Mission University is 8.2 miles from Willard
No college sits inside Willard’s boundary, but Mission University’s campus in Springfield, with 268 students on campus, is 8.2 miles from the center of town, and Ozarks Technical Community College is 9.2 miles away in Springfield. About 2% of Willard’s residents are enrolled in college, below 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 Willard. Colleges are described, not graded.
What stands out about college from Willard
Facts about the town and its distance to campus; each college’s own figures follow.
Colleges within 15 miles of Willard
Five private colleges within 9.8 miles, one public college within 9.9 miles, and Ozarks Technical Community College 9.2 miles away.
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 $75–110k, where Willard’s median household income ($84,600) 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 Willard: 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. *Reported for all the campuses that file together: Drury University (2); Drury University-College of Continuing Professional Studies (2); Evangel University (3).
Questions about college near Willard
Is Willard a college town?
No. About 2 of every 100 Willard residents are enrolled in college (Census, 2020–24), below Missouri (6). The nearest campus, Mission University, is 8.2 miles away in Springfield.
What colleges are near Willard?
7 colleges are within 15 miles. The largest: Missouri State University-Springfield (9.9 miles, 19,643 students on campus), Ozarks Technical Community College (9.2 miles, 7,896) and Evangel University (9.8 miles, 1,776).
What is the closest community college to Willard, and what does it cost?
Ozarks Technical Community College in Springfield, 9.2 miles away. Tuition and fees are $4,512 a year for Missouri residents; the federal net price, $6,936, counts housing and food at full cost.
How much does Ozarks Technical Community College cost if we live in Missouri?
Tuition and fees are $4,512 a year in-state and $7,200 from out of state. After grants, families on federal aid paid an average of $6,217 (under $30,000 income) to $9,854 (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 Willard. 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 →