The Best Online Community Colleges in Illinois

Online community colleges in Illinois provide a lot of different programs created to assist students develop highly sought-after skills that are very much needed in various industries today. Several degree programs in industries such as business and healthcare can enable students to gain basic skills for the workplace.

So with this in mind, I have put together a list of some of the best online community colleges in Illinois for you. These institutions offer students many opportunities. Continue reading to find the online community college in Illinois that would suit your needs best.

In the course of my research prior to writing this article, I made selections considering common factors and based on publicly available information about the various institutions involved.

Is Community College Free in Illinois?

There is no confirmed free community college in Illinois but Governor JB Pritzker hopes to provide students who are at or below the median income level with free tuition in community colleges in Illinois. JB Pritzker’s budget for the 2024 fiscal year calls for an additional $100 million for Monetary Award Program donations.

Combined with other grants, it implies that students will graduate with zero loans. I also found out that any household earning less than $125,000 annually is eligible to receive financial aid that will cover the entire cost of tuition. Now families who earn below $60,000 annually are qualified to receive tuition, fees, and lodging covered by financial aid.

How Much is Community College in Illinois?

The average cost of tuition in community colleges in Illinois is roughly around $7,972 annually for in-state students and $10,688 for out-of-state students.

While for private community colleges, the average tuition fee per year is approximately $13,695.

List of 20 Best Online Community Colleges in Illinois

• Harper College
• Lincoln Land Community College
• Joliet Junior College
• Lewis and Clark Community College
• Waubonsee Community College
• McHenry County College
• Kaskaskia College
• Elgin Community College
• College of Lake County
• Oakton Community College
• Lake Land College
• Illinois Valley Community College
• John Wood Community College
• Moraine Valley Community College
• Sauk Valley Community College
• Frontier Community College
• Rend Lake College
• Rock Valley College
• College of DuPage
• Parkland College

Top 20 Online Community Colleges in Illinois

Harper College

Harper College is one of the best online community colleges in Illinois can not provide online programs for students. The programs are designed to suit students who require flexible schedules.

I learn that students can register for online associate degrees in health information technology, paraprofessional education, accounting, etc

This institution’s online associate degree in business administration, for instance, includes popular programs, such as human resources, financial management, and insurance.

As distance learners, you can also access online student support services, such as academic counseling, tutoring, library resources, military and veteran student counseling, and technology assistance. The school also provides online student health care services.

This college is one of the best online community colleges in Illinois that you should check out while you are still considering which school to enroll in. For more information about this institution and its programs, see Online Programs at Harper College.

Lincoln Land Community College

Lincoln Land Community College is also one of the best online community colleges in Illinois that has provided affordable several online courses for 25 years.

There are hundreds of online general education courses provided by this institution that can enable students to transfer to four-year institutions and develop skills that would be needed in the workplace.

Various programs include online associate degrees in criminal justice, English, history, philosophy, psychology, and sociology. While various online associate degree programs in technology include courses like computer science, programming, networking, and lots more.

Licensed practical nurses also known as LPNs, who are interested in becoming registered nurses should also complete an online licensed practical nursing(LPN) to associate degree in Nursing (ADN) transition program.

If you wish to become a fire service instructor, you must complete online certificates of completion at this institute. Online students can also organize virtual appointments for services such as career counseling, academic coaching, and tutoring. For more information about this college, see Lincoln Land Community College.

Joliet Junior College

This institution uses various up-to-date facilities to deliver learning online to students. The school provides online associate degrees and various certificate programs to learners who prefer online learning to on-site learning. This makes it one of the best online community colleges in Illinois that you should consider as your online community college in Illinois.

Students who earn online associate degrees can decide to switch to four-year universities, or they can enter the workforce upon graduation. Some of the online associate degree programs at level two include management and supervision, management information systems, and computer programming.

Prospective students interested in developing skills needed for the workforce can also earn online certificates in courses such as human resources, global supply chain management, entrepreneurship, and Microsoft Office.

This institution’s online student support services are also the same services available to on-campus learners, including tutoring, counseling, and library services. For more information about this institution, see Joliet Junior College.

Lewis and Clark Community College

This is one of the best online community colleges in Illinois, it is a public institution where learners can earn their degree through a mixture of fully online and hybrid courses, all provided through the Blackboard learning management format or system.

This school has quite a few popular online degree courses and some of them include associate degree courses in legal support and criminal justice. This and more make it one of the best online community colleges in Illinois.

All students are advised to apply for financial aid provided by the government as well as to seek the school’s two scholarship programs. Online students at this school should take advantage of the school’s academic counseling and career services. For more information about this institute, see Lewis and Clark Community College.

Waubonsee Community College

This school makes education available for working students through its flexible MyChoice program. This program enables students to take classes 100 percent online, or in a hybrid format. The online programs are provided in synchronous and asynchronous formats.

