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Cordenio Severance HousePhoto: McGhiever · CC BY-SA 3.0
Colleges in and near Cottage Grove

Inver Hills Community College is 7 miles from Cottage Grove

No college sits inside Cottage Grove’s boundary, but Inver Hills Community College’s campus in Inver Grove Heights, with 2,321 students on campus, is 7 miles from the center of town. About 5% of Cottage Grove’s residents are enrolled in college, about the same as 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 Cottage Grove. Colleges are described, not graded.

Within 15 miles
6
17,394 students on campus
Nearest college
7 mi
Inver Hills
Residents in college
5%
About the same as MN (6%)
Nearest community college
7 mi
Inver Hills · $6,146 tuition
Nearest public university
12.7 mi
Metropolitan State · $9,840 in-state
Median household income
$121K
prices below start here

What stands out about college from Cottage Grove

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

A community college 7 miles awayInver Hills Community College has 2,321 students on campus in Inver Grove Heights, 24% of whom graduate within three years.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 5% of residentsAbout the same as Minnesota (6%). The Census counts anyone enrolled, including part-time and online students.
Every college

Colleges within 15 miles of Cottage Grove

One private college within 14.1 miles, two public colleges within 14.6 miles, and three community colleges.

5 mi10 mi15 miUniversity of Wisconsin-River FallsSaint Paul CollegeMetropolitan StateCottage Grove
University or collegeCommunity college
Inver Hills Community CollegeCommunity college · Public · 2,321 on campus · 7 mi · Inver Grove Heights$12knet price24%graduate$50kearningsTuition and fees: $6,146 a year. The net price counts housing and food at full cost.Dakota County Technical CollegeCommunity college · Public · 2,068 on campus · 9.6 mi · Rosemount$14knet price58%graduate$52kearningsTuition and fees: $6,679 a year. The net price counts housing and food at full cost.Metropolitan State UniversityUniversity or college · Public · 3,156 on campus · 12.7 mi · Saint Paul99%admitted$17knet price44%graduate$65kearningsSaint Paul CollegeCommunity college · Public · 4,000 on campus · 13.4 mi · Saint Paul$11knet price40%graduate$38kearningsTuition and fees: $6,326 a year. The net price counts housing and food at full cost.Mitchell Hamline School of LawUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 1,167 on campus · 14.1 mi · Saint PaulGraduate students only; the Scorecard reports no undergraduate figures.University of Wisconsin-River FallsUniversity or college · Public · 4,682 on campus · 14.6 mi · River Falls, WI82%admitted$14knet price57%graduate$54kearnings

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 Cottage Grove’s median household income ($120,791) falls.

Inver Hills Community College7 mi · Inver Grove Heights · sticker $17,103 · tuition $6,146$16,272a year
Saint Paul College13.4 mi · Saint Paul · sticker $18,261 · tuition $6,326$17,428a year
Dakota County Technical College9.6 mi · Rosemount · sticker $18,552 · tuition $6,679$18,089a year
University of Wisconsin-River Falls14.6 mi · River Falls, WI · sticker $19,781$18,234a year
Metropolitan State University12.7 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 Cottage Grove: 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 →Inver HillsDakota County Technical CollegeMetropolitan StateSaint Paul CollegeUniversity of Wisconsin-River Falls
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
Dakota County Technical College58% graduate$52k earnings$11k 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 Cottage Grove

Is Cottage Grove a college town?

No. About 5 of every 100 Cottage Grove residents are enrolled in college (Census, 2020–24), about the same as Minnesota (6). The nearest campus, Inver Hills Community College, is 7 miles away in Inver Grove Heights.

What colleges are near Cottage Grove?

Within 15 miles: Inver Hills Community College (7 miles, 2,321 students on campus), Dakota County Technical College (9.6 miles, 2,068), Metropolitan State University (12.7 miles, 3,156), Saint Paul College (13.4 miles, 4,000), Mitchell Hamline School of Law (14.1 miles, 1,167) and the University of Wisconsin-River Falls (14.6 miles, 4,682).

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

Inver Hills Community College in Inver Grove Heights, 7 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 Cottage Grove. 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 →