Belhaven Commercial Historic District · Photo: Nyttend · Public domainGalen Health Institutes-Asheville is 3.8 miles from Bent Creek
No college sits inside Bent Creek’s boundary, but Galen Health Institutes-Asheville’s campus in Asheville, with 183 students on campus, is 3.8 miles from the center of town, and Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College is 5.4 miles away in Asheville. About 1% of Bent Creek’s residents are enrolled in college, below North Carolina (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 Bent Creek. Colleges are described, not graded.
What stands out about college from Bent Creek
Facts about the town and its distance to campus; each college’s own figures follow.
Colleges within 15 miles of Bent Creek
Two private colleges within 12 miles, one public college within 7.9 miles, and Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College 5.4 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 $48–75k, where Bent Creek’s median household income ($72,176) 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 Bent Creek: 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.
Questions about college near Bent Creek
Is Bent Creek a college town?
No. About 1 of every 100 Bent Creek residents are enrolled in college (Census, 2020–24), below North Carolina (6). The nearest campus, Galen Health Institutes-Asheville, is 3.8 miles away in Asheville.
What colleges are near Bent Creek?
Within 15 miles: Galen Health Institutes-Asheville (3.8 miles, 183 students on campus), Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College (5.4 miles, 4,301), the University of North Carolina Asheville (7.9 miles, 2,891) and Warren Wilson College (12 miles, 797).
What is the closest community college to Bent Creek, and what does it cost?
Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College in Asheville, 5.4 miles away. Tuition and fees are $2,882 a year for North Carolina residents; the federal net price, $11,602, counts housing and food at full cost.
How much does the University of North Carolina Asheville cost if we live in North Carolina?
Tuition and fees are $7,501 a year in-state and $24,849 from out of state. After grants, families on federal aid paid an average of $8,219 (under $30,000 income) to $18,786 (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 Bent Creek. 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 →