Online associate degree courses in this school are available in business administration, human resources management, as well as certain transfer associate degree programs. Students must also finish online professional development certificates in computer support and office software.

Online programs can also be available in an accelerated format, facilitating faster completion. Furthermore, online technical support and access to library services are provided to distance learners at Waubonsee.

For more information about this college, see Waubonsee Community College. This institution is one of the top online community colleges in Illinois.

McHenry County College

This school is a public community college and it is one of the best online community colleges in Illinois. It provides online associate degree programs in accounting, administration, business management, and network security.

Through online learning, students can also receive certificates and transfer degrees that equip them with the skills needed to earn a bachelor’s degree at a four-year institution.

Furthermore, students can access their online courses via the Canvas learning platform. As a student, you are qualified for 50 scholarships provided by the school as well as government financial aid. The school provides academic counseling, tutoring, career advice, and anything else you would require to have a smooth learning process.

To explore the programs offered by this school, see Program Directory | McHenry County College.

Kaskaskia College

Kaskaskia College is one of the best online community colleges in Illinois that offers 13 online associate degree programs and certificates. Some of the courses include accounting, business management, marketing, early childhood education, and more.

Students can access their online course materials and participate in learning sessions through the Canvas learning platform.

Students are eligible to receive financial aid from the government and they are also qualified for school-sponsored scholarships. The school also provides career advice, tutoring services, and library resources for online students.

For more information about this school, see Kaskaskia College.

Elgin Community College

This school is way above the normal average public college and it is located in Elgin, It is a small institution with about 2,618 undergraduate students. It is one of the best online community colleges in Illinois and you should consider enrolling in this institution.

This school’s acceptance rate is 100 percent. Some of the popular courses people register for include courses like Liberal Arts and Humanities, and Automotive Mechanics. About 50 percent of students graduate every session.

For more information about this school, see Elgin Community College.

College of Lake County

Lake County is a public college located in Grayslake, Illinois in the Chicago Area. It is a small college with an enrollment of 3,800 undergraduate students. It is one of the best online community colleges in Illinois, you should consider enrolling in this school.

This school’s most famous majors include Liberal Arts and Humanities, Nursing Assistant, and Emergency Care Attendant (EMT). After graduating, you can go on to earn a starting salary of $26,800. This and more make it one of the best online community colleges in Illinois.

For more information about this school, see College of Lake County.

Oakton Community College

This is another one of the best online community colleges in Illinois that is located in Des Plaines. It is a small public college with an enrollment of 2,136 undergraduate students. It has a 100% acceptance rate so you can be sure of getting admission to study your course of choice in this school.

Some of the most popular majors include Liberal Arts and Humanities, Nursing Assistant, and Emergency Medical Technician (EMT Paramedic). As an alumnus of this school, you can go on to earn a starting salary of $28,500.

For more information about this school, see Oakton Community College.

Lake Land College

Lake Land College provides more than 150 online courses, and they have one of the highest online registrations in Illinois. The school has five programs that can be completed entirely online. Furthermore, these mirror its main objective of preparing students to switch to a four-year program and training the local workforce.

There are various online associate degree courses like a degree in business administration which is also a transfer degree. There is also an online program that concentrates on healthcare jobs, with a certificate in medical coding.

This institution also has an associate degree in medical coding and health information available. Students can also earn a certificate in management or marketing through 100 percent online activities and learning.

This school is not your usual average public college and it is one of the best online community colleges in Illinois that is located in Mattoon, Illinois. It is a small college with a registration of 1,722 undergraduate students.

Some of the most registered courses or majors include Liberal Arts and Humanities, Nursing, and Horticulture. As an alumnus, you would earn a starting salary of $25,200.

For more information about this school, see Lake Land College.

Illinois Valley Community College

Illinois Valley is one of the best online community colleges in Illinois. It is a small public College located in Oglesby, Illinois. It has an enrollment of 914 undergraduate students.

The school’s acceptance rate is 100 percent, so you can easily get accepted into this school. Some of the most sought-after majors include Liberal Arts and Humanities, Nursing Assistant, and Natural Sciences.

Illinois Valley Community College alumni go on to earn a starting salary of $26,100.

For more information about this school, see Illinois Valley Community College.

John Wood Community College

John Wood is not your usual average community college. This school is a public college located in Quincy, Illinois. It is a small school with an enrollment of 836 undergraduate students. This school is one of the best online community colleges in Illinois.

The acceptance rate is 100% so you would be accepted into this institution. Some of the popular courses include Liberal Arts and Humanities, Nursing, and Natural Sciences. As an alumnus, you can go on to earn a starting salary of $25,800.

For more information about this institution, see John Wood Community College.

