HomeIllinoisWelding schools › Oakton College

Oakton College

Des Plaines, Illinois · public · mainly awards certificates · 6,072 students · WeldingMachining & CNCHVACDiesel MechanicsAutomotive TechnologyAviation MaintenanceMedical AssistingPractical Nursing (LPN/LVN)EMT & ParamedicRadiologic Technology

Avg net price / yr
$5,183
cheaper than 79% of comparable schools
Completion rate
16%
Median debt at completion
$5,250
Median earnings (10 yrs after entry)
$47,852
earns ~$9,232.5 per $1k of yearly net price

About

Oakton College is a public institution in Des Plaines, IL that mainly awards certificates and degrees. With over 6,000 students, it offers training in trades like HVAC and vehicle repair alongside allied health fields. The school provides multiple credential levels, including associate degrees and undergraduate certificates.

What to know

The average annual net price after aid is reported at $5,183. Only 16% of students complete their programs, a figure that likely misses those who transfer out of public community colleges. Median student debt for completers is $5,250, while median earnings 10 years after entry are reported at $47,852.

Net price is 19% below the Illinois median ($6,426) for schools offering these programs. Reported median earnings are 25% above the national median ($38,354) for comparable schools.

See what aid you may qualify for

19% of students here receive federal Pell Grants. Get aid deadlines and program matches for Welding programs in Illinois.

We may share your info with matched school and program partners so they can contact you about enrollment. Unsubscribe anytime. See our privacy & editorial policy.

Programs & what graduates earn

ProgramCredentialMedian earnings 2 yrs after completion
Allied Health and Medical Assisting Servicesassociate degree$52,107
Heating, Air Conditioning, Ventilation and Refrigeration Maintenance Technology/Technician (HAC, HACR, HVAC, HVACR)undergraduate certificatenot reported
Heating, Air Conditioning, Ventilation and Refrigeration Maintenance Technology/Technician (HAC, HACR, HVAC, HVACR)associate degreenot reported
Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies/Techniciansundergraduate certificatenot reported
Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies/Techniciansassociate degreenot reported
Precision Metal Workingundergraduate certificatenot reported
Allied Health and Medical Assisting Servicesundergraduate certificatenot reported
Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professionsundergraduate certificatenot reported
Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professionsassociate degreenot reported
Practical Nursing, Vocational Nursing and Nursing Assistantsundergraduate certificatenot reported
Show all 77 other programs at this school
ProgramCredentialMedian earnings (2 yr after completion)
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursingassociate degree$60,771
Health and Medical Administrative Servicesassociate degree$47,260
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanitiesassociate degree$19,797
Communication and Media Studiesundergraduate certificatenot reported
Radio, Television, and Digital Communicationundergraduate certificatenot reported
Graphic Communicationsundergraduate certificatenot reported
Computer and Information Sciences, Generalassociate degreenot reported
Computer Programmingundergraduate certificatenot reported
Computer Programmingassociate degreenot reported
Data Processingundergraduate certificatenot reported
Information Science/Studiesundergraduate certificatenot reported
Computer Software and Media Applicationsundergraduate certificatenot reported
Computer Systems Networking and Telecommunicationsundergraduate certificatenot reported
Computer Systems Networking and Telecommunicationsassociate degreenot reported
Computer/Information Technology Administration and Managementundergraduate certificatenot reported
Special Education and Teachingassociate degreenot reported
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methodsassociate degreenot reported
Engineering, Generalassociate degreenot reported
Mechatronics, Robotics, and Automation Engineeringundergraduate certificatenot reported
Mechatronics, Robotics, and Automation Engineeringassociate degreenot reported
Electrical/Electronic Engineering Technologies/Techniciansundergraduate certificatenot reported
Electrical/Electronic Engineering Technologies/Techniciansassociate degreenot reported
Electromechanical Technologies/Techniciansundergraduate certificatenot reported
Electromechanical Technologies/Techniciansassociate degreenot reported
Industrial Production Technologies/Techniciansundergraduate certificatenot reported
Industrial Production Technologies/Techniciansassociate degreenot reported
Mechanical Engineering Related Technologies/Techniciansundergraduate certificatenot reported
Mechanical Engineering Related Technologies/Techniciansassociate degreenot reported
Computer Engineering Technologies/Techniciansundergraduate certificatenot reported
Drafting/Design Engineering Technologies/Techniciansundergraduate certificatenot reported
Drafting/Design Engineering Technologies/Techniciansassociate degreenot reported
Nanotechnologyundergraduate certificatenot reported
Human Development, Family Studies, and Related Servicesundergraduate certificatenot reported
Human Development, Family Studies, and Related Servicesassociate degreenot reported
Legal Support Servicesundergraduate certificatenot reported
Legal Support Servicesassociate degreenot reported
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanitiesundergraduate certificatenot reported
Biological and Physical Sciencesassociate degreenot reported
Criminal Justice and Correctionsundergraduate certificatenot reported
Criminal Justice and Correctionsassociate degreenot reported
Fire Protectionundergraduate certificatenot reported
Fire Protectionassociate degreenot reported
Security Science and Technologyundergraduate certificatenot reported
Social Workundergraduate certificatenot reported
Social Workassociate degreenot reported
Building/Construction Finishing, Management, and Inspectionundergraduate certificatenot reported
Building/Construction Finishing, Management, and Inspectionassociate degreenot reported
Design and Applied Artsundergraduate certificatenot reported
Design and Applied Artsassociate degreenot reported
Fine and Studio Artsassociate degreenot reported
Musicassociate degreenot reported
Health and Medical Administrative Servicesundergraduate certificatenot reported
Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science/Research and Allied Professionsundergraduate certificatenot reported
Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science/Research and Allied Professionsassociate degreenot reported
Mental and Social Health Services and Allied Professionsundergraduate certificatenot reported
Mental and Social Health Services and Allied Professionsassociate degreenot reported
Public Healthundergraduate certificatenot reported
Health Aides/Attendants/Orderliesundergraduate certificatenot reported
Alternative and Complementary Medicine and Medical Systemsundergraduate certificatenot reported
Alternative and Complementary Medical Support Servicesundergraduate certificatenot reported
Movement and Mind-Body Therapies and Educationundergraduate certificatenot reported
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursingundergraduate certificatenot reported
Business/Commerce, Generalassociate degreenot reported
Business Administration, Management and Operationsundergraduate certificatenot reported
Business Administration, Management and Operationsassociate degreenot reported
Accounting and Related Servicesundergraduate certificatenot reported
Accounting and Related Servicesassociate degreenot reported
Business Operations Support and Assistant Servicesundergraduate certificatenot reported
Business Operations Support and Assistant Servicesassociate degreenot reported
Finance and Financial Management Servicesundergraduate certificatenot reported
Finance and Financial Management Servicesassociate degreenot reported
Human Resources Management and Servicesundergraduate certificatenot reported
Management Information Systems and Servicesundergraduate certificatenot reported
Management Information Systems and Servicesassociate degreenot reported
Marketingundergraduate certificatenot reported
Marketingassociate degreenot reported
General Sales, Merchandising and Related Marketing Operationsundergraduate certificatenot reported

