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Colleges in and near Waite Park

Saint Cloud State University is 4.9 miles from Waite Park

No college sits inside Waite Park’s boundary, but Saint Cloud State University’s campus in Saint Cloud, with 8,690 students on campus, is 4.9 miles from the center of town, and St Cloud Technical and Community College is 5.2 miles away in Saint Cloud. About 4% of Waite Park’s residents are enrolled in college, about the same as Minnesota (6%).

College of Saint BenedictSaint Cloud State University

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 Waite Park. Colleges are described, not graded.

Within 15 miles
5
15,122 students on campus
Nearest college
2.6 mi
Rasmussen University-Minnesota
Residents in college
4%
About the same as MN (6%)
Nearest community college
5.2 mi
St Cloud Technical and · $6,124 tuition
Nearest public university
4.9 mi
Saint Cloud State · $10,245 in-state
Median household income
$59K
prices below start here

What stands out about college from Waite Park

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

Two colleges within 4.9 milesCollege of Saint Benedict admits 92% of applicants; Saint Cloud State University admits 95%. Together they have 10,100 students on campus.In-state price at Saint Cloud StateLiving in Minnesota, Saint Cloud State University charges $10,245 in tuition and fees, the same for every student.A community college 5.2 miles awaySt Cloud Technical and Community College in Saint Cloud: tuition and fees $6,124 a year for Minnesota residents.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 Waite Park

Three private colleges within 8.4 miles, one public college within 4.9 miles, and St Cloud Technical and Community College 5.2 miles away.

5 mi10 mi15 miSaint Cloud StateSt Cloud Technical andSaint Johns UniversityWaite Park
University or collegeCommunity college
Rasmussen University-MinnesotaUniversity or college · For-profit · 1,168 on campus · 2.6 mi · St. Cloud · mostly online$18knet price53%graduate$39kearnings87% of its students study only online; price, graduation and earnings count them too.Earnings are reported for all 6 campuses that file with it.College of Saint BenedictUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 1,410 on campus · 4.7 mi · Saint Joseph92%admitted$27knet price77%graduate$63kearningsSaint Cloud State UniversityUniversity or college · Public · 8,690 on campus · 4.9 mi · Saint Cloud95%admitted$14knet price40%graduate$56kearningsSt Cloud Technical and Community CollegeCommunity college · Public · 2,288 on campus · 5.2 mi · Saint Cloud$10knet price45%graduate$47kearningsTuition and fees: $6,124 a year. The net price counts housing and food at full cost.Saint Johns UniversityUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 1,566 on campus · 8.4 mi · Collegeville91%admitted$26knet price75%graduate$77kearnings

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 $48–75k, where Waite Park’s median household income ($59,285) falls.

St Cloud Technical and Community College5.2 mi · Saint Cloud · sticker $14,325 · tuition $6,124$8,908a year
Saint Cloud State University4.9 mi · Saint Cloud · sticker $21,116$12,034a year
Saint Johns University8.4 mi · Collegeville · sticker $68,521$16,196a year
Rasmussen University-Minnesota2.6 mi · St. Cloud · mostly online · sticker $25,221$19,170a year
College of Saint Benedict4.7 mi · Saint Joseph · sticker $68,453$20,378a 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 Waite Park: 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 →Rasmussen University-MinnesotaCollege of Saint BenedictSaint Cloud StateSt Cloud Technical andSaint Johns University
Saint Cloud State University40% graduate$56k earnings$21k typical debt
St Cloud Technical and Community College45% graduate$47k earnings$12k typical debt
Saint Johns University75% graduate$77k earnings$27k typical debt
College of Saint Benedict77% graduate$63k earnings$27k typical debt
Rasmussen University-Minnesota53% graduate$39k 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. *Reported for all the campuses that file together: Rasmussen University-Minnesota (6).

Questions about college near Waite Park

Is Waite Park a college town?

No. About 4 of every 100 Waite Park residents are enrolled in college (Census, 2020–24), about the same as Minnesota (6). The nearest campus, Rasmussen University-Minnesota, is 2.6 miles away in St. Cloud.

What colleges are near Waite Park?

Within 15 miles: Rasmussen University-Minnesota (2.6 miles, 1,168 students on campus), College of Saint Benedict (4.7 miles, 1,410), Saint Cloud State University (4.9 miles, 8,690), St Cloud Technical and Community College (5.2 miles, 2,288) and Saint Johns University (8.4 miles, 1,566).

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

St Cloud Technical and Community College in Saint Cloud, 5.2 miles away. Tuition and fees are $6,124 a year for Minnesota residents; the federal net price, $9,635, counts housing and food at full cost.

How much does Saint Cloud State University cost if we live in Minnesota?

Tuition and fees are $10,245 a year in-state and $10,245 from out of state. After grants, families on federal aid paid an average of $8,909 (under $30,000 income) to $18,989 (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 Waite Park. 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 →