Oakton Community College is a hidden value for students in the northern Chicago suburbs. Classes are small with high student: instructor ratios, faculty instructs most classes rather than TAs. The campus is modern and well appointed, with amenities that you would expect to find at a private 4-year university at a much higher cost. Oakton is an ideal college for high school students who aren't sure what they want to do next, or who do not have the resources or credentials to be enrolled at a 4-year school. For career changers, the value of education in comparison to tuition is extraordinary. I was very pleasantly surprised with the quality of my instructors, the support they gave me, and their investment in helping me reach my goals.