Photo: Brian Stansberry · CC BY 4.0Western Kentucky University is 12.3 miles from Oakland
No college sits inside Oakland’s boundary, but Western Kentucky University’s campus in Bowling Green, with 13,432 students on campus, is 12.3 miles from the center of town, and Southcentral Kentucky Community and Technical College is 13.4 miles away in Bowling Green. About 2% of Oakland’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 Oakland. Colleges are described, not graded.
What stands out about college from Oakland
Facts about the town and its distance to campus; each college’s own figures follow.
Colleges within 15 miles of Oakland
Both are public. Every other college is more than 15 miles from Oakland.
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 Oakland’s median household income ($67,188) 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 Oakland: 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 Oakland
Is Oakland a college town?
No. About 2 of every 100 Oakland residents are enrolled in college (Census, 2020–24), below Kentucky (6). The nearest campus, Western Kentucky University, is 12.3 miles away in Bowling Green.
What colleges are near Oakland?
Within 15 miles: Western Kentucky University (12.3 miles, 13,432 students on campus) and Southcentral Kentucky Community and Technical College (13.4 miles, 3,457).
What is the closest community college to Oakland, and what does it cost?
Southcentral Kentucky Community and Technical College in Bowling Green, 13.4 miles away. Tuition and fees are $4,728 a year for Kentucky residents; the federal net price, $3,537, counts housing and food at full cost.
How much does Western Kentucky University cost if we live in Kentucky?
Tuition and fees are $11,652 a year in-state and $27,000 from out of state. After grants, families on federal aid paid an average of $7,087 (under $30,000 income) to $17,653 (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 Oakland. 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 →