Photo: Ceh2624 · CC BY-SA 3.0Winston-Salem State University is 8.1 miles from Kernersville
No college sits inside Kernersville’s boundary, but Winston-Salem State University’s campus in Winston-Salem, with 3,971 students on campus, is 8.1 miles from the center of town, and Forsyth Technical Community College is 10.9 miles away in Winston-Salem. About 6% of Kernersville’s residents are enrolled in college, about the same as 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 Kernersville. Colleges are described, not graded.
What stands out about college from Kernersville
Facts about the town and its distance to campus; each college’s own figures follow.
Colleges within 15 miles of Kernersville
Five private colleges within 11.1 miles, two public colleges within 8.8 miles, and two community colleges.
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 Kernersville’s median household income ($71,918) 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 Kernersville: 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 Kernersville
Is Kernersville a college town?
No. About 6 of every 100 Kernersville residents are enrolled in college (Census, 2020–24), about the same as North Carolina (6). The nearest campus, Winston-Salem State University, is 8.1 miles away in Winston-Salem.
What colleges are near Kernersville?
9 colleges are within 15 miles. The largest: Wake Forest University (11.1 miles, 8,108 students on campus), Guilford Technical Community College (11.7 miles, 6,787) and High Point University (10.5 miles, 5,725).
What is the closest community college to Kernersville, and what does it cost?
Forsyth Technical Community College in Winston-Salem, 10.9 miles away. Tuition and fees are $2,276 a year for North Carolina residents; the federal net price, $7,200, counts housing and food at full cost.
How much does Winston-Salem State University cost if we live in North Carolina?
Tuition and fees are $6,126 a year in-state and $16,782 from out of state. After grants, families on federal aid paid an average of $11,463 (under $30,000 income) to $21,405 (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 Kernersville. 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 →