Photo: brewbooks · CC BY-SA 2.0Ross College-Grand Rapids North is 3.4 miles from Plainfield Township
No college sits inside Plainfield Township’s boundary, but Ross College-Grand Rapids North’s campus in Grand Rapids, with 267 students on campus, is 3.4 miles from the center of town, and Grand Rapids Community College is 7.9 miles away in Grand Rapids. About 4% of Plainfield Township’s 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 Plainfield Township. Colleges are described, not graded.
What stands out about college from Plainfield Township
Facts about the town and its distance to campus; each college’s own figures follow.
Colleges within 15 miles of Plainfield Township
Seven private colleges within 11.4 miles, and Grand Rapids Community College 7.9 miles away. The nearest public four-year college, Grand Valley State University, is 16 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 Plainfield Township’s median household income ($94,218) 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: Ross College-Grand Rapids North (7).
Questions about college near Plainfield Township
Is Plainfield Township a college town?
No. About 4 of every 100 Plainfield Township residents are enrolled in college (Census, 2020–24), below Michigan (6). The nearest campus, Ross College-Grand Rapids North, is 3.4 miles away in Grand Rapids.
What colleges are near Plainfield Township?
8 colleges are within 15 miles. The largest: Grand Rapids Community College (7.9 miles, 7,986 students on campus), Calvin University (10 miles, 3,060) and Cornerstone University (6.5 miles, 1,315).
What is the closest community college to Plainfield Township, and what does it cost?
Grand Rapids Community College in Grand Rapids, 7.9 miles away. Tuition and fees are $4,179 a year for Michigan residents; the federal net price, $8,621, counts housing and food at full cost.
How much does Grand Valley State University cost if we live in Michigan?
Tuition and fees are $15,140 a year in-state and $21,548 from out of state. After grants, families on federal aid paid an average of $12,272 (under $30,000 income) to $22,534 (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 Plainfield Township. 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 →