Oakton Community College

5500 N Saint Louis Ave, Chicago, IL

Oakton Community College is a two-year post-secondary school with two convenient locations for students living in the Chicago, area: the main campus is located about 20 miles northwest of Chicago in Des Plaines, and the newer, Ray Hartstein Campus is about 15 miles north of Chicago in Skokie. As community colleges go, Oakton is rather large, with an enrollment of almost 11,000. Despite its size, administration is focused on fostering a personal, intimate environment; most classes top out at around 14-15 students. Oakton’s main campus offers a surprisingly sophisticated variety of programs in the fields of art, science, and business, to name just a few.  Associate and certificate programs are available in nearly 80 areas of study.

At OCC, cultural enrichment abounds. Students can visit the campus museum to view the works of high-profile artists based in Chicago. The performing arts center and writer’s series are also a source of school pride. Oakton’s extracurricular clubs cater to a broad variety of tastes, affording students opportunities to make friends and share personal interests in their free time. In response to a culture that is more aware of health and fitness, the college has launched Student Health 101, an online interactive health journal, where students can log on and ask health-related questions.

Oakland’s tuition rates are competitive, coming in thousands of dollars below average U.S. college and university tuition rates, and financial aid is available to qualified students. Individuals wishing to apply for admission should contact the admissions office for details. With its broad range of certification and degree programs, personalized instruction, and reasonable tuition rates, Oakton Community College is an educational value for today’s students.