Photo: Richard Bauer · CC BY 2.0Fort Hays State University is 12.3 miles from Ellis
No college sits inside Ellis’ boundary, but Fort Hays State University’s campus in Hays, with 6,839 students on campus, is 12.3 miles from the center of town, and Barton County Community College is 57.7 miles away in Great Bend. About 5% of Ellis’ residents are enrolled in college, about the same as Kansas (7%).
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 Ellis. Colleges are described, not graded.
What stands out about college from Ellis
Facts about the town and its distance to campus; each college’s own figures follow.
Colleges within 15 miles of Ellis
It is public. Every other college is more than 15 miles from Ellis.
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 Ellis’ median household income ($73,000) 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 Ellis: 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 Ellis
Is Ellis a college town?
No. About 5 of every 100 Ellis residents are enrolled in college (Census, 2020–24), about the same as Kansas (7). The nearest campus, Fort Hays State University, is 12.3 miles away in Hays.
What colleges are near Ellis?
Within 15 miles: Fort Hays State University (12.3 miles, 6,839 students on campus).
What is the closest community college to Ellis, and what does it cost?
Barton County Community College in Great Bend, 57.7 miles away. Tuition and fees are $3,680 a year for Kansas residents; the federal net price, $9,905, counts housing and food at full cost.
How much does Fort Hays State University cost if we live in Kansas?
Tuition and fees are $5,923 a year in-state and $17,741 from out of state. After grants, families on federal aid paid an average of $7,661 (under $30,000 income) to $16,641 (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 Ellis. 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 →