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Colleges in and near Mills River

Galen Health Institutes-Asheville is 7.4 miles from Mills River

No college sits inside Mills River’s boundary, but Galen Health Institutes-Asheville’s campus in Asheville, with 183 students on campus, is 7.4 miles from the center of town, and Blue Ridge Community College is 10.5 miles away in Flat Rock. About 2% of Mills River’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 Mills River. Colleges are described, not graded.

Within 15 miles
4
6,910 students on campus
Nearest college
7.4 mi
Galen Health Institutes-Asheville
Residents in college
2%
Below NC (6%)
Nearest community college
10.5 mi
Blue Ridge · $2,660 tuition
Nearest public university
16.3 mi
University of North Carolina Asheville · $7,501 in-state
Median household income
$105K
prices below start here

What stands out about college from Mills River

Facts about the town and its distance to campus; each college’s own figures follow.

Every college

Colleges within 15 miles of Mills River

Two private colleges within 12.8 miles, and two community colleges. The nearest public four-year college, University of North Carolina Asheville, is 16.3 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 it costs

What would your family pay?

The average a year after grants, for families on federal aid, at the colleges within 15 miles and the nearest public four-year college. Pick your family’s income.

Family income

Starts at $75–110k, where Mills River’s median household income ($105,398) 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: across is the share who graduate, up is what they earn ten years after starting.

$0$20k$40k$60k$80k0%25%50%75%100%Graduate →Blue RidgeAsheville-Buncombe TechnicalUniversity of North Carolina Asheville
Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College40% graduate$36k earnings$16k typical debt
University of North Carolina Asheville54% graduate$44k earnings$20k typical debt
Blue Ridge Community College50% graduate$36k earnings$12k typical debt
Brevard College49% graduate$44k earnings$25k 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.

Questions about college near Mills River

Is Mills River a college town?

No. About 2 of every 100 Mills River residents are enrolled in college (Census, 2020–24), below North Carolina (6). The nearest campus, Galen Health Institutes-Asheville, is 7.4 miles away in Asheville.

What colleges are near Mills River?

Within 15 miles: Galen Health Institutes-Asheville (7.4 miles, 183 students on campus), Blue Ridge Community College (10.5 miles, 1,647), Brevard College (12.8 miles, 779) and Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College (13.2 miles, 4,301).

What is the closest community college to Mills River, and what does it cost?

Blue Ridge Community College in Flat Rock, 10.5 miles away. Tuition and fees are $2,660 a year for North Carolina residents; the federal net price, $5,756, 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.

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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 Mills River. 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 →