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Colleges in and near Oakdale

Century College is 3.9 miles from Oakdale

No college sits inside Oakdale’s boundary, but Century College’s campus in White Bear Lake, with 5,483 students on campus, is 3.9 miles from the center of town. About 6% of Oakdale’s residents are enrolled in college, about the same as Minnesota (6%).

Century College

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 Oakdale. Colleges are described, not graded.

Within 15 miles
17
96,318 students on campus
Nearest college
3.9 mi
Century College
Residents in college
6%
About the same as MN (6%)
Nearest community college
3.9 mi
Century College · $6,214 tuition
Nearest public university
5.8 mi
Metropolitan State · $9,840 in-state
Median household income
$94K
prices below start here

What stands out about college from Oakdale

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

A community college 3.9 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 6% 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 Oakdale

12 private colleges within 14.6 miles, two public colleges within 13.3 miles, and three community colleges.

5 mi10 mi15 miUniversity of St ThomasCentury CollegeOakdale
University or collegeCommunity college
Century CollegeCommunity college · Public · 5,483 on campus · 3.9 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 · 5.8 mi · Saint Paul99%admitted$17knet price44%graduate$65kearningsSaint Paul CollegeCommunity college · Public · 4,000 on campus · 7.6 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 · 9.1 mi · Saint PaulGraduate students only; the Scorecard reports no undergraduate figures.Concordia University-Saint PaulUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 3,243 on campus · 9.7 mi · Saint Paul79%admitted$18knet price46%graduate$60kearningsHamline UniversityUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 2,064 on campus · 9.9 mi · Saint Paul88%admitted$21knet price60%graduate$61kearningsUniversity of Northwestern-St PaulUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 2,001 on campus · 10.5 mi · Saint Paul93%admitted$28knet price68%graduate$51kearningsMacalester CollegeUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 2,142 on campus · 10.6 mi · Saint Paul29%admitted$32knet price87%graduate$64kearningsBethel UniversityUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 2,500 on campus · 10.8 mi · Saint Paul88%admitted$29knet price71%graduate$64kearningsUniversity of St ThomasUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 8,486 on campus · 11.4 mi · Saint Paul85%admitted$29knet price76%graduate$74kearningsLuther SeminaryUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 258 on campus · 11.4 mi · Saint PaulGraduate students only; the Scorecard reports no undergraduate figures.St Catherine UniversityUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 2,461 on campus · 11.6 mi · Saint Paul92%admitted$20knet price61%graduate$59kearningsInver Hills Community CollegeCommunity college · Public · 2,321 on campus · 11.9 mi · Inver Grove Heights$12knet price24%graduate$50kearningsTuition and fees: $6,146 a year. The net price counts housing and food at full cost.University of Minnesota-Twin CitiesUniversity or college · Public · 52,981 on campus · 13.3 mi · Minneapolis80%admitted$17knet price85%graduate$69kearningsEarnings are reported for all 2 campuses that file with it.Augsburg UniversityUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 3,107 on campus · 13.6 mi · Minneapolis82%admitted$24knet price52%graduate$59kearningsBethlehem College & SeminaryUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 194 on campus · 14.3 mi · Minneapolis70%graduateNorth Central UniversityUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 754 on campus · 14.6 mi · Minneapolis99%admitted$26knet price66%graduate$45kearnings

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 Oakdale’s median household income ($93,772) falls.

Century College3.9 mi · White Bear Lake · sticker $15,983 · tuition $6,214$12,512a year
Saint Paul College7.6 mi · Saint Paul · sticker $18,261 · tuition $6,326$13,354a year
Inver Hills Community College11.9 mi · Inver Grove Heights · sticker $17,103 · tuition $6,146$13,787a year
University of Minnesota-Twin Cities13.3 mi · Minneapolis · sticker $30,061$16,415a year
Metropolitan State University5.8 mi · Saint Paul · sticker $25,172$18,994a year
Concordia University-Saint Paul9.7 mi · Saint Paul · sticker $37,239$19,135a year
St Catherine University11.6 mi · Saint Paul · sticker $60,476$19,376a year
Macalester College10.6 mi · Saint Paul · sticker $82,991$20,527a year
Hamline University9.9 mi · Saint Paul · sticker $58,110$21,015a year
Augsburg University13.6 mi · Minneapolis · sticker $62,303$23,223a year
Bethel University10.8 mi · Saint Paul · sticker $58,569$24,963a year
University of Northwestern-St Paul10.5 mi · Saint Paul · sticker $51,325$25,267a year
University of St Thomas11.4 mi · Saint Paul · sticker $66,116$25,363a year
North Central University14.6 mi · Minneapolis · sticker $44,475$28,167a 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 Oakdale: 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 PaulUniversity of St ThomasUniversity of Minnesota-Twin Cities
University of Minnesota-Twin Cities85% graduate$69k earnings*$20k typical debt
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
Augsburg University52% graduate$59k earnings$25k 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

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. *Reported for all the campuses that file together: University of Minnesota-Twin Cities (2).

Questions about college near Oakdale

Is Oakdale a college town?

No. About 6 of every 100 Oakdale residents are enrolled in college (Census, 2020–24), about the same as Minnesota (6). The nearest campus, Century College, is 3.9 miles away in White Bear Lake.

What colleges are near Oakdale?

17 colleges are within 15 miles. The largest: the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities (13.3 miles, 52,981 students on campus), the University of St Thomas (11.4 miles, 8,486) and Century College (3.9 miles, 5,483).

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

Century College in White Bear Lake, 3.9 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 Oakdale. 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 →