{"id":101990,"date":"2022-02-20T06:20:39","date_gmt":"2022-02-20T14:20:39","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/careerkarma.com\/blog\/?p=101990"},"modified":"2025-10-01T09:52:47","modified_gmt":"2025-10-01T16:52:47","slug":"best-community-colleges-in-chicago","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/careerkarma.com\/blog\/best-community-colleges-in-chicago\/","title":{"rendered":"Best Community Colleges in Chicago"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>Community college is a great way to get a high-quality education with lower tuition costs and more flexibility. Academic programs at junior colleges aim to prepare students to enter a career or to transfer into a four-year school. If you live in Illinois, you\u2019re probably wondering,\u201cWhat are the best community colleges in Chicago?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If you already live in Chicago or are interested in relocating to this impressive city for college, you\u2019re in luck. The city is full of community colleges with great associate degree programs, partner programs, technical education programs, and more. In this article, we\u2019ll break down our picks for the top 10 community colleges in the city, the best community colleges for nursing in Chicago, and the best online community colleges in the Windy City.<\/p>\n\n\n<!-- load the widget code --><div class=\"esy_widget_container esy_type_search\" style=\"min-height:175px\"><\/div><script data-cfasync=\"false\" type=\"text\/javascript\">document.addEventListener(\"DOMContentLoaded\", function(event) {ESY.Widget({category_id: '',domain_id: 'careerkarma.com',widget_id: '945946',custom_options: '',tags: '',intro: '',type: 'search'});});<\/script><!-- END load the widget code -->\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-how-we-defined-our-chicago-community-college-rankings\">How We Defined Our Chicago Community College Rankings<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>We considered a multitude of factors when making this list. To begin with, we made sure all the colleges we picked are accredited, affordable, and have extracurricular activities that can contribute to a student\u2019s professional growth. That\u2019s not all, though.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Other factors we considered were the graduation and transfer rate, cost of attendance, the number of programs each school offered, plus the types of scholarships and financial aid options available. We also took into consideration whether they offered online courses and career training programs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-the-top-10-community-colleges-in-chicago\">The Top 10 Community Colleges in Chicago<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Triton College<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Kennedy-King College<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Wilbur Wright College<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Harper College<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Malcolm X College<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Harry S. Truman College<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Olive-Harvey College<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Harold Washington College<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Richard J.Daley University<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Moraine Valley Community College<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-the-best-community-colleges-in-chicago-explained\">The Best Community Colleges in Chicago: Explained<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1200\" height=\"800\" src=\"https:\/\/careerkarma.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/The-Best-Community-Colleges-in-Chicago.jpeg\" alt=\"A library on a college campus\u00a0\" class=\"wp-image-101992\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Chicago\u2019s community colleges offer a wide range of associate degree and certificate programs that enable students to build academic and professional experience.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-1-triton-college\">1. Triton College<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Triton College is a regionally accredited two-year institution offering prospective students the opportunity to learn with the support of scholarship opportunities, financial aid options, modern facilities, great teaching staff, and diverse program curricula. Founded in 1964, this junior college offers prospective learners over 110 degrees and certifications, as well as academic advising to help them make the right course selection.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-best-triton-college-programs\">Best Triton College Programs<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Associate of Science in Nursing<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Associate of Science in Radiologic Technology<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Associate of Science in Biological Science<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Associate of Arts in Art<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Associate of Arts in Criminal Justice Administration<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-2-kennedy-king-college\">2. Kennedy-King College<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Kennedy-King College is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC) and is one of the seven two-year community colleges that are part of the City Colleges of Chicago system. It is a more than 100 year old college that has more than 100 industry-recognized degree and certificate programs for prospective students to choose from. These include both onsite and online classes. Earning credits at this school will make transitioning to a four-year college easy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-best-kennedy-king-college-programs\">Best Kennedy-King College Programs<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Associate of Arts in Theater Arts<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Associate of Arts in Accounting<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Associate of Applied Science in Culinary Arts<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Associate of Applied Science in Hotel Management<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Associate in Applied Science in Cybersecurity<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-3-wilbur-wright-college\">3. Wilbur Wright College<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Wilbur Wright College was established in 1934 and is also part of City Colleges of Chicago. Today, it is one of the most notable community colleges in the US. It provides quality education to over 80,000 students from diverse cultural backgrounds. It is accredited by multiple institutions, including the HLC.