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Dayton Skyline - Sunset September 2022 (cropped)Photo: Blervis · CC BY 4.0
Colleges in and near Dayton

Dayton is home to three colleges, with about 22,000 students on campus

Sinclair Community College (10,933 students on campus) and the University of Dayton (10,464) are inside the city. About 12% of Dayton’s residents are enrolled in college, above Ohio (6%).

Sinclair Community CollegeUniversity of Dayton

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 Dayton. Colleges are described, not graded.

Within 15 miles
9
32,726 students on campus
Nearest college
1.9 mi
Sinclair
Residents in college
12%
Above OH (6%)
Nearest community college
1.9 mi
Sinclair · $3,675 tuition
Nearest public university
1.9 mi
Sinclair · $3,675 in-state
Median household income
$45K
prices below start here

What stands out about college in Dayton

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

Two colleges within 3.4 milesUniversity of Dayton admits 65% of applicants. Together they have 21,397 students on campus.A community college 1.9 miles awaySinclair Community College in Dayton: tuition and fees $3,675 a year for Ohio residents.In-state price at SinclairLiving in Ohio, Sinclair Community College charges $3,675 in tuition and fees; from out of state, $8,556. State residency rules decide which a new arrival pays.Students are 12% of residentsAbove Ohio (6%). The Census counts anyone enrolled, including part-time and online students.
Every college

Colleges within 15 miles of Dayton

Six private colleges within 10.1 miles, two public colleges within 7.2 miles, and Sinclair Community College 1.9 miles away.

5 mi10 mi15 miSinclairUniversity of DaytonWright StateDayton
University or collegeCommunity college
Sinclair Community CollegeCommunity college · Public · 10,933 on campus · In Dayton$6knet price41%graduate$38kearningsTuition and fees: $3,675 a year. The net price counts housing and food at full cost.Ohio Medical Career CollegeUniversity or college · For-profit · 121 on campus · In Dayton$16knet price79%graduateUniversity of DaytonUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 10,464 on campus · In Dayton65%admitted$30knet price80%graduate$76kearningsUnited Theological SeminaryUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 336 on campus · 4.6 mi · DaytonGraduate students only; the Scorecard reports no undergraduate figures.Kettering CollegeUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 722 on campus · 6.2 mi · Kettering77%admitted$22knet price65%graduate$67kearningsAir Force Institute of Technology-Graduate School of Engineering & ManagementUniversity or college · Public · 616 on campus · 6.2 mi · Wright-Patterson AFBGraduate students only; the Scorecard reports no undergraduate figures.Wright State UniversityUniversity or college · Public · 8,941 on campus · 7.2 mi · Dayton96%admitted$15knet price42%graduate$50kearningsEarnings are reported for all 2 campuses that file with it.The Modern College of DesignUniversity or college · For-profit · 133 on campus · 7.9 mi · Kettering92%admitted$39knet price69%graduate$42kearningsFortis College-CentervilleUniversity or college · For-profit · 460 on campus · 10.1 mi · Centerville$29knet price44%graduate$35kearningsEarnings are reported for all 3 campuses that file with it.

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. Pick your family’s income.

Family income

Starts at $30–48k, where Dayton’s median household income ($45,247) falls.

Sinclair Community CollegeIn Dayton · sticker $11,003 · tuition $3,675$4,379a year
Wright State University7.2 mi · Dayton · sticker $24,373$11,631a year
Kettering College6.2 mi · Kettering · sticker $32,839$15,162a year
Ohio Medical Career CollegeIn Dayton · sticker $20,552$17,559a year
University of DaytonIn Dayton · sticker $65,881$21,595a year
Fortis College-Centerville10.1 mi · Centerville · sticker $35,305$28,526a year
The Modern College of Design7.9 mi · Kettering · sticker $47,229$36,016a year

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 within 15 miles of Dayton: 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 →SinclairUniversity of DaytonKettering CollegeWright StateThe Modern College of DesignFortis College-Centerville
Sinclair Community College41% graduate$38k earnings$12k typical debt
University of Dayton80% graduate$76k earnings$23k typical debt
Wright State University42% graduate$50k earnings*$23k typical debt
Kettering College65% graduate$67k earnings$24k typical debt
Fortis College-Centerville44% graduate$35k earnings*$13k typical debt
The Modern College of Design69% graduate$42k earnings$12k 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. *Reported for all the campuses that file together: Wright State (2); Fortis College-Centerville (3).

Majors

What students study in Dayton

Share of bachelor’s and associate degrees by field across Dayton’s 3 colleges, weighted by undergraduates; then the biggest programs.

Business 37%Health professions 17%Engineering 6%Public safety 4%Computer science 4%Communication 3%Everything else 30%

Biggest programs

Finance and Financial Management ServicesUniversity of Dayton · 171 graduates a year
$96k4 yrs out
Mechanical EngineeringUniversity of Dayton · 166 graduates a year
$88k4 yrs out
MarketingUniversity of Dayton · 155 graduates a year
$81k4 yrs out
Communication and Media StudiesUniversity of Dayton · 123 graduates a year
$67k4 yrs out
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and MethodsUniversity of Dayton · 106 graduates a year
$48k4 yrs out
Psychology, GeneralUniversity of Dayton · 97 graduates a year
$55k4 yrs out
Electrical, Electronics, and Communications EngineeringUniversity of Dayton · 80 graduates a year
$96k4 yrs out
Biology, GeneralUniversity of Dayton · 80 graduates a year
$67k4 yrs out

College Scorecard: degree shares (PCIP; each college’s six largest fields are kept, the rest count as everything else) and the field-of-study file, median earnings 4 years after graduating.

Questions about college in Dayton

Is Dayton a college town?

No. About 12 of every 100 Dayton residents are enrolled in college (Census, 2020–24), above Ohio (6). The largest campus in the city, Sinclair Community College, has 10,933 students on campus.

What colleges are in Dayton?

Sinclair Community College, the University of Dayton and Ohio Medical Career College are inside the city.

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

Sinclair Community College in Dayton, 1.9 miles away. Tuition and fees are $3,675 a year for Ohio residents; the federal net price, $5,992, counts housing and food at full cost.

How much does Sinclair Community College cost if we live in Ohio?

Tuition and fees are $3,675 a year in-state and $8,556 from out of state. After grants, families on federal aid paid an average of $4,592 (under $30,000 income) to $8,785 (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 Dayton. 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 →