Van Lyell House · Photo: Valis55 · CC BY-SA 3.0Champion Christian College is 4.9 miles from Lake Hamilton
No college sits inside Lake Hamilton’s boundary, but Champion Christian College’s campus in Hot Springs, with 131 students on campus, is 4.9 miles from the center of town, and National Park College is 6.3 miles away in Hot Springs. About 3% of Lake Hamilton’s residents are enrolled in college, about the same as Arkansas (5%).
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 Lake Hamilton. Colleges are described, not graded.
What stands out about college from Lake Hamilton
Facts about the town and its distance to campus; each college’s own figures follow.
Colleges within 15 miles of Lake Hamilton
One private college within 4.9 miles, and two community colleges. The nearest public four-year college, Henderson State University, is 20.8 miles away.
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 and the nearest public four-year college. Pick your family’s income.
Starts at $48–75k, where Lake Hamilton’s median household income ($73,696) 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: 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 Lake Hamilton
Is Lake Hamilton a college town?
No. About 3 of every 100 Lake Hamilton residents are enrolled in college (Census, 2020–24), about the same as Arkansas (5). The nearest campus, Champion Christian College, is 4.9 miles away in Hot Springs.
What colleges are near Lake Hamilton?
Within 15 miles: Champion Christian College (4.9 miles, 131 students on campus), National Park College (6.3 miles, 1,812) and Arkansas State University Three Rivers (14.9 miles, 1,887).
What is the closest community college to Lake Hamilton, and what does it cost?
National Park College in Hot Springs, 6.3 miles away. Tuition and fees are $5,600 a year for Arkansas residents; the federal net price, $12,720, counts housing and food at full cost.
How much does Henderson State University cost if we live in Arkansas?
Tuition and fees are $8,244 a year in-state and $10,620 from out of state.
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 Lake Hamilton. 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 →