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-best-wilbur-wright-college-programs\">Best Wilbur Wright College Programs<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Associate in Engineering Science<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Associate in Science in Computer Science<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Associate in Arts in Communications<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Associate in Arts in Psychology<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Associate in Science in Biology<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-4-harper-college\">4. Harper College<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Harper College is one of the most notable community colleges in the Chicago area. It was founded in 1965 and currently has over 35,000 students and offers more than 100 certificate programs, 10 associate degrees, 100 transfer partner programs, and 40 career programs. This college also has a low tuition cost of $133.50 per credit hour for students in the district. This college is great for those looking to gain professional experience as they study.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-best-harper-college-programs\">Best Harper College Programs<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Associate in Arts \u2013 Art, Design and Performing Arts<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Associate in Arts \u2013 Humanities<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Certified Nursing Assistant Program<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Associate in Science \u2013 Biology<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Associate of Applied Sciences \u2013 Health Information Technology<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-5-malcolm-x-college\">5. Malcolm X College<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Malcolm X College, one of the seven City Colleges of Chicago, was founded in 1911 as a two-year college. It provides fantastic academic support services such as the ACCESS center for disabled students, free classes for adults, and academic advisors. Based on the 2016 cohort, it had a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ccc.edu\/colleges\/malcolm-x\/menu\/pages\/facts-and-statistics.aspx\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" rel=\"nofollow\">transfer-out rate <\/a>of 13 percent and a graduation rate of 24 percent.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-best-malcolm-x-college-programs\">Best Malcolm X College Programs<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Basic Nursing Assistant Training Program<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Associate in Arts \u2013 Theater Arts<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Associate in Applied Science \u2013 Emergency Medical Services<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Basic Certificate Program \u2013 Personal Fitness Training<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Medical Coding Program \u2013 Advanced Certificate<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-6-harry-s-truman-college\">6. Harry S. Truman College<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Previously known as Mayfair College, Harry S. Truman College started as a night school in the 1950s. Now it offers many more quality academic services and hands-on experiences to college students who wish to launch a career after graduating high school or transfer to four-year universities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Truman College provides free English classes to students who are studying it as their second language. It has a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.usnews.com\/education\/community-colleges\/city-colleges-of-chicago-harry-s-truman-college-CC01431\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" rel=\"nofollow\">19 percent graduation rate<\/a> and 21 percent of school graduates transfer to four-year institutions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-best-harry-s-truman-college-programs\">Best Harry S. Truman College Programs<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Associate of Arts in Education, Human Development and Family Studies<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Associate in Fine Arts \u2013 Studio Art<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Advanced Certificate in Completion \u2013 General Business<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Associate in Applied Science \u2013 Computer and Information Sciences<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Associate in Applied Science \u2013 Nursing<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-7-olive-harvey-college\">7. Olive-Harvey College<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Olive-Harvey College is one of the seven City Colleges of Chicago and is located in Cook County. This career college offers associate degrees, short-term career training, and certificate programs in in-demand fields. All of its academic program choices are great for those looking to gain professional experience before graduating. As of 2018, it has a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.usnews.com\/education\/community-colleges\/city-colleges-of-chicago-olive-harvey-college-CC01466\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" rel=\"nofollow\">24 percent graduation rate<\/a> and a 14 percent transfer rate to four-year schools.