Photo: Jefferson National Expansion Memorial, NPS from St. Louis, MO, USA · CC BY 2.0
Colleges in and near St. Louis
St. Louis is home to five colleges, with about 20,000 students on campus
Saint Louis University (16,056 students on campus) and Ranken Technical College (1,584) are inside the city, and Washington University in St Louis (15,851) is 3.7 miles from the center, in St. Louis. About 8% of St. Louis’ residents are enrolled in college, above 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 St. Louis. Colleges are described, not graded.
Within 15 miles
17
75,015 students on campus
Nearest college
0.5 mi
Saint Louis University
Residents in college
8%
Above MO (6%)
Nearest community college
1.2 mi
Ranken Technical College · $18,008 tuition
Nearest public university
1.1 mi
Harris-Stowe State · $7,008 in-state
Median household income
$56K
prices below start here
What stands out about college in St. Louis
Facts about the town and its distance to campus; each college’s own figures follow.
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 St. Louis’ median household income ($56,160) 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.
Outcomes
Do students finish, and does it pay?
Each dot is a college within 15 miles of St. Louis: across is the share who graduate, up is what they earn ten years after starting.
Saint Louis University80% graduate$71k earnings$25k typical debt
Washington University in St Louis94% graduate$86k earnings$18k typical debt
University of Missouri-St Louis57% graduate$53k earnings$20k typical debt
Saint Louis Community College21% graduate$35k earnings$7k 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: Chamberlain University-Missouri (15); St Louis College of Health Careers-Fenton (2).
Majors
What students study in St. Louis
Share of bachelor’s and associate degrees by field across St. Louis’ 5 colleges, weighted by undergraduates; then the biggest programs.
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical NursingBarnes-Jewish College Goldfarb School of Nursing · 342 graduates a year
$79k4 yrs out
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical NursingSaint Louis University · 220 graduates a year
$82k4 yrs out
Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/FitnessSaint Louis University · 117 graduates a year
$77k4 yrs out
Biology, GeneralSaint Louis University · 103 graduates a year
$66k4 yrs out
Psychology, GeneralSaint Louis University · 99 graduates a year
$59k4 yrs out
Finance and Financial Management ServicesSaint Louis University · 89 graduates a year
$94k4 yrs out
MarketingSaint Louis University · 62 graduates a year
$72k4 yrs out
Biology, GeneralHarris-Stowe State University · 59 graduates a year
$49k4 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 St. Louis
Is St. Louis a college town?
No. About 8 of every 100 St. Louis residents are enrolled in college (Census, 2020–24), above Missouri (6). The largest campus in the city, Saint Louis University, has 16,056 students on campus.
What colleges are in St. Louis?
Saint Louis University, Ranken Technical College, Harris-Stowe State University, the University of Health Sciences and Pharmacy in St. Louis and 1 more are inside the city. Washington University in St Louis is 3.7 miles from the center, in St. Louis.
What is the closest community college to St. Louis, and what does it cost?
Ranken Technical College in Saint Louis, 1.2 miles away. Tuition and fees are $18,008 a year for Missouri residents; the federal net price, $18,795, counts housing and food at full cost.
How much does Harris-Stowe State University cost if we live in Missouri?
Tuition and fees are $7,008 a year in-state and $11,640 from out of state. After grants, families on federal aid paid an average of $9,827 (under $30,000 income) to $6,238 (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 St. Louis. 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 →
Photo: Jefferson National Expansion Memorial, NPS from St. Louis, MO, USA · CC BY 2.0