The University Center of Lake County is a consortium of 19 colleges and universities, rather than a single degree-granting entity. Each member institution has chosen one or more programs to offer through the University Center. Degrees are given by whichever member school is offering the students' programs, not by the University Center. In the 2010-2011 academic year, unduplicated headcount is 1,845 students generating 6,027 registrations in 878 courses.

The academic programs serve adult students, so they mainly run on evenings and weekends. That enables the University Center to use its  high-tech facility during the day as a conference center for local business, industry and civic organizations.

The University Center has campuses in Grayslake and Waukegan to offer students select bachelor's and graduate degrees, as well as professional development opportunities.

The Grayslake campus has a conference wing with a 100-seat auditorium with interactive video capabilities, a multi-purpose room adjacent to a catering kitchen, and an executive conference room.

More than 80 degrees and program options in business, computer science and information systems, education, engineering, health care and human services, liberal arts and sciences, library and information science, psychology, technology, and training and development are offered.