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-best-olive-harvey-college-programs\">Best Olive-Harvey College Programs<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Associate in Arts \u2013 Humanities<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Associate in Applied Science \u2013 Management\/Marketing<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Associate in Science \u2013 Mathematics<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Advanced Certificate \u2013 Automotive Technology<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Associate in Arts \u2013 Criminal Justice<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-8-harold-washington-college\">8. Harold Washington College<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Harold Washington College is a public community college located within Chicago city limits. This college provides career training programs as well as transfer degree programs for prospective students who wish to further their education in a four-year institution. These associate transfer degree programs get students halfway through their bachelor degree studies at an affordable rate.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-best-harold-washington-college-programs\">Best Harold Washington College Programs<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Associate in Fine Arts \u2013 Music Education<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Associate in Science \u2013 Biological Sciences<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Associate in Arts \u2013 General Studies<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Associate in Science \u2013 Business and Information Systems<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Associate in Applied Science \u2013 Architecture<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-9-richard-j-daley-college\">9. Richard J. Daley College<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Richard J. Daley College is a two-year public college in Chicago. This city college is known for providing educational services to the Hispanic community and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.usnews.com\/education\/community-colleges\/city-colleges-of-chicago-richard-j-daley-college-CC01477\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" rel=\"nofollow\">77 percent of its student body is Hispanic<\/a>. It offers associate degree transfer programs, adult education, career training certificates, and continuing education. It also provides financial resources to help students get closer to educational success.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-best-richard-j-daley-college-programs\">Best Richard J. Daley College Programs<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Associate in Applied Science \u2013 Electrical Construction Technology<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Basic Certificate \u2013 Networking Systems and Technology<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Associate in Applied Science \u2013 Nursing<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Associate in Applied Science \u2013 Management\/Marketing<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Advanced Certificate \u2013 Computer Numerical Control Machining<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-10-moraine-valley-community-college\">10. Moraine Valley Community College<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Moraine Valley Community College is one of the best learning institutions in the Chicago area. The Palos Hills school was founded in 1967 as a two-year community college. It has a student body of about 24,000 and offers over 130 educational options, such as degrees and certificates. It has a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.usnews.com\/education\/community-colleges\/moraine-valley-community-college-CC05582\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" rel=\"nofollow\">transfer rate of around 22 percent<\/a> and a graduation rate of 29 percent. Forty percent of its career and transfer students receive some form of financial assistance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-best-moraine-valley-community-college-programs\">Best Moraine Valley Community College Programs<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Associate in Applied Science \u2013 Automation and Engineering Technology<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Associate in Science \u2013 Computer Science<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Associate in Science \u2013 Business Administration<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Associate in Science \u2013 Nursing<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Therapeutic Massage Certificate<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-other-chicago-community-college-rankings\">Other Chicago Community College Rankings<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1200\" height=\"800\" src=\"https:\/\/careerkarma.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Other-Chicago-Community-College-Rankings.jpeg\" alt=\"A college student studies from a textbook in a school study area.\" class=\"wp-image-101993\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Community colleges are known for their fantastic student support services and financial assistance opportunities that enable students to enter the workforce without the burden of four years of university tuition.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Some of the best colleges in Chicago are also online community colleges. If you\u2019re interested in completing your associate degree or certificate program in Chicago but would rather do it remotely, check out our picks below of the best online colleges in Chicago. As nursing is a popular area of study at Chicago community colleges, we\u2019ve also highlighted the five best nursing programs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-best-online-community-colleges-in-chicago\">Best Online Community Colleges in Chicago<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Moraine Valley Community College. <\/strong>The online learning program at Moraine Valley Community College offers online and hybrid courses in almost every subject. The classes are meant for distance learners who need flexibility in their study schedules.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Harry S. Truman College. <\/strong>Taking online classes at Harry S. Truman College is just as effective as the school\u2019s onsite classes. The online courses come with the same academic requirements and cover various disciplines.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Elgin Community College. <\/strong>Elgin Community College offers online courses in in-demand fields to its online learners. These online courses come with reliable resources and services to facilitate students\u2019 individual learning journeys.