Photo: Jennifer · CC BY-SA 4.0The University of Rhode Island is 6.8 miles from Carolina
No college sits inside Carolina’s boundary, but the University of Rhode Island’s campus in Kingston, with 16,621 students on campus, is 6.8 miles from the center of town, and Community College of Rhode Island is 19.7 miles away in Warwick. About 2% of Carolina’s residents are enrolled in college, below Rhode Island (8%).
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 Carolina. Colleges are described, not graded.
What stands out about college from Carolina
Facts about the town and its distance to campus; each college’s own figures follow.
Colleges within 15 miles of Carolina
It is public. Every other college is more than 15 miles from Carolina.
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 Over $110k, where Carolina’s median household income ($140,196) 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 Carolina: 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 Carolina
Is Carolina a college town?
No. About 2 of every 100 Carolina residents are enrolled in college (Census, 2020–24), below Rhode Island (8). The nearest campus, the University of Rhode Island, is 6.8 miles away in Kingston.
What colleges are near Carolina?
Within 15 miles: the University of Rhode Island (6.8 miles, 16,621 students on campus).
What is the closest community college to Carolina, and what does it cost?
Community College of Rhode Island in Warwick, 19.7 miles away. Tuition and fees are $5,550 a year for Rhode Island residents; the federal net price, $6,513, counts housing and food at full cost.
How much does the University of Rhode Island cost if we live in Rhode Island?
Tuition and fees are $16,942 a year in-state and $37,146 from out of state. After grants, families on federal aid paid an average of $14,368 (under $30,000 income) to $28,460 (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 Carolina. 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 →