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Old Town Helena SnowPhoto: Civilengtiger · CC BY-SA 4.0
Colleges in and near Helena

Fortis Institute-Birmingham is 11 miles from Helena

No college sits inside Helena’s boundary, but Fortis Institute-Birmingham’s campus in Birmingham, with 339 students on campus, is 11 miles from the center of town, and Lawson State Community College is 11.5 miles away in Birmingham. About 5% of Helena’s residents are enrolled in college, about the same as Alabama (6%).

From the U.S. Department of Education (College Scorecard, June 2026; IPEDS fall 2023 enrollment) and the Census Bureau’s American Community Survey, 2020–24. Straight-line distances from the center of Helena. Colleges are described, not graded.

Within 15 miles
6
12,325 students on campus
Nearest college
11 mi
Fortis Institute-Birmingham
Residents in college
5%
About the same as AL (6%)
Nearest community college
11.5 mi
Lawson State · $5,040 tuition
Nearest public university
12.4 mi
University of Montevallo · $13,948 in-state
Median household income
$115K
prices below start here

What stands out about college from Helena

Facts about the town and its distance to campus; each college’s own figures follow.

A college 11 miles awayFortis Institute-Birmingham has 339 students on campus in Birmingham, 34% of whom graduate within three years.A community college 11.5 miles awayLawson State Community College in Birmingham: tuition and fees $5,040 a year for Alabama residents.In-state price at University of MontevalloLiving in Alabama, the University of Montevallo charges $13,948 in tuition and fees; from out of state, $26,968. State residency rules decide which a new arrival pays.Students are 5% of residentsAbout the same as Alabama (6%). The Census counts anyone enrolled, including part-time and online students.
Every college

Colleges within 15 miles of Helena

Four private colleges within 13.7 miles, one public college within 12.4 miles, and Lawson State Community College 11.5 miles away.

5 mi10 mi15 miSamford UniversityLawson StateUniversity of MontevalloHelena
University or collegeCommunity college
Fortis Institute-BirminghamUniversity or college · For-profit · 339 on campus · 11 mi · Birmingham$26knet price34%graduate$33kearningsEarnings are reported for all 4 campuses that file with it.Lawson State Community CollegeCommunity college · Public · 2,621 on campus · 11.5 mi · Birmingham$6knet price27%graduate$32kearningsTuition and fees: $5,040 a year. The net price counts housing and food at full cost.University of MontevalloUniversity or college · Public · 2,305 on campus · 12.4 mi · Montevallo54%admitted$18knet price54%graduate$43kearningsHerzing University-BirminghamUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 282 on campus · 13.1 mi · Birmingham93%admitted$20knet price12%graduate$37kearningsEarnings are reported for all 11 campuses that file with it.Samford UniversityUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 5,725 on campus · 13.6 mi · Birmingham82%admitted$33knet price77%graduate$58kearningsMiles CollegeUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 1,053 on campus · 13.7 mi · Fairfield$14knet price16%graduate$33kearnings

Degree-granting colleges with 100 or more students on campus (fall 2023 enrollment, minus students who study only online). Admitted: share of applicants offered a place. Net price: the average a year after grants, for students on federal aid. Graduate: within 6 years (4-year colleges) or 3 (2-year). Earnings: median, 10 years after starting.

What it costs

What would your family pay?

The average a year after grants, for families on federal aid, at the colleges within 15 miles. Pick your family’s income.

Family income

Starts at Over $110k, where Helena’s median household income ($115,139) falls.

University of Montevallo12.4 mi · Montevallo · sticker $27,398$21,873a year
Fortis Institute-Birmingham11 mi · Birmingham · sticker $32,927$32,927a year
Samford University13.6 mi · Birmingham · sticker $57,456$36,235a year
Lawson State Community College11.5 mi · Birmingham · sticker $14,895 · tuition $5,040—a year
Herzing University-Birmingham13.1 mi · Birmingham · sticker $27,750—a year
Miles College13.7 mi · Fairfield · sticker $21,154—a year

The average a year after grants and scholarships, for first-time, full-time students on federal aid, from the College Scorecard. Your own price depends on your aid package; every college has a net price calculator. For community colleges the net price counts housing and food at full cost, so tuition is shown beside it. “—”: not reported for that income.

Outcomes

Do students finish, and does it pay?

Each dot is a college within 15 miles of Helena: across is the share who graduate, up is what they earn ten years after starting.

$0$20k$40k$60k$80k0%25%50%75%100%Graduate →Fortis Institute-BirminghamLawson StateUniversity of MontevalloHerzing University-BirminghamSamford UniversityMiles College
Samford University77% graduate$58k earnings$20k typical debt
Lawson State Community College27% graduate$32k earnings
University of Montevallo54% graduate$43k earnings$24k typical debt
Miles College16% graduate$33k earnings$31k typical debt
Fortis Institute-Birmingham34% graduate$33k earnings*$12k typical debt
Herzing University-Birmingham12% graduate$37k earnings*$22k typical debt

Graduation: first-time, full-time students within 6 years (4-year colleges) or 3 years (2-year). Earnings: median, 10 years after starting, for students who got federal aid. *Reported for all the campuses that file together: Fortis Institute-Birmingham (4); Herzing University-Birmingham (11).

Questions about college near Helena

Is Helena a college town?

No. About 5 of every 100 Helena residents are enrolled in college (Census, 2020–24), about the same as Alabama (6). The nearest campus, Fortis Institute-Birmingham, is 11 miles away in Birmingham.

What colleges are near Helena?

Within 15 miles: Fortis Institute-Birmingham (11 miles, 339 students on campus), Lawson State Community College (11.5 miles, 2,621), the University of Montevallo (12.4 miles, 2,305), Herzing University-Birmingham (13.1 miles, 282), Samford University (13.6 miles, 5,725) and Miles College (13.7 miles, 1,053).

What is the closest community college to Helena, and what does it cost?

Lawson State Community College in Birmingham, 11.5 miles away. Tuition and fees are $5,040 a year for Alabama residents; the federal net price, $6,275, counts housing and food at full cost.

How much does the University of Montevallo cost if we live in Alabama?

Tuition and fees are $13,948 a year in-state and $26,968 from out of state. After grants, families on federal aid paid an average of $14,471 (under $30,000 income) to $21,873 (over $110,000), housing and food included.

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Colleges: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard and IPEDS (Scorecard 06/10/2026 · IPEDS 2024 · fall 2023 enrollment). “On campus” is fall enrollment minus students who study only online. Distances are straight-line from the center of Helena. Residents in college, age, rent and poverty (including poverty without college students, table B14006): U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020–24. Colleges are described, not graded; the College town label marks towns where 15% or more of residents are enrolled. How TownRatings describes colleges →