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Colleges in and near Hoover

Fortis Institute-Birmingham is 5.6 miles from Hoover

No college sits inside Hoover’s boundary, but Fortis Institute-Birmingham’s campus in Birmingham, with 339 students on campus, is 5.6 miles from the center of town, and Lawson State Community College is 7 miles away in Birmingham. About 5% of Hoover’s residents are enrolled in college, below 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 Hoover. Colleges are described, not graded.

Within 15 miles
6
25,373 students on campus
Nearest college
5.6 mi
Fortis Institute-Birmingham
Residents in college
5%
Below AL (6%)
Nearest community college
7 mi
Lawson State · $5,040 tuition
Nearest public university
9 mi
University of Alabama at Birmingham · $9,098 in-state
Median household income
$109K
prices below start here

What stands out about college from Hoover

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

A college 5.6 miles awayFortis Institute-Birmingham has 339 students on campus in Birmingham, 34% of whom graduate within three years.A community college 7 miles awayLawson State Community College in Birmingham: tuition and fees $5,040 a year for Alabama residents.In-state price at University of Alabama at BirminghamLiving in Alabama, the University of Alabama at Birmingham charges $9,098 in tuition and fees; from out of state, $22,562. State residency rules decide which a new arrival pays.Students are 5% of residentsBelow Alabama (6%). The Census counts anyone enrolled, including part-time and online students.
Every college

Colleges within 15 miles of Hoover

Four private colleges within 9.4 miles, one public college within 9 miles, and Lawson State Community College 7 miles away.

5 mi10 mi15 miUniversity of Alabama at BirminghamSamford UniversityLawson StateHoover
University or collegeCommunity college
Fortis Institute-BirminghamUniversity or college · For-profit · 339 on campus · 5.6 mi · Birmingham$26knet price34%graduate$33kearningsEarnings are reported for all 4 campuses that file with it.Samford UniversityUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 5,725 on campus · 6.2 mi · Birmingham82%admitted$33knet price77%graduate$58kearningsHerzing University-BirminghamUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 282 on campus · 6.6 mi · Birmingham93%admitted$20knet price12%graduate$37kearningsEarnings are reported for all 11 campuses that file with it.Lawson State Community CollegeCommunity college · Public · 2,621 on campus · 7 mi · Birmingham$6knet price27%graduate$32kearningsTuition and fees: $5,040 a year. The net price counts housing and food at full cost.University of Alabama at BirminghamUniversity or college · Public · 15,353 on campus · 9 mi · Birmingham88%admitted$19knet price64%graduate$55kearningsMiles CollegeUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 1,053 on campus · 9.4 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 $75–110k, where Hoover’s median household income ($109,253) falls.

Lawson State Community College7 mi · Birmingham · sticker $14,895 · tuition $5,040$9,449a year
Miles College9.4 mi · Fairfield · sticker $21,154$18,889a year
University of Alabama at Birmingham9 mi · Birmingham · sticker $28,145$21,805a year
Fortis Institute-Birmingham5.6 mi · Birmingham · sticker $32,927$32,927a year
Samford University6.2 mi · Birmingham · sticker $57,456$34,206a year
Herzing University-Birmingham6.6 mi · Birmingham · sticker $27,750—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 Hoover: 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-BirminghamSamford UniversityHerzing University-BirminghamLawson StateUniversity of Alabama at BirminghamMiles College
University of Alabama at Birmingham64% graduate$55k earnings$22k typical debt
Samford University77% graduate$58k earnings$20k typical debt
Lawson State Community College27% graduate$32k earnings
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 Hoover

Is Hoover a college town?

No. About 5 of every 100 Hoover residents are enrolled in college (Census, 2020–24), below Alabama (6). The nearest campus, Fortis Institute-Birmingham, is 5.6 miles away in Birmingham.

What colleges are near Hoover?

Within 15 miles: Fortis Institute-Birmingham (5.6 miles, 339 students on campus), Samford University (6.2 miles, 5,725), Herzing University-Birmingham (6.6 miles, 282), Lawson State Community College (7 miles, 2,621), the University of Alabama at Birmingham (9 miles, 15,353) and Miles College (9.4 miles, 1,053).

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

Lawson State Community College in Birmingham, 7 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 Alabama at Birmingham cost if we live in Alabama?

Tuition and fees are $9,098 a year in-state and $22,562 from out of state. After grants, families on federal aid paid an average of $16,172 (under $30,000 income) to $22,597 (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 Hoover. 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 →