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Downtown Royal Oak (2020)Photo: Lrgjr72 · CC BY-SA 4.0
Colleges in and near Royal Oak

Dorsey College is 2.6 miles from Royal Oak

No college sits inside Royal Oak’s boundary, but Dorsey College’s campus in Madison Heights, with 547 students on campus, is 2.6 miles from the center of town, and Macomb Community College is 9.2 miles away in Warren. About 6% of Royal Oak’s residents are enrolled in college, about the same as 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 Royal Oak. Colleges are described, not graded.

Within 15 miles
20
93,346 students on campus
Nearest college
2.6 mi
Dorsey College
Residents in college
6%
About the same as MI (6%)
Nearest community college
9.2 mi
Macomb · $3,660 tuition
Nearest public university
11.2 mi
Wayne State · $15,190 in-state
Median household income
$101K
prices below start here

What stands out about college from Royal Oak

Facts about the town and its distance to campus; each college’s own figures follow.

A college 2.6 miles awayDorsey College has 547 students on campus in Madison Heights, 54% of whom graduate within three years.A community college 9.2 miles awayMacomb Community College in Warren: tuition and fees $3,660 a year for Michigan residents.In-state price at Wayne StateLiving in Michigan, Wayne State University charges $15,190 in tuition and fees; from out of state, $32,037. State residency rules decide which a new arrival pays.Students are 6% of residentsAbout the same as Michigan (6%). The Census counts anyone enrolled, including part-time and online students.
Every college

Colleges within 15 miles of Royal Oak

13 private colleges within 12.7 miles, three public colleges within 13.7 miles, and four community colleges.

5 mi10 mi15 miWayne StateOakland UniversityWayne County Community College DistrictRoyal Oak
University or collegeCommunity college
Dorsey CollegeUniversity or college · For-profit · 547 on campus · 2.6 mi · Madison Heights$29knet price54%graduate$29kearningsEarnings are reported for all 7 campuses that file with it.Chamberlain University-MichiganUniversity or college · For-profit · 612 on campus · 3.4 mi · Troy86%admitted$28knet price100%graduate$92kearningsEarnings are reported for all 15 campuses that file with it.Walsh CollegeUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 348 on campus · 4.6 mi · Troy · mostly online$72kearnings69% of its students study only online; price, graduation and earnings count them too.Lawrence Technological UniversityUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 2,988 on campus · 5.4 mi · Southfield56%admitted$33knet price61%graduate$69kearningsArizona College of Nursing-SouthfieldUniversity or college · For-profit · 415 on campus · 5.7 mi · Southfield100%admitted$39knet price$35kearningsEarnings are reported for all 20 campuses that file with it.University of Detroit MercyUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 5,421 on campus · 6.5 mi · Detroit75%admitted$15knet price67%graduate$71kearningsCranbrook Academy of ArtUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 119 on campus · 6.5 mi · Bloomfield HillsGraduate students only; the Scorecard reports no undergraduate figures.Macomb Community CollegeCommunity college · Public · 10,297 on campus · 9.2 mi · Warren$2knet price18%graduate$42kearningsTuition and fees: $3,660 a year. The net price counts housing and food at full cost.Sacred Heart Major SeminaryUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 265 on campus · 9.4 mi · Detroit100%admitted$12knet price67%graduate$49kearningsOakland Community CollegeCommunity college · Public · 9,066 on campus · 10.2 mi · Auburn Hills$6knet price21%graduate$37kearningsTuition and fees: $3,020 a year. The net price counts housing and food at full cost.Michigan School of PsychologyUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 176 on campus · 10.5 mi · Farmington HillsGraduate students only; the Scorecard reports no undergraduate figures.Rochester UniversityUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 957 on campus · 11 mi · Rochester Hills98%admitted$21knet price44%graduate$49kearningsCollege for Creative StudiesUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 1,399 on campus · 11.1 mi · Detroit92%admitted$35knet price71%graduate$45kearningsWayne State UniversityUniversity or college · Public · 20,601 on campus · 11.2 mi · Detroit81%admitted$13knet price58%graduate$53kearningsOakland UniversityUniversity or college · Public · 14,326 on campus · 12 mi · Rochester Hills88%admitted$9knet price58%graduate$59kearningsDorsey College-RosevilleUniversity or college · For-profit · 443 on campus · 12.2 mi · Roseville$29knet price35%graduate$29kearningsEarnings are reported for all 7 campuses that file with it.Dorsey College-DearbornUniversity or college · For-profit · 450 on campus · 12.7 mi · Detroit$26knet price35%graduate$29kearningsEarnings are reported for all 7 campuses that file with it.Henry Ford CollegeCommunity college · Public · 7,494 on campus · 13.3 mi · Dearborn$1knet price17%graduate$35kearningsTuition and fees: $3,568 a year. The net price counts housing and food at full cost.Wayne County Community College DistrictCommunity college · Public · 10,687 on campus · 13.5 mi · Detroit$8knet price22%graduate$29kearningsTuition and fees: $3,112 a year. The net price counts housing and food at full cost.University of Michigan-DearbornUniversity or college · Public · 6,735 on campus · 13.7 mi · Dearborn56%admitted$9knet price58%graduate$60kearnings

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 it costs

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.