Get paid while you train instead

Registered apprenticeships are an alternative to paying for school — sponsors pay wages from day one. In Illinois:

Questions students ask

What programs are offered and at what credential level?
The school offers Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services as an associate degree and undergraduate certificate. HVAC programs are available as undergraduate certificates and associate degrees. Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies are offered as undergraduate certificates and associate degrees. Precision Metal Working and Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions are undergraduate certificates. There are 79 additional programs beyond these specific trades.
What do graduates of the Allied Health program typically earn?
For Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services, median earnings two years after completion are reported at $52,107.
How many students finish their programs?
The completion rate is reported at 16%. This percentage may undercount students who transfer to other institutions.
How large is the student body?
The school enrolls 6,072 students.
Is this a public or private school?
Oakton College is a public school.

Other options in Illinois

SchoolCityNet price / yrCompletionEarnings (10 yr)
Southwestern Illinois CollegeBelleville$10,42733.1%$36,884
Black Hawk CollegeMoline$6,94431.7%$37,253
Carl Sandburg CollegeGalesburg$3,66251.5%$35,274
City Colleges of Chicago-Kennedy-King CollegeChicago$9,49427.4%$28,467
City Colleges of Chicago-Richard J Daley CollegeChicago$7,88634.2%$37,962
City Colleges of Chicago-Wilbur Wright CollegeChicago$6,37528%$41,625
Data: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (most recent release, pulled July 2026), school ID 147800. Figures are federally reported medians and may lag current prices. "Not reported" means the federal dataset suppresses or lacks the value — often due to small cohort sizes. How we compute comparisons. This site is independent and not affiliated with any government agency or school.