Oberlin College is 8 miles from Birmingham
No college sits inside Birmingham’s boundary, but Oberlin College’s campus in Oberlin, with 2,976 students on campus, is 8 miles from the center of town, and Bowling Green State University-Firelands is 12.9 miles away in Huron. About 0% of Birmingham’s residents are enrolled in college, about the same as Ohio (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 Birmingham. Colleges are described, not graded.
What stands out about college from Birmingham
Facts about the town and its distance to campus; each college’s own figures follow.
Colleges within 15 miles of Birmingham
One private college within 8 miles, and Bowling Green State University-Firelands 12.9 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 Under $30k; the Census has no median household income for Birmingham.
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 Birmingham: 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: Bowling Green State University-Firelands (2).
Questions about college near Birmingham
Is Birmingham a college town?
No. About 0 of every 100 Birmingham residents are enrolled in college (Census, 2020–24), about the same as Ohio (6). The nearest campus, Oberlin College, is 8 miles away in Oberlin.
What colleges are near Birmingham?
Within 15 miles: Oberlin College (8 miles, 2,976 students on campus) and Bowling Green State University-Firelands (12.9 miles, 1,398).
What is the closest community college to Birmingham, and what does it cost?
Bowling Green State University-Firelands in Huron, 12.9 miles away. Tuition and fees are $6,407 a year for Ohio residents; the federal net price, $17,480, counts housing and food at full cost.
How much does Bowling Green State University-Firelands cost if we live in Ohio?
Tuition and fees are $6,407 a year in-state and $14,395 from out of state. After grants, families on federal aid paid an average of $15,207 (under $30,000 income) to $21,882 (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 Birmingham. 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 →