Moraine Valley Community College

This is another one of the best online community colleges in Illinois that offers online learning in over 130 programs and has an 87 percent post-graduate employment rate.

They have a large selection of education majors and transfer programs. Prospective students have a high chance of finding what they are searching for.

This school is one of the best online community colleges in Illinois and the Palos college was founded in 1967 as a two-year community college. It has more than 24,000 students and they provide over 130 courses, both as degrees and certificates.

It has a transfer rate of about 22 percent and a graduation score of 29 percent. 40 percent of its career and transfer students get some form of financial aid.

It is a small college with an enrollment and their acceptance rate is 100 percent, which means you stand a very good chance of getting accepted as a student in this school. Some of the most traditional majors include Liberal Arts and Humanities, Natural Sciences, and Network, Database, and System Administration.

For more information about this school, see Moraine Valley Community College.

Sauk Valley Community College

This is one of the best online community colleges in Illinois that serves citizens in five counties in Illinois, including Lee, Ogle, and Whiteside. Students receive classes through the school’s programming online degree options. Prospective students who would love to complete the first two years of the state’s general education core will earn the associate of arts online, which transfers to a four-year institution.

Learners who have already concentrated on a particular career can choose one of four online alternatives that prepare them for the workplace, including getting an Associate of Applied Science degree in criminal justice and accounting to name quite a few of them.

Furthermore, a degree in associate of liberal studies. Provides students with a flexible alternative that they can personalize to meet their individual academic and career aspirations. This school is one of the best online community colleges in Illinois, which also provides several certificates in fields such as corrections, accounting, and entrepreneurship.

For more information about this school, see Sauk Valley Community College.

Frontier Community College

This is another one of the best online community colleges in Illinois that is a branch of the Illinois Eastern Community Colleges system. The school’s associate degree provides students with the general education core required to switch to any of more than 100 four-year colleges in the state.

Frontier’s associate of science provides learners junior status in a science-related bachelor’s major. The associate of general studies is best suited for students who wish to attend a four-year college but who also desire to keep their academic options open.

For students venturing into the technical space, you can go for an associate of applied science degree, and the institution also provides an AAS in accounting and computing or medical office assistant. I can assure you that this school is one of the best.

For more information about this school, see Frontier Community College.

Rend Lake College

This is one of the best online community colleges in Illinois that has programs that are attractive to degree holders as well as high school students who would love to earn college credit. Truthfully, high school students who enroll in this school make up 50 percent of this community college’s student body.

Rend Lake College’s six departments include international studies, allied health, and arts and sciences. Distance learners use Canvas to access the courses asynchronously.

Career counseling at this community college includes career planning surveys and one-on-one counseling. The school also provides degree-seekers with popular career and job search websites and resources. In addition, the college partners with businesses in the Ina province to post positions and recruit talent.

Prospective students submit either a high school diploma or GED scores. Homeschooled students must provide ACT or SAT scores. The school also awards multiple scholarships that need only one application. These award ranges from $500–$1,500 but are non-renewable. Work-study programs and need-based loans can also enable learners to pay for their certificates or degree.

For more information about this college, see Rend Lake College.

Rock Valley College

This school is a public college located in Rockford, Illinois and it is one of the best online community colleges in Illinois. It is a small school with an enrollment of 2,431 undergraduate students. The Rock Valley College acceptance rate is 100 percent.

Some of the most popular programs include Liberal Arts and Humanities, Natural Sciences, and Aircraft Maintenance. As an alumnus of this school, you can go on to earn a starting salary of $25,000.

For more information about this school, see Rock Valley College.

College of DuPage

The College of DuPage is one of the best online community colleges in Illinois and it is also the second-largest undergraduate college in the state. The school has 28,000 students on a 273-acre Glen Ellyn campus. They deliver 82 degrees, including several eLearning options.

The school provides seven online associate degrees and 26 certificates that students take entirely online. One of the best online community colleges in Illinois, they provide an associate of arts that can be switched as the general education core of a baccalaureate degree.

Students searching for a flexible curriculum can choose the 64-credit associate of general studies, which provides different general education and career and technical education courses.

The College of DuPage’s associate of applied science degrees offers specialized training that learners can utilize in the workplace in industries like accounting, administrative support, and office technology information. This school accepts students in the fall, spring, and summer.

For more information about this school, see College of DuPage.

Parkland College

Parkland is another one of the best online community colleges in Illinois that is also a public college located in Champaign, Illinois. It is a small school that has about 2,052 undergraduate students.

The school’s acceptance rate is 100 percent, which means, you stand a very good chance of getting accepted as a student in this school. Some of the most popular courses include Liberal Arts and Humanities, Nursing Assistant, and Natural Sciences. As an alumnus of this school, you can go on to earn a starting salary of $25,400.

For more information about this school, see Parkland College.

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