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>MacCormac College. <\/strong>MacCormac College is a great private community college in the Chicago area. It offers online associate degrees to prospective learners in subjects such as business, criminal justice, and court reporting.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Harper College. <\/strong>Harper College offers synchronous and asynchronous course content 100 percent virtually. Students in its online academic programs will learn through video tutorials and digital materials, or scheduled virtual classes.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-best-community-colleges-for-nursing-in-chicago\">Best Community Colleges for Nursing in Chicago<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Triton College. <\/strong>The comprehensive <a href=\"https:\/\/careerkarma.com\/blog\/how-to-become-a-nurse\/\">registered nurse<\/a> program offered by Triton College provides online and on-campus learners with knowledge of nursing theory and techniques, as well as biology education.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Harper College. <\/strong>This school provides incoming learners with the opportunity to train to become registered nurses and nursing assistants through an associate degree or certificate.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Moraine Community College. <\/strong>The nursing program at Moraine Community College is quite competitive. This two-year program is taught by industry professionals using cutting-edge technologies to provide students with real-world experience.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Malcolm X College. <\/strong>The nursing program at Malcolm X College provides a comprehensive certificate program to students who wish to start entry-level jobs as nurses and is perfect for those looking to gain hands-on experience.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Elgin Community College. <\/strong>The nursing program at this school has been training professional nurses for the past 50 years. It offers both a basic certificate in nursing assistance and an associate degree in registered nursing.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-should-you-attend-community-college-in-chicago\">Should You Attend Community College in Chicago?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Yes, you should. The city of Chicago has shown through its City Colleges of Chicago System&nbsp; and its other dedicated two-year colleges that it is committed to the academic and career growth of its residents. Chicago colleges help students choose <a href=\"https:\/\/careerkarma.com\/careers\/\">career paths<\/a>, complete remote or in-person learning programs, and offer them plenty of financial aid options while they do it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-best-chicago-community-colleges-faq\">Best Chicago Community Colleges FAQ<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"schema-faq wp-block-yoast-faq-block\"><div class=\"schema-faq-section\" id=\"faq-question-1645366716480\"><strong class=\"schema-faq-question\">Is community college free in Chicago?<\/strong> <p class=\"schema-faq-answer\">No, it\u2019s not free. However, most of the community college students in Chicago can take advantage of the financial aid, payment plans, and additional scholarships offered by their school.<br\/><br\/><\/p> <\/div> <div class=\"schema-faq-section\" id=\"faq-question-1645366729582\"><strong class=\"schema-faq-question\">Does community college always take two years to complete?<\/strong> <p class=\"schema-faq-answer\">No, it depends on the program you choose to enroll in. Community colleges offer associate degree programs that take about two years, plus certificate programs and other technical training programs that can take anywhere from a few months to two years.<br\/><br\/><\/p> <\/div> <div class=\"schema-faq-section\" id=\"faq-question-1645366736465\"><strong class=\"schema-faq-question\">Is community college easy?<\/strong> <p class=\"schema-faq-answer\">Community college is easy to get into because there are very few application requirements. However, this doesn\u2019t mean the course content of a community college\u2019s programs won\u2019t require any effort.<br\/><br\/><\/p> <\/div> <div class=\"schema-faq-section\" id=\"faq-question-1645366746247\"><strong class=\"schema-faq-question\">Is community college a good idea?<\/strong> <p class=\"schema-faq-answer\">Yes, it\u2019s a good idea to <a href=\"https:\/\/careerkarma.com\/blog\/more-people-should-consider-community-college\/\">consider community college<\/a> if you\u2019re interested in taking advantage of a low cost way to pursue a college education. It\u2019s also an ideal way of gaining admission to a prestigious four-year school by transferring in from a community college.<\/p> <\/div> <\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Community college is a great way to get a high-quality education with lower tuition costs and more flexibility. Academic programs at junior colleges aim to prepare students to enter a career or to transfer into a four-year school. If you live in Illinois, you\u2019re probably wondering,\u201cWhat are the best community colleges in Chicago?\u201d If you&hellip;","protected":false},"author":146,"featured_media":101991,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[50437],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-101990","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-best-schools"},"acf":{"post_sub_title":"","sprint_id":"January 31","query_class":"best-community-colleges-in-*city\/state","school_sft":"","parent_sft":"","school_privacy_policy":"","has_review":"","is_sponser_post":"","is_guest_post":""},"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v27.0 (Yoast SEO v27.0) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-premium-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Best Community Colleges In Chicago<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Not sure where to go to community college in Chicago? Check out this article where we break down our picks for the best community colleges in the Chicago area and their top programs.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/careerkarma.com\/blog\/best-community-colleges-in-chicago\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Best Community Colleges in Chicago\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Not sure where to go to community college in Chicago? 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