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Oakton College
Des Plaines, Illinois · Public community college
Address: 1600 E Golf Rd., Des Plaines, IL 60016 · Phone: (847) 635-1600 · School website ↗ · Verify on College Scorecard ↗
No accreditor sanctions in the last 36 months
Oakton College is a public trade school in Des Plaines, Illinois, offering CNA classes, EMT & paramedic training, and auto mechanic programs, accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.
Oakton College has a 37.0% completion rate, below the state average of 58.4%; graduates carry a median debt of $5,250 and earn a median of $47,852 ten years after entry, per the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.
Annual cost of attendance is not reported in federal data for Oakton College; contact the school for current tuition. Federal financial aid, including FAFSA and Pell Grants, can be used here, and about 19.0% of students receive Pell Grants.
What these trades pay once you're working
| Occupation | Starting (10th pct) | Median | Experienced (75th) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nursing assistants | $37,590 | $45,960 | $48,380 |
| Emergency medical technicians | $36,420 | $42,260 | $49,640 |
| Automotive service technicians and mechanics | $34,190 | $49,170 | $73,640 |
| Medical assistants | $36,400 | $46,090 | $49,460 |
| Licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses | $58,880 | $75,000 | $79,560 |
| Pharmacy technicians | $36,550 | $46,650 | $49,150 |
| Phlebotomists | $37,370 | $46,010 | $49,720 |
| HVAC and refrigeration mechanics and installers | $46,690 | $77,410 | $96,030 |
| Medical records specialists | $38,890 | $56,440 | $64,360 |
| Construction laborers | $38,880 | $60,690 | $95,240 |
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics wages for everyone employed in the occupation in Illinois (May 2025; national where the state figure is not published). The program table below shows what this campus's own graduates earned in their first year, whatever job they took.
Trade programs at this campus
| Program | Credential | Grads / yr | Earnings, yr 1 | Earnings, yr 2 | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Practical Nursing, Vocational Nursing and Nursing Assistants | Certificate, under 300 hours | 220 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions | Certificate, under 300 hours | 102 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies/Technicians | Certificate, 300–899 hours | 74 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions | Certificate, 300–899 hours | 30 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services | Associate degree | 27 | $52,362 | $52,107 | not reported |
| Practical Nursing, Vocational Nursing and Nursing Assistants | Certificate, 1–2 years | 20 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services | Certificate, 300–899 hours | 17 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science/Research and Allied Professions | Certificate, 300–899 hours | 16 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Heating, Air Conditioning, Ventilation and Refrigeration Maintenance Technology/Technician (HAC, HACR, HVAC, HVACR) | Certificate, 300–899 hours | 11 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Health and Medical Administrative Services | Certificate, 300–899 hours | 10 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies/Technicians | Certificate, 1–2 years | 6 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services | Certificate, 1–2 years | 5 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Building/Construction Finishing, Management, and Inspection | Associate degree | 2 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Heating, Air Conditioning, Ventilation and Refrigeration Maintenance Technology/Technician (HAC, HACR, HVAC, HVACR) | Associate degree | 2 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies/Technicians | Associate degree | 2 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Building/Construction Finishing, Management, and Inspection | Certificate, 1–2 years | 1 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Heating, Air Conditioning, Ventilation and Refrigeration Maintenance Technology/Technician (HAC, HACR, HVAC, HVACR) | Certificate, 1–2 years | 1 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Practical Nursing, Vocational Nursing and Nursing Assistants | Certificate, 300–899 hours | 1 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
Earnings are median wages and self-employment income reported to the IRS (W-2 and Schedule SE) for graduates who received federal aid and were working and not enrolled, measured in the calendar year after finishing. They are pay only: health insurance, retirement contributions and other benefits are not included.
Graduates per year from the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) 2022-23 Completions survey. Earnings and debt are College Scorecard field-of-study medians for graduates of this program at this campus (reported at the 4-digit program level, so closely related programs share a figure); "not reported" means too few graduates were counted to publish a figure.
About this school
Oakton College is a public trade and career training campus in Des Plaines, Illinois. It participates in federal Title IV financial aid, meaning students can use FAFSA and Pell Grants to help pay for programs. The school holds accreditation from the Higher Learning Commission, along with program-specific accreditation from the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing and the American Physical Therapy Association's Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education. Its most-completed trade programs are CNA classes, EMT & paramedic training, and auto mechanic schools, drawn from 18 program families including HVAC, medical billing and coding, pharmacy tech, and phlebotomy.
Federal data shows a completion rate of 37.0%, which is below the state average of 58.4%. Graduates carry a median debt of $5,250, and median earnings 10 years after entry are $47,852. Annual cost of attendance is not reported for this campus in federal data. About 19.0% of students receive Pell Grants, indicating a meaningful share of lower-income students enrolled.
With 547 trade completers among 6,072 undergraduates in a small-city setting, Oakton College offers a mix of shorter certificate-style programs (like CNA and phlebotomy) and longer technical tracks (like EMT and auto mechanics), which may suit both new students and adult career changers looking for flexible entry points. Prospective students should verify current accreditation status and detailed outcomes directly through the College Scorecard and by contacting the school, since program length, cost, and licensing requirements are not fully detailed here.
Questions students ask
What trade and career programs does this campus offer?
Oakton College offers 18 program families, with the most-completed being CNA classes, EMT & paramedic training, and auto mechanic schools. Other offerings include HVAC, medical billing and coding, pharmacy tech, and phlebotomy programs.
Is this school accredited, and by whom?
Yes, Oakton College is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission, with additional program-specific accreditation from the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing and the American Physical Therapy Association's Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education.
Can I use federal financial aid (FAFSA, Pell Grants) at this school?
Yes, Oakton College participates in Title IV federal financial aid programs, so students can use FAFSA and Pell Grants.
What share of students finish their program here, and how does that compare to the state?
The completion rate is 37.0%, which is below the Illinois state average of 58.4%.
How much debt do graduates of this school typically carry?
Graduates carry a median debt of $5,250, according to federal data.
What do graduates of this school earn?
Median earnings 10 years after entry are $47,852, per federal data.
How much does it cost to attend for a year?
Annual cost of attendance is not reported for this campus in federal data; contact the school directly for current tuition figures.
Is this a public, non-profit, or for-profit school, and why does that matter?
Oakton College is a public institution, which typically means lower published tuition rates for in-state residents compared to for-profit schools.
How long do the programs here take to complete?
Specific program lengths are not reported in the data provided; contact the school at (847) 635-1600 or visit oakton.edu for details.
How do I verify this school's accreditation and outcomes myself?
You can verify accreditation status through the Higher Learning Commission and check federal outcome data via the College Scorecard at https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/school/?147800.
Is this school a good fit for an adult changing careers?
The mix of shorter programs like CNA classes and phlebotomy alongside longer tracks like EMT and auto mechanics suggests options for varying schedules, though specific fit for career changers is not detailed in federal data; contact the school to discuss options.
How do I contact the school or apply?
You can reach Oakton College by phone at (847) 635-1600 or through its website at https://www.oakton.edu/.
How does this campus compare with other schools offering the same trade nearby?
Comparative data with nearby schools is not reported in this dataset; check the College Scorecard at https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/school/?147800 to compare similar institutions.
Data: Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) 2022-23 Completions survey; College Scorecard June 2026; Database of Accredited Postsecondary Institutions and Programs (DAPIP), September 2026. Figures are the U.S. Department of Education's official measures, not Career Training Path's opinion. Tuition, schedules and program availability change — confirm with the school before enrolling.