A private for-profit college in Chicago that closed in 2018, known for ESL and vocational programs.
Solex College offered associate degree programs, vocational certificates, and intensive English as a Second Language (ESL) classes. Notable programs included an A.A.S. in Accounting (authorized 2007), A.A.S. in Physical Therapist Assistant (approved 2010, CAPTE-accredited 2014), A.A.S. in e-Business Management (authorized 2012), and an Industrial Maintenance Technician program (introduced 2014). The college was an authorized ETS TOEFL and TOEIC testing site and served a diverse international student body.
The college's main administration building was located in Wheeling, Illinois, with the primary campus in Chicago. Solex was one of the largest schools in the Chicago area to enroll international F-1 visa students, with enrollment exceeding 2,000 students during the 2013–2014 academic year. Students came from more than 60 countries, reflecting the institution's focus on international and ESL education.
Solex College was accredited by the Accrediting Council for Independent Colleges and Schools (ACICS) beginning in 2009. In 2015, a U.S. Department of Education Office of the Inspector General audit found that the college had disbursed Title IV funds to ineligible ESL students and recommended repayment of approximately $1.8 million. After challenging the findings and reaching a settlement agreement, the U.S. Department of Education dismissed the case on March 23, 2018. The college closed later that year; administrators subsequently opened schools in the Western United States to continue the institution's legacy.