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Bank Street Fall RiverPhoto: Marcbela (Marc N. Belanger) · Public domain
Colleges in and near Fall River

Fall River is home to Bristol Community College

Bristol Community College (3,080 students on campus) is inside the city. About 4% of Fall River’s residents are enrolled in college, below Massachusetts (8%).

Bristol Community College

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 Fall River. Colleges are described, not graded.

Within 15 miles
4
13,891 students on campus
Nearest college
1.4 mi
Bristol
Residents in college
4%
Below MA (8%)
Nearest community college
1.4 mi
Bristol · $5,832 tuition
Nearest public university
7.7 mi
University of Massachusetts-Dartmouth · $15,612 in-state
Median household income
$57K
prices below start here

What stands out about college in Fall River

Facts about the town and its distance to campus; each college’s own figures follow.

A community college in Fall RiverBristol Community College has 3,080 students on campus in Fall River, 22% of whom graduate within three years.In-state price at University of Massachusetts-DartmouthLiving in Massachusetts, the University of Massachusetts-Dartmouth charges $15,612 in tuition and fees; from out of state, $32,567. State residency rules decide which a new arrival pays.Students are 4% of residentsBelow Massachusetts (8%). The Census counts anyone enrolled, including part-time and online students.
Every college

Colleges within 15 miles of Fall River

Two private colleges within 9.9 miles, one public college within 7.7 miles, and Bristol Community College 1.4 miles away.

5 mi10 mi15 miUniversity of Massachusetts-DartmouthRoger Williams UniversityBristolFall River
University or collegeCommunity college
Bristol Community CollegeCommunity college · Public · 3,080 on campus · In Fall River$6knet price22%graduate$39kearningsTuition and fees: $5,832 a year. The net price counts housing and food at full cost.University of Massachusetts-DartmouthUniversity or college · Public · 6,221 on campus · 7.7 mi · North Dartmouth91%admitted$21knet price52%graduate$69kearningsRoger Williams UniversityUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 4,074 on campus · 9.8 mi · Bristol, RI88%admitted$38knet price69%graduate$70kearningsEarnings are reported for all 2 campuses that file with it.Roger Williams University School of LawUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 516 on campus · 9.9 mi · Bristol, RI$70kearningsEarnings are reported for all 2 campuses that file with it.Graduate students only; the Scorecard reports no undergraduate figures.

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 it costs

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.

Family income

Starts at $48–75k, where Fall River’s median household income ($56,673) falls.

Bristol Community CollegeIn Fall River · sticker $12,168 · tuition $5,832$4,749a year
University of Massachusetts-Dartmouth7.7 mi · North Dartmouth · sticker $33,485$17,530a year
Roger Williams University9.8 mi · Bristol, RI · sticker $61,950$33,623a year

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.

Outcomes

Do students finish, and does it pay?

Each dot is a college within 15 miles of Fall River: across is the share who graduate, up is what they earn ten years after starting.

$0$20k$40k$60k$80k0%25%50%75%100%Graduate →BristolUniversity of Massachusetts-DartmouthRoger Williams University
University of Massachusetts-Dartmouth52% graduate$69k earnings$25k typical debt
Roger Williams University69% graduate$70k earnings*$27k typical debt
Bristol Community College22% graduate$39k earnings$8k typical debt

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: Roger Williams University (2).

Majors

What students study in Fall River

Share of bachelor’s and associate degrees by field at Bristol Community College, weighted by undergraduates; then the biggest programs.

Liberal arts 31%Health professions 20%Business 11%Public safety 7%Computer science 5%Education 5%Everything else 21%

Biggest programs

Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities289 graduates a year
$45k4 yrs out
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing74 graduates a year
$84k4 yrs out
Business Administration, Management and Operations56 graduates a year
$54k4 yrs out
Business/Commerce, General36 graduates a year
$47k4 yrs out
Computer and Information Sciences, General35 graduates a year
$57k4 yrs out
Criminal Justice and Corrections30 graduates a year
$49k4 yrs out
Social Work26 graduates a year
$36k4 yrs out
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods25 graduates a year
$38k4 yrs out

College Scorecard: degree shares (PCIP; each college’s six largest fields are kept, the rest count as everything else) and the field-of-study file, median earnings 4 years after graduating.

Questions about college in Fall River

Is Fall River a college town?

No. About 4 of every 100 Fall River residents are enrolled in college (Census, 2020–24), below Massachusetts (8). The largest campus in the city, Bristol Community College, has 3,080 students on campus.

What colleges are in Fall River?

Bristol Community College is inside the city.

What is the closest community college to Fall River, and what does it cost?

Bristol Community College in Fall River, 1.4 miles away. Tuition and fees are $5,832 a year for Massachusetts residents; the federal net price, $5,547, counts housing and food at full cost.

How much does the University of Massachusetts-Dartmouth cost if we live in Massachusetts?

Tuition and fees are $15,612 a year in-state and $32,567 from out of state. After grants, families on federal aid paid an average of $15,976 (under $30,000 income) to $28,147 (over $110,000), housing and food included.

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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 Fall River. 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 →