Prater's Mill · Photo: Moonpyegirl · CC BY-SA 3.0Dalton State College is 9.1 miles from Varnell
No college sits inside Varnell’s boundary, but Dalton State College’s campus in Dalton, with 4,265 students on campus, is 9.1 miles from the center of town, and Georgia Northwestern Technical College is 48.2 miles away in Rome. About 6% of Varnell’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 Varnell. Colleges are described, not graded.
What stands out about college from Varnell
Facts about the town and its distance to campus; each college’s own figures follow.
Colleges within 15 miles of Varnell
One private college within 11.3 miles, and one public college within 9.1 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 $75–110k, where Varnell’s median household income ($86,100) 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 Varnell: 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 Varnell
Is Varnell a college town?
No. About 6 of every 100 Varnell residents are enrolled in college (Census, 2020–24), about the same as Georgia (6). The nearest campus, Dalton State College, is 9.1 miles away in Dalton.
What colleges are near Varnell?
Within 15 miles: Dalton State College (9.1 miles, 4,265 students on campus) and Southern Adventist University (11.3 miles, 2,956).
What is the closest community college to Varnell, and what does it cost?
Georgia Northwestern Technical College in Rome, 48.2 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 Varnell. 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 →