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Residential street, Afton, MinnesotaPhoto: Iulus Ascanius at English Wikipedia · Public domain
Colleges in and near Afton

The University of Wisconsin-River Falls is 10.1 miles from Afton

No college sits inside Afton’s boundary, but the University of Wisconsin-River Falls’s campus in River Falls, with 4,682 students on campus, is 10.1 miles from the center of town, and Inver Hills Community College is 12.5 miles away in Inver Grove Heights. About 4% of Afton’s residents are enrolled in college, below Minnesota (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 Afton. Colleges are described, not graded.

Within 15 miles
5
19,642 students on campus
Nearest college
10.1 mi
University of Wisconsin-River Falls
Residents in college
4%
Below MN (6%)
Nearest community college
12.5 mi
Inver Hills · $6,146 tuition
Nearest public university
13.1 mi
Metropolitan State · $9,840 in-state
Median household income
$133K
prices below start here

What stands out about college from Afton

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

A university 10.1 miles awayThe University of Wisconsin-River Falls has 4,682 students on campus in River Falls, 57% of whom graduate within six years.A community college 12.5 miles awayInver Hills Community College in Inver Grove Heights: tuition and fees $6,146 a year for Minnesota residents.In-state price at Metropolitan StateLiving in Minnesota, Metropolitan State University charges $9,840 in tuition and fees, the same for every student.Students are 4% of residentsBelow Minnesota (6%). The Census counts anyone enrolled, including part-time and online students.
Every college

Colleges within 15 miles of Afton

All 5 are public. Every other college is more than 15 miles from Afton.

5 mi10 mi15 miCentury CollegeUniversity of Wisconsin-River FallsSaint Paul CollegeAfton
University or collegeCommunity college
University of Wisconsin-River FallsUniversity or college · Public · 4,682 on campus · 10.1 mi · River Falls, WI82%admitted$14knet price57%graduate$54kearningsInver Hills Community CollegeCommunity college · Public · 2,321 on campus · 12.5 mi · Inver Grove Heights$12knet price24%graduate$50kearningsTuition and fees: $6,146 a year. The net price counts housing and food at full cost.Century CollegeCommunity college · Public · 5,483 on campus · 12.7 mi · White Bear Lake$11knet price31%graduate$46kearningsTuition and fees: $6,214 a year. The net price counts housing and food at full cost.Metropolitan State UniversityUniversity or college · Public · 3,156 on campus · 13.1 mi · Saint Paul99%admitted$17knet price44%graduate$65kearningsSaint Paul CollegeCommunity college · Public · 4,000 on campus · 14.6 mi · Saint Paul$11knet price40%graduate$38kearningsTuition and fees: $6,326 a year. The net price counts housing and food at full cost.

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 Over $110k, where Afton’s median household income ($133,305) falls.

Century College12.7 mi · White Bear Lake · sticker $15,983 · tuition $6,214$15,710a year
Inver Hills Community College12.5 mi · Inver Grove Heights · sticker $17,103 · tuition $6,146$16,272a year
Saint Paul College14.6 mi · Saint Paul · sticker $18,261 · tuition $6,326$17,428a year
University of Wisconsin-River Falls10.1 mi · River Falls, WI · sticker $19,781$18,234a year
Metropolitan State University13.1 mi · Saint Paul · sticker $25,172$21,905a 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 Afton: across is the share who graduate, up is what they earn ten years after starting.

$0$20k$40k$60k$80k0%25%50%75%100%Graduate →University of Wisconsin-River FallsInver HillsCentury CollegeMetropolitan StateSaint Paul College
Century College31% graduate$46k earnings$14k typical debt
University of Wisconsin-River Falls57% graduate$54k earnings$20k typical debt
Saint Paul College40% graduate$38k earnings$11k typical debt
Metropolitan State University44% graduate$65k earnings$17k typical debt
Inver Hills Community College24% graduate$50k earnings$14k 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.

Questions about college near Afton

Is Afton a college town?

No. About 4 of every 100 Afton residents are enrolled in college (Census, 2020–24), below Minnesota (6). The nearest campus, the University of Wisconsin-River Falls, is 10.1 miles away in River Falls.

What colleges are near Afton?

Within 15 miles: the University of Wisconsin-River Falls (10.1 miles, 4,682 students on campus), Inver Hills Community College (12.5 miles, 2,321), Century College (12.7 miles, 5,483), Metropolitan State University (13.1 miles, 3,156) and Saint Paul College (14.6 miles, 4,000).

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

Inver Hills Community College in Inver Grove Heights, 12.5 miles away. Tuition and fees are $6,146 a year for Minnesota residents; the federal net price, $11,636, counts housing and food at full cost.

How much does Metropolitan State University cost if we live in Minnesota?

Tuition and fees are $9,840 a year in-state and $9,840 from out of state. After grants, families on federal aid paid an average of $15,238 (under $30,000 income) to $21,905 (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 Afton. 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 →