Iowa Lakes Community College is 11.4 miles from Dunnell
No college sits inside Dunnell’s boundary, but Iowa Lakes Community College’s campus in Estherville, with 1,879 students on campus, is 11.4 miles from the center of town, and South Central College is 55.8 miles away in North Mankato. About 1% of Dunnell’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 Dunnell. Colleges are described, not graded.
What stands out about college from Dunnell
Facts about the town and its distance to campus; each college’s own figures follow.
Colleges within 15 miles of Dunnell
It is public. Every other college is more than 15 miles from Dunnell.
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 $30–48k, where Dunnell’s median household income ($31,786) 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 Dunnell
Is Dunnell a college town?
No. About 1 of every 100 Dunnell residents are enrolled in college (Census, 2020–24), about the same as Minnesota (6). The nearest campus, Iowa Lakes Community College, is 11.4 miles away in Estherville.
What colleges are near Dunnell?
Within 15 miles: Iowa Lakes Community College (11.4 miles, 1,879 students on campus).
What is the closest community college to Dunnell, and what does it cost?
South Central College in North Mankato, 55.8 miles away. Tuition and fees are $6,146 a year for Minnesota residents; the federal net price, $9,082, counts housing and food at full cost.
How much does Minnesota State University-Mankato cost if we live in Minnesota?
Tuition and fees are $9,572 a year in-state and $18,942 from out of state. After grants, families on federal aid paid an average of $12,339 (under $30,000 income) to $22,798 (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 Dunnell. 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 →