Photo: Kswx29 · CC BY 3.0Washburn University is 9.5 miles from Silver Lake
No college sits inside Silver Lake’s boundary, but Washburn University’s campus in Topeka, with 4,956 students on campus, is 9.5 miles from the center of town, and Manhattan Area Technical College is 41.2 miles away in Manhattan. About 4% of Silver Lake’s residents are enrolled in college, below 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 Silver Lake. Colleges are described, not graded.
What stands out about college from Silver Lake
Facts about the town and its distance to campus; each college’s own figures follow.
Colleges within 15 miles of Silver Lake
One private college within 10.8 miles, and one public college within 9.5 miles.
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 Silver Lake’s median household income ($56,834) 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 Silver Lake: 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: Washburn University (2); Rasmussen University-Kansas (6).
Questions about college near Silver Lake
Is Silver Lake a college town?
No. About 4 of every 100 Silver Lake residents are enrolled in college (Census, 2020–24), below Kansas (7). The nearest campus, Washburn University, is 9.5 miles away in Topeka.
What colleges are near Silver Lake?
Within 15 miles: Washburn University (9.5 miles, 4,956 students on campus) and Rasmussen University-Kansas (10.8 miles, 205).
What is the closest community college to Silver Lake, and what does it cost?
Manhattan Area Technical College in Manhattan, 41.2 miles away. Tuition and fees are $9,844 a year for Kansas residents; the federal net price, $10,074, counts housing and food at full cost.
How much does Washburn University cost if we live in Kansas?
Tuition and fees are $9,945 a year in-state and $20,949 from out of state. After grants, families on federal aid paid an average of $20,310 (under $30,000 income) to $15,472 (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 Silver Lake. 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 →