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Canton downtown, Fourth between Lewis and ClarkPhoto: Nyttend · Public domain
Colleges in and near Canton

Canton is a college town: 23 of every 100 residents are students

Culver-Stockton College (905 students on campus) is inside the city. Across Missouri, 6 of every 100 residents are enrolled in college.

College town23% of residents are students

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 Canton. Colleges are described, not graded.

Within 15 miles
1
905 students on campus
Nearest college
0.1 mi
Culver-Stockton College
Residents in college
23%
Above MO (6%)
Nearest community college
69.6 mi
Moberly Area · $4,110 tuition
Nearest public university
55.8 mi
Truman State · $9,838 in-state
Students on campus in Canton
905
next to 2,763 residents

What stands out about college in Canton

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

A college town23 of every 100 Canton residents are enrolled in college, against 6 across Missouri.A college in CantonCulver-Stockton College has 905 students on campus in Canton, 39% of whom graduate within six years.In-state price at Truman StateLiving in Missouri, Truman State University charges $9,838 in tuition and fees; from out of state, $18,566. State residency rules decide which a new arrival pays.A community college 69.6 miles awayMoberly Area Community College in Moberly: tuition and fees $4,110 a year for Missouri residents.
Town & gown

What it’s like to live in Canton

How much the colleges shape the town, from the Census Bureau’s survey of residents.

23 of every 100 Canton residents are in college (MO: 6).

905students on campus at Culver-Stockton College, next to 2,763 residents (dorm students count as residents)
60college students live in Canton households rather than dorms
36.5median age · MO 39.0
36%of homes rented · MO 32%
$563median rent · 45% below the state
CantonCanton, MO
Cost of living$563/mo median rentA+SafetyCrime reported to the FBIAHealthCDC estimatesB−Jobs & incomeIncome, jobs, getting aroundDHandbookTrash day, parking, who to call

How students change Canton’s other numbers

Read the town’s other grades with this in mind. How TownRatings handles college towns →

Jobs & income D

Students who live off campus count in the Census poverty figures: 15.7% of Canton residents are below the poverty line, 16.2% when college students are left out (that estimate could be off by 7 points either way). 0% of the students themselves are below the line. In college towns, the Jobs & income grade uses the rate without students and leaves unemployment out.

Cost of living A+

The Cost grade counts the share of renters paying 30% or more of income on rent, leaving it out only where students are a quarter of residents or more. Here they are 23%, so student incomes still weigh on that figure.

Health B−

CDC’s estimates follow each place’s age mix, and Canton’s median age is 36.5 (Missouri 39.0), so the adult figures describe a young population.

Safety A

Crime is counted per resident, and students who live here count as residents. A college with its own police department reports its incidents under that department, not the city.

Every college

Colleges within 15 miles of Canton

One private college within 0.1 miles. The nearest public four-year college, Truman State University, is 55.8 miles away.

5 mi10 mi15 miCulver-Stockton CollegeCanton
University or collegeCommunity college
Culver-Stockton CollegeUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 905 on campus · In Canton99%admitted$22knet price39%graduate$46kearnings

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 and the nearest public four-year college. Pick your family’s income.

Family income

Starts at $48–75k, where Canton’s median household income ($55,357) falls.

Truman State University55.8 mi · Kirksville · sticker $25,115$12,426a year
Culver-Stockton CollegeIn Canton · sticker $44,112$21,584a 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: 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 →Culver-Stockton CollegeTruman State
Truman State University69% graduate$56k earnings$21k typical debt
Culver-Stockton College39% graduate$46k earnings$26k 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.

Majors

What students study in Canton

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

Business 22%Education 15%Health professions 12%Psychology 10%Parks & recreation 8%Visual & performing arts 8%Everything else 26%

Biggest programs

Business Administration, Management and Operations31 graduates a year
$51k4 yrs out
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods14 graduates a year
$40k4 yrs out
Psychology, General12 graduates a year
$37k4 yrs out
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas11 graduates a year
$40k4 yrs out
Criminal Justice and Corrections11 graduates a year
$45k4 yrs out
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing9 graduates a year
$70k4 yrs out
Accounting and Related Services9 graduates a year
$64k4 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 Canton

Is Canton a college town?

Yes. 23 of every 100 Canton residents are enrolled in college (Census, 2020–24), against 6 across Missouri. Culver-Stockton College has 905 students on campus, next to 2,763 residents.

What colleges are in Canton?

Culver-Stockton College is inside the city. Moberly Area Community College is 69.6 miles away in Moberly.

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

Moberly Area Community College in Moberly, 69.6 miles away. Tuition and fees are $4,110 a year for Missouri residents; the federal net price, $6,810, counts housing and food at full cost.

How hard is it to get into Culver-Stockton College?

Culver-Stockton College admitted 99% of applicants in the Scorecard’s latest year.

Neighbors talk college

Students, parents, alumni and the neighbors next door.

Town Square →
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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 Canton. 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 →