Academic Programs & Fields of Study
Oakton College offers 70 degree programs across 16 major academic fields, graduating approximately 2,187 students annually. The most popular fields by graduate volume are Liberal Arts (2 programs, 1,011 graduates), Health (15 programs, 505 graduates), Mechanics (2 programs, 218 graduates), Business (12 programs, 125 graduates) and Eng. Technologies (12 programs, 74 graduates). Explore program details, award levels, and graduate demographics below.
Liberal Arts (2 programs, 1,011 graduates)
Liberal Arts Education, General Studies and Humanities
| Program Name | Graduates | Gender Distribution | Award Levels | CIP Code |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Liberal Arts and Sciences | 997 |
|
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
|
24.0101 |
| General Studies | 14 |
|
Associate's
|
24.0102 |
Health (15 programs, 505 graduates)
Healthcare Professions, Medical Sciences and Clinical Practice
| Program Name | Graduates | Gender Distribution | Award Levels | CIP Code |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nursing and Patient Care Assistant | 198 |
|
Residency
Other Award
|
51.3902 |
| Emergency Medical Technology | 142 |
|
Residency
Other Award
|
51.0904 |
| Registered Nursing | 45 |
|
Associate's
|
51.3801 |
| Pharmacy Technician | 13 |
|
Other Award
|
51.0805 |
| Phlebotomy Technician | 13 |
|
Other Award
|
51.1009 |
| Clinical Laboratory Technician | 12 |
|
Associate's
|
51.1004 |
| Medical Insurance Billing | 11 |
|
Other Award
|
51.0714 |
| Perioperative Nursing | 11 |
|
Residency
|
51.3812 |
| Health Information Technology | 10 |
|
Associate's
Other Award
|
51.0707 |
| Physical Therapy Assistant | 9 |
|
Associate's
|
51.0806 |
| Substance Abuse Counseling | 9 |
|
Associate's
Other Award
|
51.1501 |
| Home Health Aide and Attendant | 9 |
|
Residency
|
51.2602 |
| Alternative and Complementary Medicine | 9 |
|
Other Award
|
51.3300 |
| Sterile Processing Technology | 7 |
|
Other Award
|
51.1012 |
| Licensed Practical Nursing | 7 |
|
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
51.3901 |
Mechanics (2 programs, 218 graduates)
Automotive Technology, Equipment Repair and Maintenance
| Program Name | Graduates | Gender Distribution | Award Levels | CIP Code |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Automotive Mechanics Technology | 181 |
|
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
Other Award
|
47.0604 |
| Heating, Air Conditioning, Ventilation, and Refrigeration Maintenance Technology | 37 |
|
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
Other Award
|
47.0201 |
Business (12 programs, 125 graduates)
Business Administration, Marketing and Entrepreneurship
| Program Name | Graduates | Gender Distribution | Award Levels | CIP Code |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Accounting and Bookkeeping Technology | 47 |
|
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
Other Award
|
52.0302 |
| Logistics and Supply Chain Management | 35 |
|
Other Award
|
52.0203 |
| Marketing Management | 11 |
|
Associate's
Other Award
|
52.1401 |
| Administrative Assistant Science | 8 |
|
Associate's
Residency
|
52.0401 |
| Business Administration and Management | 7 |
|
Other Award
|
52.0201 |
| Operations Management and Supervision | 5 |
|
Associate's
|
52.0205 |
| Executive Assistant and Secretary | 3 |
|
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Other Award
|
52.0402 |
| Sales and Marketing Operations | 3 |
|
Other Award
|
52.1801 |
| Business Administration | 2 |
|
Associate's
|
52.0101 |
| Human Resources Management | 2 |
|
Other Award
|
52.1001 |
| Business and Office Technology | 1 |
|
Residency
|
52.0407 |
| Sales Skills and Operations | 1 |
|
Other Award
|
52.1804 |
Eng. Technologies (12 programs, 74 graduates)
Applied Engineering Technologies and Technical Support
| Program Name | Graduates | Gender Distribution | Award Levels | CIP Code |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CAD and CADD Drafting and Design Technology | 29 |
|
Residency
Other Award
|
15.1302 |
| Electromechanical Engineering Technology | 13 |
|
Other Award
|
15.0403 |
| Industrial Technology | 6 |
|
Other Award
|
15.0612 |
| Mechanical Engineering Technology | 6 |
|
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
|
15.0805 |
| Computer Systems Technology | 5 |
|
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
15.1202 |
| Manufacturing Engineering Technology | 4 |
|
Associate's
Other Award
|
15.0613 |
| Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technology | 3 |
|
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
|
15.0303 |
| Welding Engineering Technology | 3 |
|
Other Award
|
15.0614 |
| Computer Software Technology | 2 |
|
Other Award
|
15.1204 |
| Automation Engineer Technology | 1 |
|
Associate's
|
15.0406 |
| Architectural Drafting and CAD | 1 |
|
Other Award
|
15.1303 |
| Nanotechnology | 1 |
|
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
15.1601 |
Computer & IT (9 programs, 71 graduates)
Computer Science, Information Technology and Cybersecurity
| Program Name | Graduates | Gender Distribution | Award Levels | CIP Code |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Information Science | 24 |
|
Other Award
|
11.0401 |
| Computer Systems Networking and Telecommunications | 12 |
|
Associate's
Other Award
|
11.0901 |
