Photo: Earth Science and Remote Sensing Unit, NASA Johnson Space Center · Public domainMidAmerica Nazarene University is 9 miles from Gardner
No college sits inside Gardner’s boundary, but MidAmerica Nazarene University’s campus in Olathe, with 1,396 students on campus, is 9 miles from the center of town, and Johnson County Community College is 13.3 miles away in Overland Park. About 5% of Gardner’s 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 Gardner. Colleges are described, not graded.
What stands out about college from Gardner
Facts about the town and its distance to campus; each college’s own figures follow.
Colleges within 15 miles of Gardner
Two private colleges within 14.4 miles, and Johnson County Community College 13.3 miles away. The nearest public four-year college, Haskell Indian Nations University, is 19 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 Gardner’s median household income ($96,818) 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.
Questions about college near Gardner
Is Gardner a college town?
No. About 5 of every 100 Gardner residents are enrolled in college (Census, 2020–24), about the same as Kansas (7). The nearest campus, MidAmerica Nazarene University, is 9 miles away in Olathe.
What colleges are near Gardner?
Within 15 miles: MidAmerica Nazarene University (9 miles, 1,396 students on campus), Johnson County Community College (13.3 miles, 13,843) and Baker University (14.4 miles, 1,301).
What is the closest community college to Gardner, and what does it cost?
Johnson County Community College in Overland Park, 13.3 miles away. Tuition and fees are $2,424 a year for Kansas residents; the federal net price, $14,176, counts housing and food at full cost.
How much does Haskell Indian Nations University cost if we live in Kansas?
Tuition and fees are $600 a year in-state and $600 from out of state. After grants, families on federal aid paid an average of $3,007 (under $30,000 income) to $3,054 (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 Gardner. 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 →