Photo: Paul Sableman · CC BY 2.0Webster University is 11.4 miles from Columbia
No college sits inside Columbia’s boundary, but Webster University’s campus in Saint Louis, with 5,203 students on campus, is 11.4 miles from the center of town, and Southwestern Illinois College is 16.3 miles away in Belleville. About 5% of Columbia’s residents are enrolled in college, about the same as Illinois (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 Columbia. Colleges are described, not graded.
What stands out about college from Columbia
Facts about the town and its distance to campus; each college’s own figures follow.
Colleges within 15 miles of Columbia
Nine private colleges within 15 miles, one public college within 12 miles, and Ranken Technical College 13.6 miles away. The nearest public four-year college, Southern Illinois University Edwardsville, is 26 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 and the nearest public four-year college. Pick your family’s income.
Starts at $75–110k, where Columbia’s median household income ($107,606) 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: 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: St Louis College of Health Careers-Fenton (2).
Questions about college near Columbia
Is Columbia a college town?
No. About 5 of every 100 Columbia residents are enrolled in college (Census, 2020–24), about the same as Illinois (6). The nearest campus, Webster University, is 11.4 miles away in Saint Louis.
What colleges are near Columbia?
10 colleges are within 15 miles. The largest: Saint Louis University (12.4 miles, 16,056 students on campus), Washington University in St Louis (14.1 miles, 15,851) and Webster University (11.4 miles, 5,203).
What is the closest community college to Columbia, and what does it cost?
Southwestern Illinois College in Belleville, 16.3 miles away. Tuition and fees are $3,960 a year for Illinois residents; the federal net price, $10,427, counts housing and food at full cost.
How much does Southern Illinois University Edwardsville cost if we live in Illinois?
Tuition and fees are $12,922 a year in-state and $12,922 from out of state. After grants, families on federal aid paid an average of $8,483 (under $30,000 income) to $24,684 (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 Columbia. 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 →