Photo: Jerry Huddleston · CC BY 2.0Carleton College is 8 miles from Randolph
No college sits inside Randolph’s boundary, but Carleton College’s campus in Northfield, with 2,069 students on campus, is 8 miles from the center of town, and Dakota County Technical College is 14.8 miles away in Rosemount. About 2% of Randolph’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 Randolph. Colleges are described, not graded.
What stands out about college from Randolph
Facts about the town and its distance to campus; each college’s own figures follow.
Colleges within 15 miles of Randolph
Two private colleges within 9.1 miles, and Dakota County Technical College 14.8 miles away. The nearest public four-year college, Metropolitan State University, is 29.9 miles away.
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 $75–110k, where Randolph’s median household income ($104,286) 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 Randolph
Is Randolph a college town?
No. About 2 of every 100 Randolph residents are enrolled in college (Census, 2020–24), below Minnesota (6). The nearest campus, Carleton College, is 8 miles away in Northfield.
What colleges are near Randolph?
Within 15 miles: Carleton College (8 miles, 2,069 students on campus), St Olaf College (9.1 miles, 3,074) and Dakota County Technical College (14.8 miles, 2,068).
What is the closest community college to Randolph, and what does it cost?
Dakota County Technical College in Rosemount, 14.8 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 Randolph. 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 →