Photo: Orange Suede Sofa · CC BY-SA 3.0Wartburg College is 8.6 miles from Denver
No college sits inside Denver’s boundary, but Wartburg College’s campus in Waverly, with 1,450 students on campus, is 8.6 miles from the center of town, and Hawkeye Community College is 16.5 miles away in Waterloo. About 4% of Denver’s residents are enrolled in college, about the same as Iowa (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 Denver. Colleges are described, not graded.
What stands out about college from Denver
Facts about the town and its distance to campus; each college’s own figures follow.
Colleges within 15 miles of Denver
Two private colleges within 9.5 miles, and one public college within 12.4 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 Denver’s median household income ($92,000) 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 Denver: 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 Denver
Is Denver a college town?
No. About 4 of every 100 Denver residents are enrolled in college (Census, 2020–24), about the same as Iowa (6). The nearest campus, Wartburg College, is 8.6 miles away in Waverly.
What colleges are near Denver?
Within 15 miles: Wartburg College (8.6 miles, 1,450 students on campus), Allen College (9.5 miles, 429) and the University of Northern Iowa (12.4 miles, 7,746).
What is the closest community college to Denver, and what does it cost?
Hawkeye Community College in Waterloo, 16.5 miles away. Tuition and fees are $6,525 a year for Iowa residents; the federal net price, $9,649, counts housing and food at full cost.
How much does the University of Northern Iowa cost if we live in Iowa?
Tuition and fees are $9,936 a year in-state and $21,712 from out of state. After grants, families on federal aid paid an average of $10,863 (under $30,000 income) to $18,706 (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 Denver. 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 →