Niles Railroad Depot · Photo: David Wilson · CC BY 2.0Saint Mary's College is 8.8 miles from Niles
No college sits inside Niles’ boundary, but Saint Mary's College’s campus in Notre Dame, with 1,467 students on campus, is 8.8 miles from the center of town, and Southwestern Michigan College is 12.4 miles away in Dowagiac. About 2% of Niles’ residents are enrolled in college, below Michigan (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 Niles. Colleges are described, not graded.
What stands out about college from Niles
Facts about the town and its distance to campus; each college’s own figures follow.
Colleges within 15 miles of Niles
Six private colleges within 11.1 miles, one public college within 11.8 miles, and Southwestern Michigan College 12.4 miles away. The nearest public four-year college, Western Michigan University, is 44.9 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 $48–75k, where Niles’ median household income ($51,376) 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 Niles
Is Niles a college town?
No. About 2 of every 100 Niles residents are enrolled in college (Census, 2020–24), below Michigan (6). The nearest campus, Saint Mary's College, is 8.8 miles away in Notre Dame.
What colleges are near Niles?
8 colleges are within 15 miles. The largest: the University of Notre Dame (9.1 miles, 12,910 students on campus), Indiana University-South Bend (11.8 miles, 3,778) and Andrews University (10.5 miles, 2,296).
What is the closest community college to Niles, and what does it cost?
Southwestern Michigan College in Dowagiac, 12.4 miles away. Tuition and fees are $6,417 a year for Michigan residents; the federal net price, $5,978, counts housing and food at full cost.
How much does Western Michigan University cost if we live in Michigan?
Tuition and fees are $15,252 a year in-state and $19,034 from out of state. After grants, families on federal aid paid an average of $5,263 (under $30,000 income) to $23,625 (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 Niles. 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 →