Photo: John Phelan · CC BY 3.0Dean College is 5.9 miles from Plainville
No college sits inside Plainville’s boundary, but Dean College’s campus in Franklin, with 1,108 students on campus, is 5.9 miles from the center of town, and Massasoit Community College is 18.3 miles away in Brockton. About 4% of Plainville’s residents are enrolled in college, below Massachusetts (8%).
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 Plainville. Colleges are described, not graded.
What stands out about college from Plainville
Facts about the town and its distance to campus; each college’s own figures follow.
Colleges within 15 miles of Plainville
Nine private colleges within 14.8 miles, and one public college within 13.5 miles. The nearest public four-year college, Bridgewater State University, is 18.7 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 $75–110k, where Plainville’s median household income ($104,106) 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: Johnson & Wales University-Providence (3).
Questions about college near Plainville
Is Plainville a college town?
No. About 4 of every 100 Plainville residents are enrolled in college (Census, 2020–24), below Massachusetts (8). The nearest campus, Dean College, is 5.9 miles away in Franklin.
What colleges are near Plainville?
10 colleges are within 15 miles. The largest: Brown University (13.4 miles, 11,009 students on campus), Rhode Island College (13.5 miles, 5,586) and Providence College (12.9 miles, 4,576).
What is the closest community college to Plainville, and what does it cost?
Massasoit Community College in Brockton, 18.3 miles away. Tuition and fees are $5,376 a year for Massachusetts residents; the federal net price, $8,460, counts housing and food at full cost.
How much does Bridgewater State University cost if we live in Massachusetts?
Tuition and fees are $11,808 a year in-state and $17,948 from out of state. After grants, families on federal aid paid an average of $10,007 (under $30,000 income) to $21,176 (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 Plainville. 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 →