Photo: Jared Winkler · CC BY-SA 4.0Union Adventist University is 8.1 miles from Roca
No college sits inside Roca’s boundary, but Union Adventist University’s campus in Lincoln, with 635 students on campus, is 8.1 miles from the center of town, and Southeast Community College Area is 11.3 miles away in Lincoln. About 7% of Roca’s residents are enrolled in college, about the same as Nebraska (7%).
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 Roca. Colleges are described, not graded.
What stands out about college from Roca
Facts about the town and its distance to campus; each college’s own figures follow.
Colleges within 15 miles of Roca
Three private colleges within 12.5 miles, one public college within 11.2 miles, and Southeast Community College Area 11.3 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 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 Roca’s median household income ($100,000) 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 Roca: 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: University of Nebraska-Lincoln (2).
Questions about college near Roca
Is Roca a college town?
No. About 7 of every 100 Roca residents are enrolled in college (Census, 2020–24), about the same as Nebraska (7). The nearest campus, Union Adventist University, is 8.1 miles away in Lincoln.
What colleges are near Roca?
Within 15 miles: Union Adventist University (8.1 miles, 635 students on campus), Bryan College of Health Sciences (9.6 miles, 701), the University of Nebraska-Lincoln (11.2 miles, 22,418), Southeast Community College Area (11.3 miles, 6,951) and Nebraska Wesleyan University (12.5 miles, 1,599).
What is the closest community college to Roca, and what does it cost?
Southeast Community College Area in Lincoln, 11.3 miles away. Tuition and fees are $3,690 a year for Nebraska residents; the federal net price, $9,171, counts housing and food at full cost.
How much does the University of Nebraska-Lincoln cost if we live in Nebraska?
Tuition and fees are $10,434 a year in-state and $28,584 from out of state. After grants, families on federal aid paid an average of $12,751 (under $30,000 income) to $22,346 (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 Roca. 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 →