West Jefferson Avenue-Rouge River Bridge · Photo: Andrew Jameson · CC BY-SA 3.0Wayne County Community College District is 5.1 miles from River Rouge
No college sits inside River Rouge’s boundary, but Wayne County Community College District’s campus in Detroit, with 10,687 students on campus, is 5.1 miles from the center of town. About 4% of River Rouge’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 River Rouge. Colleges are described, not graded.
What stands out about college from River Rouge
Facts about the town and its distance to campus; each college’s own figures follow.
Colleges within 15 miles of River Rouge
Four private colleges within 9.7 miles, two public colleges within 6.5 miles, and two community colleges.
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. Pick your family’s income.
Starts at $30–48k, where River Rouge’s median household income ($41,053) 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 within 15 miles of River Rouge: 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: Dorsey College-Dearborn (7).
Questions about college near River Rouge
Is River Rouge a college town?
No. About 4 of every 100 River Rouge residents are enrolled in college (Census, 2020–24), below Michigan (6). The nearest campus, Wayne County Community College District, is 5.1 miles away in Detroit.
What colleges are near River Rouge?
8 colleges are within 15 miles. The largest: Wayne State University (6.5 miles, 20,601 students on campus), Wayne County Community College District (5.1 miles, 10,687) and Henry Ford College (6.7 miles, 7,494).
What is the closest community college to River Rouge, and what does it cost?
Wayne County Community College District in Detroit, 5.1 miles away. Tuition and fees are $3,112 a year for Michigan residents; the federal net price, $7,656, counts housing and food at full cost.
How much does the University of Michigan-Dearborn cost if we live in Michigan?
Tuition and fees are $15,640 a year in-state and $32,896 from out of state. After grants, families on federal aid paid an average of $7,211 (under $30,000 income) to $17,529 (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 River Rouge. 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 →