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Charles P. Noyes CottageCharles P. Noyes Cottage · Photo: Elkman · CC BY-SA 3.0
Colleges in and near White Bear Lake

White Bear Lake is home to Century College

Century College (5,483 students on campus) is inside the city. About 5% of White Bear Lake’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 White Bear Lake. Colleges are described, not graded.

Within 15 miles
19
99,976 students on campus
Nearest college
2.2 mi
Century College
Residents in college
5%
About the same as MN (6%)
Nearest community college
2.2 mi
Century College · $6,214 tuition
Nearest public university
8 mi
Metropolitan State · $9,840 in-state
Median household income
$84K
prices below start here

What stands out about college in White Bear Lake

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

A community college in White Bear LakeCentury 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 5% 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 White Bear Lake

14 private colleges within 15 miles, two public colleges within 12.6 miles, and three community colleges.

5 mi10 mi15 miUniversity of Minnesota-Twin CitiesUniversity of St ThomasCentury CollegeWhite Bear Lake
University or collegeCommunity college
Century CollegeCommunity college · Public · 5,483 on campus · In White Bear Lake$11knet price31%graduate$46kearningsTuition and fees: $6,214 a year. The net price counts housing and food at full cost.Bethel UniversityUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 2,500 on campus · 7.3 mi · Saint Paul88%admitted$29knet price71%graduate$64kearningsUniversity of Northwestern-St PaulUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 2,001 on campus · 7.9 mi · Saint Paul93%admitted$28knet price68%graduate$51kearningsMetropolitan State UniversityUniversity or college · Public · 3,156 on campus · 8 mi · Saint Paul99%admitted$17knet price44%graduate$65kearningsSaint Paul CollegeCommunity college · Public · 4,000 on campus · 9.3 mi · Saint Paul$11knet price40%graduate$38kearningsTuition and fees: $6,326 a year. The net price counts housing and food at full cost.Hamline UniversityUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 2,064 on campus · 10.1 mi · Saint Paul88%admitted$21knet price60%graduate$61kearningsMitchell Hamline School of LawUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 1,167 on campus · 10.5 mi · Saint PaulGraduate students only; the Scorecard reports no undergraduate figures.Concordia University-Saint PaulUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 3,243 on campus · 10.6 mi · Saint Paul79%admitted$18knet price46%graduate$60kearningsLuther SeminaryUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 258 on campus · 10.6 mi · Saint PaulGraduate students only; the Scorecard reports no undergraduate figures.Macalester CollegeUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 2,142 on campus · 11.6 mi · Saint Paul29%admitted$32knet price87%graduate$64kearningsUniversity of St ThomasUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 8,486 on campus · 12 mi · Saint Paul85%admitted$29knet price76%graduate$74kearningsUniversity of Minnesota-Twin CitiesUniversity or college · Public · 52,981 on campus · 12.6 mi · Minneapolis80%admitted$17knet price85%graduate$69kearningsEarnings are reported for all 2 campuses that file with it.St Catherine UniversityUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 2,461 on campus · 12.8 mi · Saint Paul92%admitted$20knet price61%graduate$59kearningsAugsburg UniversityUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 3,107 on campus · 13 mi · Minneapolis82%admitted$24knet price52%graduate$59kearningsBethlehem College & SeminaryUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 194 on campus · 13.6 mi · Minneapolis70%graduateNorth Central UniversityUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 754 on campus · 13.9 mi · Minneapolis99%admitted$26knet price66%graduate$45kearningsMinneapolis Community and Technical CollegeCommunity college · Public · 4,006 on campus · 14.7 mi · Minneapolis$14knet price20%graduate$40kearningsTuition and fees: $6,161 a year. The net price counts housing and food at full cost.Minneapolis College of Art and DesignUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 748 on campus · 14.8 mi · Minneapolis48%admitted$30knet price51%graduate$41kearningsDunwoody College of TechnologyUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 1,225 on campus · 15 mi · Minneapolis99%admitted$27knet price66%graduate$62kearnings

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 White Bear Lake’s median household income ($83,554) falls.

Century CollegeIn White Bear Lake · sticker $15,983 · tuition $6,214$12,512a year
Saint Paul College9.3 mi · Saint Paul · sticker $18,261 · tuition $6,326$13,354a year
University of Minnesota-Twin Cities12.6 mi · Minneapolis · sticker $30,061$16,415a year
Minneapolis Community and Technical College14.7 mi · Minneapolis · sticker $19,683 · tuition $6,161$17,005a year
Metropolitan State University8 mi · Saint Paul · sticker $25,172$18,994a year
Concordia University-Saint Paul10.6 mi · Saint Paul · sticker $37,239$19,135a year
St Catherine University12.8 mi · Saint Paul · sticker $60,476$19,376a year
Macalester College11.6 mi · Saint Paul · sticker $82,991$20,527a year
Hamline University10.1 mi · Saint Paul · sticker $58,110$21,015a year
Augsburg University13 mi · Minneapolis · sticker $62,303$23,223a year
Bethel University7.3 mi · Saint Paul · sticker $58,569$24,963a year
University of Northwestern-St Paul7.9 mi · Saint Paul · sticker $51,325$25,267a year
University of St Thomas12 mi · Saint Paul · sticker $66,116$25,363a year
Dunwoody College of Technology15 mi · Minneapolis · sticker $36,587$27,706a year
North Central University13.9 mi · Minneapolis · sticker $44,475$28,167a year
Minneapolis College of Art and Design14.8 mi · Minneapolis · sticker $59,972$33,038a 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 White Bear Lake: 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 CollegeSaint Paul CollegeConcordia University-Saint PaulUniversity of St ThomasUniversity of Minnesota-Twin CitiesMinneapolis Community and Technical College
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
Minneapolis Community and Technical College20% graduate$40k earnings$18k 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
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).

Majors

What students study in White Bear Lake

Share of bachelor’s and associate degrees by field at Century College, weighted by undergraduates; then the biggest programs.

Health professions 39%Liberal arts 18%Mechanics & repair 10%Business 9%Public safety 6%Visual & performing arts 5%Everything else 14%

Biggest programs

Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities416 graduates a year
$50k4 yrs out
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing92 graduates a year
$80k4 yrs out
Dental Support Services and Allied Professions64 graduates a year
$52k4 yrs out
Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions56 graduates a year
$75k4 yrs out
Criminal Justice and Corrections54 graduates a year
$62k4 yrs out
Design and Applied Arts42 graduates a year
$36k4 yrs out
Business/Commerce, General34 graduates a year
$55k4 yrs out
Computer/Information Technology Administration and Management23 graduates a year
$77k4 yrs out

College Scorecard: degree shares (PCIP; each college’s six largest fields are kept, the rest count as everything else) and the field-of-study file, median earnings 4 years after graduating.

Questions about college in White Bear Lake

Is White Bear Lake a college town?

No. About 5 of every 100 White Bear Lake residents are enrolled in college (Census, 2020–24), about the same as Minnesota (6). The largest campus in the city, Century College, has 5,483 students on campus.

What colleges are in White Bear Lake?

Century College is inside the city.

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

Century College in White Bear Lake, 2.2 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 White Bear Lake. 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 →