Photo: Paul Sableman · CC BY 2.0Harris-Stowe State University is 7.6 miles from Madison
No college sits inside Madison’s boundary, but Harris-Stowe State University’s campus in Saint Louis, with 946 students on campus, is 7.6 miles from the center of town, and Southwestern Illinois College is 15.1 miles away in Belleville. About 3% of Madison’s residents are enrolled in college, below 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 Madison. Colleges are described, not graded.
What stands out about college from Madison
Facts about the town and its distance to campus; each college’s own figures follow.
Colleges within 15 miles of Madison
Eight private colleges within 14.8 miles, three public colleges within 11.4 miles, and Ranken Technical College 8.2 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 $48–75k, where Madison’s median household income ($49,326) 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 Madison: 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 Madison
Is Madison a college town?
No. About 3 of every 100 Madison residents are enrolled in college (Census, 2020–24), below Illinois (6). The nearest campus, Harris-Stowe State University, is 7.6 miles away in Saint Louis.
What colleges are near Madison?
11 colleges are within 15 miles. The largest: Saint Louis University (8 miles, 16,056 students on campus), Washington University in St Louis (11.6 miles, 15,851) and the University of Missouri-St Louis (11.4 miles, 12,200).
What is the closest community college to Madison, and what does it cost?
Southwestern Illinois College in Belleville, 15.1 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 Madison. 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 →