Village Profile® Home Page | About our Company | Sales Opportunities | vpmobile.us®

Higher Learning

Many graduating seniors choose to continue learning at one of several area colleges and universities, which offer various opportunities to attain a professional certificate, Associate’s degree, Bachelor’s degree and advanced degrees.

Lewis University in neighboring Romeoville is a comprehensive, Catholic university that offers nearly 80 undergraduate majors, 22 graduate programs and accelerated programs for working adults through the Colleges of Arts and Sciences, Business, Education and Nursing and Health Professions. Established in 1932 by the Archdiocese of Chicago, Lewis is located on 350 picturesque acres; it serves 5,800 students at its main campus and surrounding sites in Shorewood, Tinley Park, Hickory Hills, Oak Brook and Chicago.

Nearby Joliet is home to two institutions of higher learning. Joliet Junior College, the nation's first public community college, enriches people's lives through affordable, accessible and quality programs and services. The college provides transfer and career preparation, training and workforce development, and a lifetime of learning to the diverse community it serves. JJC has three campuses, three education centers and several satellite locations.

The University of St. Francis (USF) in Joliet serves 3,600 students nationwide, offering 38 undergraduate programs, four degree-completion programs and 12 graduate programs. Programs are offered in arts and science, business, education, nursing and healthcare and social work. For almost 40 years, USF has been a national leader in providing educational opportunities to adult learners and now offers online degree-completion and graduate programs. Founded in 1920, the University of St. Francis is a Catholic Franciscan institution.

A short trip to Naperville brings students in touch with North Central College, a highly selective, private, four-year college situated within Naperville’s charming Historic District. Recognized as one of the finest liberal arts colleges in the nation, North Central awards both B.A. and B.S. degrees in more than 55 majors, and also offers six excellent graduate programs.

Though Governors State University’s (GSU) main campus is located in University Park (a one-hour drive from Plainfield), it operates an extended learning program through the Naperville Education Center (NEC). In collaboration with the College of DuPage (COD), NEC offers Bachelor’s degree programs in Criminal Justice and Psychology, along with a Master’s degree program in Educational Administration.

Aurora University is a private, independent university comprised of two campuses—the main campus in Aurora and a second campus in Williams Bay, WI, near Lake Geneva. More than 4,000 students seeking an undergraduate and/or graduate degree are enrolled between the two campuses. Of the award-winning faculty employed at AU, approximately 85 percent hold a PhD or higher in their field.

Rasmussen College provides a wide range of online and on-campus degree programs, with support campuses located in Romeoville/Joliet and Aurora. More than 14,000 students in eight countries utilize the offerings of Rasmussen College, which includes opportunities for certificate, Associate’s, Bachelor’s and advanced degree completion.