Photo: Doug Kerr from Albany, NY, United States · CC BY-SA 2.0Hamilton College is 8.4 miles from Waterville
No college sits inside Waterville’s boundary, but Hamilton College’s campus in Clinton, with 2,048 students on campus, is 8.4 miles from the center of town, and Saint Elizabeth College of Nursing is 11.9 miles away in Utica. About 2% of Waterville’s residents are enrolled in college, below New York (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 Waterville. Colleges are described, not graded.
What stands out about college from Waterville
Facts about the town and its distance to campus; each college’s own figures follow.
Colleges within 15 miles of Waterville
Four private colleges within 12.7 miles, one public college within 13.4 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 $75–110k, where Waterville’s median household income ($82,273) 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 Waterville: 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 Waterville
Is Waterville a college town?
No. About 2 of every 100 Waterville residents are enrolled in college (Census, 2020–24), below New York (7). The nearest campus, Hamilton College, is 8.4 miles away in Clinton.
What colleges are near Waterville?
Within 15 miles: Hamilton College (8.4 miles, 2,048 students on campus), Colgate University (11 miles, 3,146), Saint Elizabeth College of Nursing (11.9 miles, 146), Utica University (12.7 miles, 2,130), Mohawk Valley Community College (13 miles, 5,194) and SUNY Morrisville (13.4 miles, 1,970).
What is the closest community college to Waterville, and what does it cost?
Saint Elizabeth College of Nursing in Utica, 11.9 miles away. Tuition and fees are $20,180 a year for New York residents.
How much does SUNY Morrisville cost if we live in New York?
Tuition and fees are $8,825 a year in-state and $19,245 from out of state. After grants, families on federal aid paid an average of $11,756 (under $30,000 income) to $23,766 (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 Waterville. 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 →