Photo: Bill Marrs · CC BY-SA 3.0River Valley Community College is 10.1 miles from Plainfield
No college sits inside Plainfield’s boundary, but River Valley Community College’s campus in Claremont, with 484 students on campus, is 10.1 miles from the center of town. About 5% of Plainfield’s residents are enrolled in college, about the same as New Hampshire (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 Plainfield. Colleges are described, not graded.
What stands out about college from Plainfield
Facts about the town and its distance to campus; each college’s own figures follow.
Colleges within 15 miles of Plainfield
One private college within 11.1 miles, and River Valley Community College 10.1 miles away. The nearest public four-year college, Plymouth State University, is 33.6 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 and the nearest public four-year college. Pick your family’s income.
Starts at Over $110k, where Plainfield’s median household income ($122,656) 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: 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 Plainfield
Is Plainfield a college town?
No. About 5 of every 100 Plainfield residents are enrolled in college (Census, 2020–24), about the same as New Hampshire (6). The nearest campus, River Valley Community College, is 10.1 miles away in Claremont.
What colleges are near Plainfield?
Within 15 miles: River Valley Community College (10.1 miles, 484 students on campus) and Dartmouth College (11.1 miles, 6,746).
What is the closest community college to Plainfield, and what does it cost?
River Valley Community College in Claremont, 10.1 miles away. Tuition and fees are $6,940 a year for New Hampshire residents; the federal net price, $14,804, counts housing and food at full cost.
How much does Plymouth State University cost if we live in New Hampshire?
Tuition and fees are $14,626 a year in-state and $25,566 from out of state. After grants, families on federal aid paid an average of $14,676 (under $30,000 income) to $23,020 (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 Plainfield. 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 →