Photo: Jeffrey Beall · CC BY 4.0Community College of Aurora is 12.1 miles from Watkins
No college sits inside Watkins’ boundary, but Community College of Aurora’s campus in Aurora, with 7,694 students on campus, is 12.1 miles from the center of town. About 4% of Watkins’ residents are enrolled in college, about the same as 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 Watkins. Colleges are described, not graded.
What stands out about college from Watkins
Facts about the town and its distance to campus; each college’s own figures follow.
Colleges within 15 miles of Watkins
Two private colleges within 14.1 miles, one public college within 14.2 miles, and Community College of Aurora 12.1 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. Pick your family’s income.
Starts at Over $110k, where Watkins’ median household income ($158,173) 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 Watkins: 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 Watkins
Is Watkins a college town?
No. About 4 of every 100 Watkins residents are enrolled in college (Census, 2020–24), about the same as Colorado (6). The nearest campus, Community College of Aurora, is 12.1 miles away in Aurora.
What colleges are near Watkins?
Within 15 miles: Community College of Aurora (12.1 miles, 7,694 students on campus), Pima Medical Institute-Aurora (13.5 miles, 290), Arizona College of Nursing-Aurora (14.1 miles, 212) and the University of Colorado Denver/Anschutz Medical Campus (14.2 miles, 18,774).
What is the closest community college to Watkins, and what does it cost?
Community College of Aurora in Aurora, 12.1 miles away. Tuition and fees are $4,470 a year for Colorado residents; the federal net price, $8,656, counts housing and food at full cost.
How much does the University of Colorado Denver/Anschutz Medical Campus cost if we live in Colorado?
Tuition and fees are $10,383 a year in-state and $29,391 from out of state. After grants, families on federal aid paid an average of $6,743 (under $30,000 income) to $22,475 (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 Watkins. 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 →