Family income

Starts at $75–110k, where Royal Oak’s median household income ($101,109) falls.

Henry Ford College13.3 mi · Dearborn · sticker $11,784 · tuition $3,568$4,891a year
Macomb Community College9.2 mi · Warren · sticker $11,912 · tuition $3,660$8,336a year
Oakland Community College10.2 mi · Auburn Hills · sticker $12,353 · tuition $3,020$10,132a year
Wayne County Community College District13.5 mi · Detroit · sticker $15,401 · tuition $3,112$10,306a year
Oakland University12 mi · Rochester Hills · sticker $25,182$11,874a year
University of Michigan-Dearborn13.7 mi · Dearborn · sticker $24,040$13,630a year
Wayne State University11.2 mi · Detroit · sticker $27,350$14,828a year
University of Detroit Mercy6.5 mi · Detroit · sticker $42,211$15,584a year
Rochester University11 mi · Rochester Hills · sticker $41,787$20,596a year
Dorsey College-Dearborn12.7 mi · Detroit · sticker $30,532$27,684a year
Dorsey College-Roseville12.2 mi · Roseville · sticker $33,929$29,806a year
Dorsey College2.6 mi · Madison Heights · sticker $34,227$30,398a year
Lawrence Technological University5.4 mi · Southfield · sticker $58,166$33,632a year
College for Creative Studies11.1 mi · Detroit · sticker $66,014$33,667a year
Arizona College of Nursing-Southfield5.7 mi · Southfield · sticker $42,280$42,280a year
Chamberlain University-Michigan3.4 mi · Troy · sticker $33,910—a year
Sacred Heart Major Seminary9.4 mi · Detroit · sticker $41,915—a year

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.

Outcomes

Do students finish, and does it pay?

Each dot is a college within 15 miles of Royal Oak: across is the share who graduate, up is what they earn ten years after starting.

$0$20k$40k$60k$80k$100k0%25%50%75%100%Graduate →MacombOaklandWayne StateOakland UniversityWayne County Community College District
Wayne State University58% graduate$53k earnings$21k typical debt
Oakland University58% graduate$59k earnings$23k typical debt
Wayne County Community College District22% graduate$29k earnings$12k typical debt
Macomb Community College18% graduate$42k earnings$6k typical debt
Oakland Community College21% graduate$37k earnings$9k typical debt
Henry Ford College17% graduate$35k earnings$14k typical debt
University of Michigan-Dearborn58% graduate$60k earnings$22k typical debt
University of Detroit Mercy67% graduate$71k earnings$23k typical debt
Lawrence Technological University61% graduate$69k earnings$27k typical debt
College for Creative Studies71% graduate$45k earnings$26k typical debt
Rochester University44% graduate$49k earnings$24k typical debt
Chamberlain University-Michigan100% graduate$92k earnings*$21k typical debt

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 (7); Chamberlain University-Michigan (15); Dorsey College-Roseville (7); Dorsey College-Dearborn (7).

Questions about college near Royal Oak

Is Royal Oak a college town?

No. About 6 of every 100 Royal Oak residents are enrolled in college (Census, 2020–24), about the same as Michigan (6). The nearest campus, Dorsey College, is 2.6 miles away in Madison Heights.

What colleges are near Royal Oak?

20 colleges are within 15 miles. The largest: Wayne State University (11.2 miles, 20,601 students on campus), Oakland University (12 miles, 14,326) and Wayne County Community College District (13.5 miles, 10,687).

What is the closest community college to Royal Oak, and what does it cost?

Macomb Community College in Warren, 9.2 miles away. Tuition and fees are $3,660 a year for Michigan residents; the federal net price, $1,618, counts housing and food at full cost.

How much does Wayne State University cost if we live in Michigan?

Tuition and fees are $15,190 a year in-state and $32,037 from out of state. After grants, families on federal aid paid an average of $11,090 (under $30,000 income) to $19,862 (over $110,000), housing and food included.

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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 Royal Oak. 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 →