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Lake Elmo Park Reserve - Lake Elmo, MN - panoramioPhoto: Gabriel Vanslette · CC BY 3.0
Colleges in and near Lake Elmo

Century College is 5.1 miles from Lake Elmo

No college sits inside Lake Elmo’s boundary, but Century College’s campus in White Bear Lake, with 5,483 students on campus, is 5.1 miles from the center of town. About 4% of Lake Elmo’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 Lake Elmo. Colleges are described, not graded.

Within 15 miles
13
39,282 students on campus
Nearest college
5.1 mi
Century College
Residents in college
4%
About the same as MN (6%)
Nearest community college
5.1 mi
Century College · $6,214 tuition
Nearest public university
8.3 mi
Metropolitan State · $9,840 in-state
Median household income
$154K
prices below start here

What stands out about college from Lake Elmo

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

A community college 5.1 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 4% 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 Lake Elmo

Nine private colleges within 14.1 miles, one public college within 8.3 miles, and three community colleges.

5 mi10 mi15 miUniversity of St ThomasCentury CollegeSaint Paul CollegeLake Elmo
University or collegeCommunity college
Century CollegeCommunity college · Public · 5,483 on campus · 5.1 mi · White Bear Lake$11knet price31%graduate$46kearningsTuition and fees: $6,214 a year. The net price counts housing and food at full cost.Metropolitan State UniversityUniversity or college · Public · 3,156 on campus · 8.3 mi · Saint Paul99%admitted$17knet price44%graduate$65kearningsSaint Paul CollegeCommunity college · Public · 4,000 on campus · 10.1 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 · 11.6 mi · Saint PaulGraduate students only; the Scorecard reports no undergraduate figures.Concordia University-Saint PaulUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 3,243 on campus · 12.3 mi · Saint Paul79%admitted$18knet price46%graduate$60kearningsHamline UniversityUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 2,064 on campus · 12.5 mi · Saint Paul88%admitted$21knet price60%graduate$61kearningsUniversity of Northwestern-St PaulUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 2,001 on campus · 13 mi · Saint Paul93%admitted$28knet price68%graduate$51kearningsInver Hills Community CollegeCommunity college · Public · 2,321 on campus · 13.1 mi · Inver Grove Heights$12knet price24%graduate$50kearningsTuition and fees: $6,146 a year. The net price counts housing and food at full cost.Macalester CollegeUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 2,142 on campus · 13.1 mi · Saint Paul29%admitted$32knet price87%graduate$64kearningsBethel UniversityUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 2,500 on campus · 13.2 mi · Saint Paul88%admitted$29knet price71%graduate$64kearningsUniversity of St ThomasUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 8,486 on campus · 14 mi · Saint Paul85%admitted$29knet price76%graduate$74kearningsLuther SeminaryUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 258 on campus · 14 mi · Saint PaulGraduate students only; the Scorecard reports no undergraduate figures.St Catherine UniversityUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 2,461 on campus · 14.1 mi · Saint Paul92%admitted$20knet price61%graduate$59kearnings

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 Lake Elmo’s median household income ($153,669) falls.

Century College5.1 mi · White Bear Lake · sticker $15,983 · tuition $6,214$15,710a year
Inver Hills Community College13.1 mi · Inver Grove Heights · sticker $17,103 · tuition $6,146$16,272a year
Saint Paul College10.1 mi · Saint Paul · sticker $18,261 · tuition $6,326$17,428a year
Metropolitan State University8.3 mi · Saint Paul · sticker $25,172$21,905a year
Concordia University-Saint Paul12.3 mi · Saint Paul · sticker $37,239$23,295a year
St Catherine University14.1 mi · Saint Paul · sticker $60,476$27,021a year
Hamline University12.5 mi · Saint Paul · sticker $58,110$27,196a year
University of Northwestern-St Paul13 mi · Saint Paul · sticker $51,325$31,348a year
Bethel University13.2 mi · Saint Paul · sticker $58,569$33,155a year
University of St Thomas14 mi · Saint Paul · sticker $66,116$33,232a year
Macalester College13.1 mi · Saint Paul · sticker $82,991$44,880a 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 Lake Elmo: 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 StateSaint Paul CollegeConcordia University-Saint PaulBethel UniversityUniversity of St Thomas
University of St Thomas76% graduate$74k earnings$23k typical debt
Century College31% graduate$46k earnings$14k typical debt
Saint Paul College40% graduate$38k earnings$11k typical debt
Concordia University-Saint Paul46% graduate$60k earnings$18k typical debt
Metropolitan State University44% graduate$65k earnings$17k typical debt
Bethel University71% graduate$64k earnings$22k typical debt
St Catherine University61% graduate$59k earnings$24k typical debt
Inver Hills Community College24% graduate$50k earnings$14k typical debt
Macalester College87% graduate$64k earnings$23k typical debt
Hamline University60% graduate$61k earnings$24k typical debt
University of Northwestern-St Paul68% graduate$51k earnings$21k 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 Lake Elmo

Is Lake Elmo a college town?

No. About 4 of every 100 Lake Elmo residents are enrolled in college (Census, 2020–24), about the same as Minnesota (6). The nearest campus, Century College, is 5.1 miles away in White Bear Lake.

What colleges are near Lake Elmo?

13 colleges are within 15 miles. The largest: the University of St Thomas (14 miles, 8,486 students on campus), Century College (5.1 miles, 5,483) and Saint Paul College (10.1 miles, 4,000).

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

Century College in White Bear Lake, 5.1 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 Lake Elmo. 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 →