Abel Jones House · Photo: Magicpiano · CC BY-SA 4.0Thomas College is 9.9 miles from China
No college sits inside China’s boundary, but Thomas College’s campus in Waterville, with 1,597 students on campus, is 9.9 miles from the center of town, and Kennebec Valley Community College is 13 miles away in Fairfield. About 3% of China’s residents are enrolled in college, below Maine (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 China. Colleges are described, not graded.
What stands out about college from China
Facts about the town and its distance to campus; each college’s own figures follow.
Colleges within 15 miles of China
Two private colleges within 12.1 miles, one public college within 13.9 miles, and Kennebec Valley Community College 13 miles away. The nearest public four-year college, University of Maine at Farmington, is 34.8 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 China’s median household income ($96,309) 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.
Questions about college near China
Is China a college town?
No. About 3 of every 100 China residents are enrolled in college (Census, 2020–24), below Maine (6). The nearest campus, Thomas College, is 9.9 miles away in Waterville.
What colleges are near China?
Within 15 miles: Thomas College (9.9 miles, 1,597 students on campus), Colby College (12.1 miles, 2,284), Kennebec Valley Community College (13 miles, 1,525) and the University of Maine at Augusta (13.9 miles, 1,707).
What is the closest community college to China, and what does it cost?
Kennebec Valley Community College in Fairfield, 13 miles away. Tuition and fees are $4,156 a year for Maine residents; the federal net price, $3,910, counts housing and food at full cost.
How much does the University of Maine at Farmington cost if we live in Maine?
Tuition and fees are $11,308 a year in-state and $23,878 from out of state. After grants, families on federal aid paid an average of $13,301 (under $30,000 income) to $22,368 (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 China. 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 →