Photo: RebelAt of English Wikipedia · CC BY-SA 3.0Jefferson City is home to Lincoln University
Lincoln University (1,656 students on campus) is inside the city. About 6% of Jefferson City’s residents are enrolled in college, about the same as Missouri (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 Jefferson City. Colleges are described, not graded.
What stands out about college in Jefferson City
Facts about the town and its distance to campus; each college’s own figures follow.
Colleges within 15 miles of Jefferson City
It is public. Every other college is more than 15 miles from Jefferson City.
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. Pick your family’s income.
Starts at $48–75k, where Jefferson City’s median household income ($66,371) 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 within 15 miles of Jefferson City: 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.
What students study in Jefferson City
Share of bachelor’s and associate degrees by field at Lincoln University, weighted by undergraduates; then the biggest programs.
Biggest programs
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 Jefferson City
Is Jefferson City a college town?
No. About 6 of every 100 Jefferson City residents are enrolled in college (Census, 2020–24), about the same as Missouri (6). The largest campus in the city, Lincoln University, has 1,656 students on campus.
What colleges are in Jefferson City?
Lincoln University is inside the city. State Technical College of Missouri is 20.7 miles away in Linn.
What is the closest community college to Jefferson City, and what does it cost?
State Technical College of Missouri in Linn, 20.7 miles away. Tuition and fees are $8,160 a year for Missouri residents; the federal net price, $15,190, counts housing and food at full cost.
How much does Lincoln University cost if we live in Missouri?
Tuition and fees are $9,796 a year in-state and $17,692 from out of state. After grants, families on federal aid paid an average of $20,070 (under $30,000 income) to $19,984 (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 Jefferson City. 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 →