Photo: Jeffrey Beall · CC BY 3.0United States Air Force Academy is 11.9 miles from Black Forest
No college sits inside Black Forest’s boundary, but United States Air Force Academy’s campus in USAF Academy, with 4,124 students on campus, is 11.9 miles from the center of town, and Pikes Peak State College is 21.5 miles away in Colorado Springs. About 5% of Black Forest’s residents are enrolled in college, below Colorado (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 Black Forest. Colleges are described, not graded.
What stands out about college from Black Forest
Facts about the town and its distance to campus; each college’s own figures follow.
Colleges within 15 miles of Black Forest
One private college within 12.8 miles, and two public colleges within 13.5 miles.
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 Black Forest’s median household income ($145,460) 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 Black Forest: 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. *Reported for all the campuses that file together: Pima Medical Institute-Colorado Springs (13).
Questions about college near Black Forest
Is Black Forest a college town?
No. About 5 of every 100 Black Forest residents are enrolled in college (Census, 2020–24), below Colorado (6). The nearest campus, United States Air Force Academy, is 11.9 miles away in USAF Academy.
What colleges are near Black Forest?
Within 15 miles: United States Air Force Academy (11.9 miles, 4,124 students on campus), Pima Medical Institute-Colorado Springs (12.8 miles, 339) and the University of Colorado Colorado Springs (13.5 miles, 9,488).
What is the closest community college to Black Forest, and what does it cost?
Pikes Peak State College in Colorado Springs, 21.5 miles away. Tuition and fees are $4,510 a year for Colorado residents; the federal net price, $6,007, counts housing and food at full cost.
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 Black Forest. 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 →