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Downtown Forest LakePhoto: Lectrician2 · CC BY-SA 4.0
Colleges in and near Forest Lake

Century College is 14.5 miles from Forest Lake

No college sits inside Forest Lake’s boundary, but Century College’s campus in White Bear Lake, with 5,483 students on campus, is 14.5 miles from the center of town. About 5% of Forest Lake’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 Forest Lake. Colleges are described, not graded.

Within 15 miles
1
5,483 students on campus
Nearest college
14.5 mi
Century College
Residents in college
5%
About the same as MN (6%)
Nearest community college
14.5 mi
Century College · $6,214 tuition
Nearest public university
20.9 mi
Metropolitan State · $9,840 in-state
Median household income
$93K
prices below start here

What stands out about college from Forest Lake

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

A community college 14.5 miles awayCentury College has 5,483 students on campus in White Bear Lake, 31% 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 Forest Lake

It is public. Every other college is more than 15 miles from Forest Lake.

5 mi10 mi15 miCentury CollegeForest Lake
University or collegeCommunity college
Century CollegeCommunity college · Public · 5,483 on campus · 14.5 mi · White Bear Lake$11knet price31%graduate$46kearningsTuition and fees: $6,214 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 and the nearest public four-year college. Pick your family’s income.

Family income

Starts at $75–110k, where Forest Lake’s median household income ($92,944) falls.

Century College14.5 mi · White Bear Lake · sticker $15,983 · tuition $6,214$12,512a year
Metropolitan State University20.9 mi · Saint Paul · sticker $25,172$18,994a 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: 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 →Century CollegeMetropolitan State
Century College31% graduate$46k earnings$14k typical debt
Metropolitan State University44% graduate$65k earnings$17k 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 Forest Lake

Is Forest Lake a college town?

No. About 5 of every 100 Forest Lake residents are enrolled in college (Census, 2020–24), about the same as Minnesota (6). The nearest campus, Century College, is 14.5 miles away in White Bear Lake.

What colleges are near Forest Lake?

Within 15 miles: Century College (14.5 miles, 5,483 students on campus).

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

Century College in White Bear Lake, 14.5 miles away. Tuition and fees are $6,214 a year for Minnesota residents; the federal net price, $10,906, 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 Forest Lake. 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 →