Dayton High School · Photo: Nyttend · Public domainThe University of Cincinnati is 3 miles from Dayton
No college sits inside Dayton’s boundary, but the University of Cincinnati’s campus in Cincinnati, with 34,477 students on campus, is 3 miles from the center of town, and Gateway Community and Technical College is 13.9 miles away in Florence. About 4% of Dayton’s residents are enrolled in college, below Kentucky (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 Dayton. Colleges are described, not graded.
What stands out about college from Dayton
Facts about the town and its distance to campus; each college’s own figures follow.
Colleges within 15 miles of Dayton
13 private colleges within 12.9 miles, two public colleges within 5.7 miles, and four community colleges. The nearest public four-year college, Kentucky State University, is 66.4 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 $48–75k, where Dayton’s median household income ($65,992) 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. *Reported for all the campuses that file together: University of Cincinnati (3); University of Cincinnati-Blue Ash College (3); Fortis College-Cincinnati (5); ATA College-Cincinnati (3); Galen College of Nursing-Cincinnati (20); University of Cincinnati-Clermont College (3).
Questions about college near Dayton
Is Dayton a college town?
No. About 4 of every 100 Dayton residents are enrolled in college (Census, 2020–24), below Kentucky (6). The nearest campus, Gods Bible School and College, is 2.3 miles away in Cincinnati.
What colleges are near Dayton?
19 colleges are within 15 miles. The largest: the University of Cincinnati (3 miles, 34,477 students on campus), Northern Kentucky University (5.7 miles, 6,772) and Cincinnati State Technical and Community College (4.7 miles, 6,513).
What is the closest community college to Dayton, and what does it cost?
Gateway Community and Technical College in Florence, 13.9 miles away. Tuition and fees are $4,728 a year for Kentucky residents; the federal net price, $5,725, counts housing and food at full cost.
How much does Kentucky State University cost if we live in Kentucky?
Tuition and fees are $9,387 a year in-state and $13,658 from out of state.
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 Dayton. 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 →