Photo: Melissa Bower · CC BY-SA 4.0The University of Saint Mary is 2.6 miles from Lansing
No college sits inside Lansing’s boundary, but the University of Saint Mary’s campus in Leavenworth, with 1,308 students on campus, is 2.6 miles from the center of town, and Kansas City Kansas Community College is 11.6 miles away in Kansas City. About 6% of Lansing’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 Lansing. Colleges are described, not graded.
What stands out about college from Lansing
Facts about the town and its distance to campus; each college’s own figures follow.
Colleges within 15 miles of Lansing
Two private colleges within 12.3 miles, and Kansas City Kansas Community College 11.6 miles away. The nearest public four-year college, University of Kansas, is 27.2 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 and the nearest public four-year college. Pick your family’s income.
Starts at $75–110k, where Lansing’s median household income ($102,786) 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 Lansing
Is Lansing a college town?
No. About 6 of every 100 Lansing residents are enrolled in college (Census, 2020–24), about the same as Kansas (7). The nearest campus, the University of Saint Mary, is 2.6 miles away in Leavenworth.
What colleges are near Lansing?
Within 15 miles: the University of Saint Mary (2.6 miles, 1,308 students on campus), Kansas City Kansas Community College (11.6 miles, 3,867) and Park University (12.3 miles, 2,059).
What is the closest community college to Lansing, and what does it cost?
Kansas City Kansas Community College in Kansas City, 11.6 miles away. Tuition and fees are $3,210 a year for Kansas residents; the federal net price, $16,744, counts housing and food at full cost.
How much does the University of Kansas cost if we live in Kansas?
Tuition and fees are $12,102 a year in-state and $30,432 from out of state. After grants, families on federal aid paid an average of $12,544 (under $30,000 income) to $22,544 (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 Lansing. 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 →