College Profile/History
Founded in 1964, Triton College, a comprehensive public community college, is located in western Cook County and serves the near western suburbs of Chicago. Triton is one of more than 48 community colleges in the state of Illinois. It operates under the direction of the Illinois Community College Board, with accreditation from the Higher Learning Commission of North Central Association of Colleges and Schools.
At its founding, Triton served three townships, Proviso, Leyden and Elmwood Park. Initially utilizing facilities at West Leyden and Proviso West high schools, Triton celebrated its first permanent structure in 1967 with a groundbreaking ceremony for its Technology Building. By the summer of 1969, all Triton classes were being held on the current 100-acre main campus located in River Grove, IL. Oak Park-River Forest, Riverside-Brookfield and Ridgewood school districts voted to join the Leyden, Proviso and Elmwood Park school districts in 1972, creating Illinois Community College District 504.
Today the district encompasses approximately 63 square miles, and the college serves approximately 331,000 people residing in 25 demographically and culturally diverse towns and villages. The main campus is comprised of 16 individual buildings which house the Triton College Library, a Fine Arts Gallery, athletic and recreational facilities, a floral shop, the Educational Technology Resource Center, the Triton College Performing Arts Center and the Cernan Earth and Space Center.
Triton's affordable tuition and open admission policy have greatly expanded the accessibility of post-secondary education to residents of the district. Currently, Triton College serves over 17,000 students during the fall and spring semesters with more than 130 degree and certificate programs. New educational programs and services are constantly being developed in order to meet the needs of district residents. Triton classes are offered at the main campus in River Grove, several extension sites throughout the district, as well as online.