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 Fairborn. Colleges are described, not graded.
Within 15 miles
16
43,694 students on campus
Nearest college
3.3 mi
Wright State
Residents in college
9%
Above OH (6%)
Nearest community college
10.6 mi
Sinclair · $3,675 tuition
Nearest public university
3.3 mi
Wright State · $11,522 in-state
Median household income
$62K
prices below start here
What stands out about college in Fairborn
Facts about the town and its distance to campus; each college’s own figures follow.
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 $48–75k, where Fairborn’s median household income ($61,751) 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.
Outcomes
Do students finish, and does it pay?
Each dot is a college within 15 miles of Fairborn: across is the share who graduate, up is what they earn ten years after starting.
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
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 Fairborn
Share of bachelor’s and associate degrees by field at Wright State University, weighted by undergraduates; then the biggest programs.
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing141 graduates a year
$77k4 yrs out
Psychology, General127 graduates a year
$47k4 yrs out
Business Administration, Management and Operations88 graduates a year
$60k4 yrs out
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods81 graduates a year
$43k4 yrs out
Mechanical Engineering66 graduates a year
$83k4 yrs out
Finance and Financial Management Services62 graduates a year
$72k4 yrs out
Computer and Information Sciences, General60 graduates a year
$92k4 yrs out
Business/Commerce, General60 graduates a year
$58k4 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 Fairborn
Is Fairborn a college town?
No. About 9 of every 100 Fairborn residents are enrolled in college (Census, 2020–24), above Ohio (6). The largest campus in the city, Wright State University, has 8,941 students on campus.
What colleges are in Fairborn?
Wright State University is inside the city. Sinclair Community College is 10.6 miles away in Dayton.
What is the closest community college to Fairborn, and what does it cost?
Sinclair Community College in Dayton, 10.6 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 Wright State University cost if we live in Ohio?
Tuition and fees are $11,522 a year in-state and $21,222 from out of state. After grants, families on federal aid paid an average of $11,952 (under $30,000 income) to $20,720 (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 Fairborn. 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 →
Fairborn Theatre · Photo: Nyttend · Public domain