Located approximately 20 minutes west of Chicago in River Grove, Illinois, Triton College is a two-year community college founded in 1964. Triton College offers more than 130 associate degree and certificate programs and available academic departments include adult education, English, mathematics and continuing education. The college has an enrollment of over 17,000 students per semester and an average class size of approximately 20 students. Triton College has open admissions and students seeking to enter a degree program must have a high school diploma or GED at minimum. Non-degree seeking students or those enrolling in adult education or continuing education are not required to possess a diploma or GED.
Founded in 1871, Elmhurst College is a four-year private institution affiliated with the United Church of Christ. It is approximately 25 minutes west of Chicago in Elmhurst, Illinois. Elmhurst College houses 23 academic departments and programs and offers more than 50 undergraduate majors and nine graduate programs. Students can choose majors such as computer science, elementary education, theater and finance. The college has an annual enrollment of approximately 3,000 students and a student to faculty ratio of 13 to 1. Elmhurst College accepts freshmen students on a rolling basis. Applicants must have at minimum a high school diploma or GED.
Established in 1927, South Suburban College is approximately 30 minutes south of Chicago in South Holland, Illinois. On average, the college enrolls approximately 17,000 students each year and 69 percent of its student body graduates within three years of enrollment. South Suburban College has five academic programs and offers associate's degrees and certificates in occupational, academic, adult basic, remedial, high school equivalency and English as a second language programs. South Suburban College has open admissions and accepts students with a minimum of a high school diploma or equivalent.
North Central College is a liberal arts institution affiliated with the United Methodist Church. Established in 1861, the college is approximately 45 minutes west of Chicago in Naperville, Illinois. North Central College offers Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Science degrees in more than 55 majors in addition to six graduate programs. Undergraduates can pursue degrees in majors such as biology, global studies, history and communications while graduate students can enroll in programs such as education, leadership studies or management information systems. As of February 2011, North Central College has an enrollment of more than 2,900 students and a student to faculty ration of 15 to 1. Applications are accepted year round and reviewed on a rolling basis. Students are accepted until the arrival of summer or until classes are full.