McCarty Subdivision Historic District · Photo: GamblinMonkey · Public domainDalton is home to Dalton State College
Dalton State College (4,265 students on campus) is inside the city. About 6% of Dalton’s residents are enrolled in college, about the same as Georgia (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 Dalton. Colleges are described, not graded.
What stands out about college in Dalton
Facts about the town and its distance to campus; each college’s own figures follow.
Colleges within 15 miles of Dalton
It is public. Every other college is more than 15 miles from Dalton.
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 $48–75k, where Dalton’s median household income ($63,577) 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 Dalton: 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.
What students study in Dalton
Share of bachelor’s and associate degrees by field at Dalton State College, weighted by undergraduates; then the biggest programs.
Biggest programs
College Scorecard: degree shares (PCIP; each college’s six largest fields are kept, the rest count as everything else) and the field-of-study file, median earnings 4 years after graduating.
Questions about college in Dalton
Is Dalton a college town?
No. About 6 of every 100 Dalton residents are enrolled in college (Census, 2020–24), about the same as Georgia (6). The largest campus in the city, Dalton State College, has 4,265 students on campus.
What colleges are in Dalton?
Dalton State College is inside the city. Georgia Northwestern Technical College is 39.2 miles away in Rome.
What is the closest community college to Dalton, and what does it cost?
Georgia Northwestern Technical College in Rome, 39.2 miles away. Tuition and fees are $3,300 a year for Georgia residents; the federal net price, $5,720, counts housing and food at full cost.
How much does Dalton State College cost if we live in Georgia?
Tuition and fees are $3,336 a year in-state and $10,656 from out of state. After grants, families on federal aid paid an average of $3,962 (under $30,000 income) to $10,055 (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 Dalton. 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 →