| Computer Programming | 11 |
|
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
Other Award
|
11.0201 |
| Information Technology | 8 |
|
Associate's
|
11.0103 |
| Computer Programming | 6 |
|
Other Award
|
11.0203 |
| Data Processing Technology | 5 |
|
Other Award
|
11.0301 |
| Web and Digital Multimedia Design | 3 |
|
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Other Award
|
11.0801 |
| Data Modeling and Database Administration | 1 |
|
Other Award
|
11.0802 |
| Information Systems Security and Auditing | 1 |
|
Other Award
|
11.1003 |
Interdisciplinary (1 programs, 51 graduates)
Cross-Disciplinary Studies and Integrated Research Programs
| Program Name | Graduates | Gender Distribution | Award Levels | CIP Code |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Biological and Physical Sciences | 51 |
|
Associate's
|
30.0101 |
Human Sciences (1 programs, 50 graduates)
Family Studies, Consumer Sciences and Human Development
| Program Name | Graduates | Gender Distribution | Award Levels | CIP Code |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Child Care Provider and Assistant | 50 |
|
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
Other Award
|
19.0709 |
Security & Safety (4 programs, 35 graduates)
Emergency Management, Law Enforcement and Public Safety
| Program Name | Graduates | Gender Distribution | Award Levels | CIP Code |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Criminal Justice and Police Science | 19 |
|
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
|
43.0107 |
| Forensic Science and Technology | 7 |
|
Other Award
|
43.0406 |
| Fire Science and Firefighting | 5 |
|
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
Other Award
|
43.0203 |
| Security and Loss Prevention | 4 |
|
Other Award
|
43.0109 |
Engineering (2 programs, 16 graduates)
Engineering Sciences and Applied Technology Solutions
| Program Name | Graduates | Gender Distribution | Award Levels | CIP Code |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| General Engineering | 8 |
|
Associate's
|
14.0101 |
| Mechatronics and Robotics Engineering | 8 |
|
Associate's
Other Award
|
14.4201 |
Tuition, Fees & Estimated Costs
Overview of tuition rates, housing, and other annual education expenses for undergraduate and graduate students
Financial Aid & Student Support
Summary of scholarships, grants, student loans, and financial aid statistics for undergraduate students
Student Success Metrics
Graduation rates and post-graduation earnings to help assess student outcomes and long-term value of education.
Loan Burden & Repayment Outcomes
Breakdown of loan repayment rates and student debt levels by income and dependency status.
Frequently Asked Questions
Find answers to the most common questions about Oakton College
How much does it cost to attend Oakton College?
The annual tuition at Oakton College is $10,446 for in-state students and $12,462 for out-of-state students. When including room and board, books, and other expenses, the total estimated cost is approximately $11,856 for in-state students and $13,872 for out-of-state students. Additional costs include room and board $8,716 (off-campus) and books and supplies $1,410.
Data based on IPEDS program completions for 2022-2023 academic year. Tuition and cost estimates are approximate and may not include all fees, personal expenses, or transportation costs.
What academic programs and degree levels does Oakton College offer?
Oakton College offers 70 academic programs across 16 major fields of study, with available degree levels: Certificate (1-2 yrs), Associate's, Residency, Other Award.
Most popular program areas include:
- Liberal Arts Education, General Studies and Humanities (2 programs)
- Healthcare Professions, Medical Sciences and Clinical Practice (15 programs)
- Automotive Technology, Equipment Repair and Maintenance (2 programs)
- Business Administration, Marketing and Entrepreneurship (12 programs)
- Applied Engineering Technologies and Technical Support (12 programs)
Data based on IPEDS program completions for 2023-2024 academic year. Numbers reflect programs where students graduated, not all offered programs.
What financial aid and scholarships are available at Oakton College?
Oakton College provides financial aid to 6% of first-time, full-time students, with average grants of $3,221 and average loans of $5,800.
Average financial aid amounts by type:
- Pell grants: $4,996
- State/Local grants: $1,820
- Institutional grants: $1,817
- Federal loans: $5,076
The university supports 439 students with grants and 7 students with loans annually.
Data based on IPEDS for 2022-2023 academic year. Financial aid amounts and percentages may vary by program, enrollment status, and individual circumstances.
What is the average salary for Oakton College graduates?
Oakton College graduates earn a median salary of $38,528 after 6 years and $47,852 after 10 years.
The salary range 10 years after graduation spans from $24,249 (25th percentile) to $73,719 (75th percentile), with top earners reaching $83,500 (90th percentile).
Data based on IPEDS for 2022-2023 academic year. Salary data reflects graduates who received federal financial aid (approximately 60% of all graduates). Actual earnings may vary significantly based on program, location, and individual circumstances.
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