Photo: Republic of Selmaria · CC BY-SA 4.0The University of Alabama in Huntsville is 7 miles from Madison
No college sits inside Madison’s boundary, but the University of Alabama in Huntsville’s campus in Huntsville, with 7,882 students on campus, is 7 miles from the center of town, and John C Calhoun State Community College is 11.5 miles away in Tanner. About 7% of Madison’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 Madison. Colleges are described, not graded.
What stands out about college from Madison
Facts about the town and its distance to campus; each college’s own figures follow.
Colleges within 15 miles of Madison
One private college within 7 miles, three public colleges within 13.3 miles, and two community colleges.
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 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.
Starts at Over $110k, where Madison’s median household income ($134,655) falls.
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.
Do students finish, and does it pay?
Each dot is a college within 15 miles of Madison: across is the share who graduate, up is what they earn ten years after starting.
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.
Questions about college near Madison
Is Madison a college town?
No. About 7 of every 100 Madison residents are enrolled in college (Census, 2020–24), about the same as Alabama (6). The nearest campus, the University of Alabama in Huntsville, is 7 miles away in Huntsville.
What colleges are near Madison?
Within 15 miles: the University of Alabama in Huntsville (7 miles, 7,882 students on campus), Oakwood University (7 miles, 1,237), John C Calhoun State Community College (11.5 miles, 5,642), J. F. Drake State Community and Technical College (11.6 miles, 890), Alabama A & M University (12.1 miles, 6,208) and Athens State University (13.3 miles, 874).
What is the closest community college to Madison, and what does it cost?
John C Calhoun State Community College in Tanner, 11.5 miles away. Tuition and fees are $5,120 a year for Alabama residents; the federal net price, $7,660, counts housing and food at full cost.
How much does the University of Alabama in Huntsville cost if we live in Alabama?
Tuition and fees are $12,132 a year in-state and $26,408 from out of state. After grants, families on federal aid paid an average of $16,192 (under $30,000 income) to $21,501 (over $110,000), housing and food included.
Neighbors talk college
Students, parents, alumni and the neighbors next door.
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 Madison. 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 →