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Forrest Acres, SC 2Photo: Dr. Blazer · CC BY-SA 4.0
Colleges in and near Forest Acres

The University of South Carolina-Columbia is 4 miles from Forest Acres

No college sits inside Forest Acres’ boundary, but the University of South Carolina-Columbia’s campus in Columbia, with 33,511 students on campus, is 4 miles from the center of town, and Midlands Technical College is 10 miles away in West Columbia. About 8% of Forest Acres’ residents are enrolled in college, above South Carolina (6%).

Benedict CollegeUniversity of South Carolina-Columbia

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 Forest Acres. Colleges are described, not graded.

Within 15 miles
9
44,300 students on campus
Nearest college
2.2 mi
Southeastern College-Columbia
Residents in college
8%
Above SC (6%)
Nearest community college
10 mi
Midlands Technical College · $5,100 tuition
Nearest public university
4 mi
University of South Carolina-Columbia · $12,688 in-state
Median household income
$78K
prices below start here

What stands out about college from Forest Acres

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

Two colleges within 4 milesBenedict College admits 96% of applicants; University of South Carolina-Columbia admits 60%. Together they have 35,086 students on campus.In-state price at University of South Carolina-ColumbiaLiving in South Carolina, the University of South Carolina-Columbia charges $12,688 in tuition and fees; from out of state, $35,972. State residency rules decide which a new arrival pays.A community college 10 miles awayMidlands Technical College in West Columbia: tuition and fees $5,100 a year for South Carolina residents.Students are 8% of residentsAbove South Carolina (6%). The Census counts anyone enrolled, including part-time and online students.
Every college

Colleges within 15 miles of Forest Acres

Seven private colleges within 6.5 miles, one public college within 4 miles, and Midlands Technical College 10 miles away.

5 mi10 mi15 miUniversity of South Carolina-ColumbiaMidlands Technical CollegeBenedict CollegeForest Acres
University or collegeCommunity college
Southeastern College-ColumbiaUniversity or college · For-profit · 249 on campus · 2.2 mi · Columbia97%admitted$32knet price67%graduate$31kearningsBenedict CollegeUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 1,575 on campus · 3 mi · Columbia96%admitted$18knet price24%graduate$32kearningsAllen UniversityUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 668 on campus · 3.1 mi · Columbia73%admitted$11knet price13%graduate$30kearningsColumbia CollegeUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 736 on campus · 3.4 mi · Columbia · mostly online94%admitted$18knet price37%graduate$41kearnings53% of its students study only online; price, graduation and earnings count them too.University of South Carolina-ColumbiaUniversity or college · Public · 33,511 on campus · 4 mi · Columbia60%admitted$23knet price79%graduate$62kearningsSouth University-ColumbiaUniversity or college · For-profit · 240 on campus · 4.5 mi · Columbia · mostly online$28knet price23%graduate$34kearnings53% of its students study only online; price, graduation and earnings count them too.Earnings are reported for all 10 campuses that file with it.Fortis College-ColumbiaUniversity or college · For-profit · 513 on campus · 6.3 mi · Columbia$20knet price43%graduate$36kearningsEarnings are reported for all 5 campuses that file with it.Columbia International UniversityUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 822 on campus · 6.5 mi · Columbia · mostly online94%admitted$26knet price47%graduate$39kearnings69% of its students study only online; price, graduation and earnings count them too.Midlands Technical CollegeCommunity college · Public · 5,986 on campus · 10 mi · West Columbia$5knet price18%graduate$39kearningsTuition and fees: $5,100 a year. The net price counts housing and food at full cost.

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 $75–110k, where Forest Acres’ median household income ($78,306) falls.

Midlands Technical College10 mi · West Columbia · sticker $14,274 · tuition $5,100$8,378a year
Allen University3.1 mi · Columbia · sticker $23,998$12,976a year
Benedict College3 mi · Columbia · sticker $32,000$20,250a year
Columbia College3.4 mi · Columbia · mostly online · sticker $35,258$22,928a year
University of South Carolina-Columbia4 mi · Columbia · sticker $31,638$24,478a year
Fortis College-Columbia6.3 mi · Columbia · sticker $27,793$25,778a year
Columbia International University6.5 mi · Columbia · mostly online · sticker $43,045$28,722a year
South University-Columbia4.5 mi · Columbia · mostly online · sticker $35,322$29,386a year
Southeastern College-Columbia2.2 mi · Columbia · sticker $39,250$31,502a 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 Forest Acres: 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 →Benedict CollegeAllen UniversityColumbia CollegeUniversity of South Carolina-ColumbiaColumbia International UniversityMidlands Technical College
University of South Carolina-Columbia79% graduate$62k earnings$22k typical debt
Midlands Technical College18% graduate$39k earnings$12k typical debt
Benedict College24% graduate$32k earnings$32k typical debt
Columbia International University47% graduate$39k earnings$20k typical debt
Columbia College37% graduate$41k earnings$23k typical debt
Allen University13% graduate$30k earnings$34k typical debt
Fortis College-Columbia43% graduate$36k earnings*$13k typical debt
Southeastern College-Columbia67% graduate$31k earnings$10k typical debt
South University-Columbia23% graduate$34k earnings*$26k 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: South University-Columbia (10); Fortis College-Columbia (5).

Questions about college near Forest Acres

Is Forest Acres a college town?

No. About 8 of every 100 Forest Acres residents are enrolled in college (Census, 2020–24), above South Carolina (6). The nearest campus, Southeastern College-Columbia, is 2.2 miles away in Columbia.

What colleges are near Forest Acres?

9 colleges are within 15 miles. The largest: the University of South Carolina-Columbia (4 miles, 33,511 students on campus), Midlands Technical College (10 miles, 5,986) and Benedict College (3 miles, 1,575).

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

Midlands Technical College in West Columbia, 10 miles away. Tuition and fees are $5,100 a year for South Carolina residents; the federal net price, $4,647, counts housing and food at full cost.

How much does the University of South Carolina-Columbia cost if we live in South Carolina?

Tuition and fees are $12,688 a year in-state and $35,972 from out of state. After grants, families on federal aid paid an average of $12,634 (under $30,000 income) to $28,125 (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 Forest Acres. 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 →