Cherokee State Park · Photo: Nyttend · Public domainMurray State University is 10.6 miles from Hardin
No college sits inside Hardin’s boundary, but Murray State University’s campus in Murray, with 7,809 students on campus, is 10.6 miles from the center of town, and West Kentucky Community and Technical College is 28.1 miles away in Paducah. About 3% of Hardin’s residents are enrolled in college, about the same as 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 Hardin. Colleges are described, not graded.
What stands out about college from Hardin
Facts about the town and its distance to campus; each college’s own figures follow.
Colleges within 15 miles of Hardin
It is public. Every other college is more than 15 miles from Hardin.
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 $30–48k, where Hardin’s median household income ($30,250) 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 Hardin: 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 Hardin
Is Hardin a college town?
No. About 3 of every 100 Hardin residents are enrolled in college (Census, 2020–24), about the same as Kentucky (6). The nearest campus, Murray State University, is 10.6 miles away in Murray.
What colleges are near Hardin?
Within 15 miles: Murray State University (10.6 miles, 7,809 students on campus).
What is the closest community college to Hardin, and what does it cost?
West Kentucky Community and Technical College in Paducah, 28.1 miles away. Tuition and fees are $4,728 a year for Kentucky residents; the federal net price, $5,353, counts housing and food at full cost.
How much does Murray State University cost if we live in Kentucky?
Tuition and fees are $9,900 a year in-state and $19,836 from out of state. After grants, families on federal aid paid an average of $6,242 (under $30,000 income) to $15,450 (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 Hardin. 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 →