The University of South Carolina-Columbia is 11.8 miles from Hopkins
No college sits inside Hopkins’ boundary, but the University of South Carolina-Columbia’s campus in Columbia, with 33,511 students on campus, is 11.8 miles from the center of town, and Midlands Technical College is 15.2 miles away in West Columbia. About 1% of Hopkins’ residents are enrolled in college, below South Carolina (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 Hopkins. Colleges are described, not graded.
What stands out about college from Hopkins
Facts about the town and its distance to campus; each college’s own figures follow.
Colleges within 15 miles of Hopkins
Five private colleges within 14.9 miles, and one public college within 11.8 miles.
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 $48–75k, where Hopkins’ median household income ($50,063) 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 Hopkins: 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: South University-Columbia (10).
Questions about college near Hopkins
Is Hopkins a college town?
No. About 1 of every 100 Hopkins residents are enrolled in college (Census, 2020–24), below South Carolina (6). The nearest campus, the University of South Carolina-Columbia, is 11.8 miles away in Columbia.
What colleges are near Hopkins?
Within 15 miles: the University of South Carolina-Columbia (11.8 miles, 33,511 students on campus), Allen University (12 miles, 668), Benedict College (12.2 miles, 1,575), Southeastern College-Columbia (12.7 miles, 249), Columbia College (14.1 miles, 736) and South University-Columbia (14.9 miles, 240).
What is the closest community college to Hopkins, and what does it cost?
Midlands Technical College in West Columbia, 15.2 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.
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 Hopkins. 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 →