College of DuPage
Rolling
Acceptance rate
$13,200
Tuition/yr
27,000
Enrollment
22:1
Student:Faculty
About College of DuPage
Large community college in Illinois near Chicago. Strong transfer programs and workforce development.
College of DuPage (COD) is a public two-year community college founded in 1967 and located in Glen Ellyn, Illinois, a suburb about 25 miles west of Chicago. Accredited by the Higher Learning Commission, it is one of the largest community colleges in the Midwest, enrolling more than 25,000 students across more than 170 areas of study and 183 certificate programs.
COD is particularly strong in health sciences, with programs in nursing, dental hygiene, diagnostic medical imaging, radiation therapy, and proton therapy, many with dedicated student-run clinics serving the local community. The college also maintains a student-to-faculty ratio of 22:1 and operates WDCB Public Radio and the McAninch Arts Center on campus.
The college has an established transfer pathway infrastructure, with more than 40% of its international students going on to transfer to four-year universities across the United States. Students from over 50 countries are currently enrolled at COD, and the International Student Services office provides dedicated F-1 immigration advising, orientation, and practical training support.
Campus & Location
IL
Suburban
Optional Practical Training (OPT)
All graduates qualify for 12-month OPT. STEM-designated programs (CS, Engineering, Data Science, Mathematics, Sciences) qualify for 24-month STEM OPT extension — 36 months total work authorisation.
For Nepali students
- COD's low per-credit-hour tuition ($440 for Fall 2026) makes it one of the most affordable US entry points for Nepali students, a full-time academic year of 30 credit hours works out to roughly $13,200, far below most four-year universities.
- The college's strong transfer record, over 40% of international students transfer to four-year US universities, makes COD a practical and cost-effective pathway to a bachelor's degree at a target university without paying four years of full tuition.
- Health sciences programs such as nursing and diagnostic imaging align well with professional fields that Nepali students commonly pursue, and completing OPT after graduation provides up to 12 months of US work authorization even at the associate level.
- COD's suburban Chicago location offers access to a large South Asian diaspora community in the greater Chicago metropolitan area, along with urban internship and employment opportunities while studying in a more affordable suburban setting.
Admission requirements — Nepali equivalents
A rough translation of the published minimums for Nepali applicants:
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