Photo: Skvader · CC BY-SA 4.0Saint Johns University is 8.8 miles from Albany
No college sits inside Albany’s boundary, but Saint Johns University’s campus in Collegeville, with 1,566 students on campus, is 8.8 miles from the center of town, and St Cloud Technical and Community College is 19 miles away in Saint Cloud. About 2% of Albany’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 Albany. Colleges are described, not graded.
What stands out about college from Albany
Facts about the town and its distance to campus; each college’s own figures follow.
Colleges within 15 miles of Albany
Two private colleges within 12.6 miles. The nearest public four-year college, Saint Cloud State University, is 20.5 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 Albany’s median household income ($69,167) 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 Albany
Is Albany a college town?
No. About 2 of every 100 Albany residents are enrolled in college (Census, 2020–24), below Minnesota (6). The nearest campus, Saint Johns University, is 8.8 miles away in Collegeville.
What colleges are near Albany?
Within 15 miles: Saint Johns University (8.8 miles, 1,566 students on campus) and College of Saint Benedict (12.6 miles, 1,410).
What is the closest community college to Albany, and what does it cost?
St Cloud Technical and Community College in Saint Cloud, 19 miles away. Tuition and fees are $6,124 a year for Minnesota residents; the federal net price, $9,635, counts housing and food at full cost.
How much does Saint Cloud State University cost if we live in Minnesota?
Tuition and fees are $10,245 a year in-state and $10,245 from out of state. After grants, families on federal aid paid an average of $8,909 (under $30,000 income) to $18,989 (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 Albany. 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 →