Dakota County Technical College is 4 miles from Empire
No college sits inside Empire’s boundary, but Dakota County Technical College’s campus in Rosemount, with 2,068 students on campus, is 4 miles from the center of town. About 3% of Empire’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 Empire. Colleges are described, not graded.
What stands out about college from Empire
Facts about the town and its distance to campus; each college’s own figures follow.
Colleges within 15 miles of Empire
Both are public. Every other college is more than 15 miles from Empire.
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 Over $110k, where Empire’s median household income ($147,700) 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 Empire
Is Empire a college town?
No. About 3 of every 100 Empire residents are enrolled in college (Census, 2020–24), below Minnesota (6). The nearest campus, Dakota County Technical College, is 4 miles away in Rosemount.
What colleges are near Empire?
Within 15 miles: Dakota County Technical College (4 miles, 2,068 students on campus) and Inver Hills Community College (10.4 miles, 2,321).
What is the closest community college to Empire, and what does it cost?
Dakota County Technical College in Rosemount, 4 miles away. Tuition and fees are $6,679 a year for Minnesota residents; the federal net price, $13,548, 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.
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 Empire. 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 →