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John T. Chyphers HouseJohn T. Chyphers House · Photo: Elkman · CC BY-SA 3.0
Colleges in and near Lakeland

The University of Wisconsin-River Falls is 9.9 miles from Lakeland

No college sits inside Lakeland’s boundary, but the University of Wisconsin-River Falls’s campus in River Falls, with 4,682 students on campus, is 9.9 miles from the center of town, and Century College is 12.2 miles away in White Bear Lake. About 4% of Lakeland’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 Lakeland. Colleges are described, not graded.

Within 15 miles
3
13,321 students on campus
Nearest college
9.9 mi
University of Wisconsin-River Falls
Residents in college
4%
Below MN (6%)
Nearest community college
12.2 mi
Century College · $6,214 tuition
Nearest public university
15 mi
Metropolitan State · $9,840 in-state
Median household income
$100K
prices below start here

What stands out about college from Lakeland

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

A university 9.9 miles awayThe University of Wisconsin-River Falls has 4,682 students on campus in River Falls, 57% of whom graduate within six years.A community college 12.2 miles awayCentury College in White Bear Lake: tuition and fees $6,214 a year for Minnesota residents.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 residentsBelow Minnesota (6%). The Census counts anyone enrolled, including part-time and online students.
Every college

Colleges within 15 miles of Lakeland

All 3 are public. Every other college is more than 15 miles from Lakeland.

5 mi10 mi15 miCentury CollegeUniversity of Wisconsin-River FallsMetropolitan StateLakeland
University or collegeCommunity college
University of Wisconsin-River FallsUniversity or college · Public · 4,682 on campus · 9.9 mi · River Falls, WI82%admitted$14knet price57%graduate$54kearningsCentury CollegeCommunity college · Public · 5,483 on campus · 12.2 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 · 15 mi · Saint Paul99%admitted$17knet price44%graduate$65kearnings

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 $75–110k, where Lakeland’s median household income ($100,132) falls.

Century College12.2 mi · White Bear Lake · sticker $15,983 · tuition $6,214$12,512a year
University of Wisconsin-River Falls9.9 mi · River Falls, WI · sticker $19,781$16,578a year
Metropolitan State University15 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 within 15 miles of Lakeland: 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 →University of Wisconsin-River FallsCentury CollegeMetropolitan State
Century College31% graduate$46k earnings$14k typical debt
University of Wisconsin-River Falls57% graduate$54k earnings$20k 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 Lakeland

Is Lakeland a college town?

No. About 4 of every 100 Lakeland residents are enrolled in college (Census, 2020–24), below Minnesota (6). The nearest campus, the University of Wisconsin-River Falls, is 9.9 miles away in River Falls.

What colleges are near Lakeland?

Within 15 miles: the University of Wisconsin-River Falls (9.9 miles, 4,682 students on campus), Century College (12.2 miles, 5,483) and Metropolitan State University (15 miles, 3,156).

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

Century College in White Bear Lake, 12.2 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 Lakeland. 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 →