Northern State University is 13.6 miles from Westport
No college sits inside Westport’s boundary, but Northern State University’s campus in Aberdeen, with 1,912 students on campus, is 13.6 miles from the center of town, and Lake Area Technical College is 85.5 miles away in Watertown. About 2% of Westport’s residents are enrolled in college, about the same as South Dakota (5%).
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 Westport. Colleges are described, not graded.
What stands out about college from Westport
Facts about the town and its distance to campus; each college’s own figures follow.
Colleges within 15 miles of Westport
It is public. Every other college is more than 15 miles from Westport.
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 Westport’s median household income ($58,942) 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 Westport: 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 Westport
Is Westport a college town?
No. About 2 of every 100 Westport residents are enrolled in college (Census, 2020–24), about the same as South Dakota (5). The nearest campus, Northern State University, is 13.6 miles away in Aberdeen.
What colleges are near Westport?
Within 15 miles: Northern State University (13.6 miles, 1,912 students on campus).
What is the closest community college to Westport, and what does it cost?
Lake Area Technical College in Watertown, 85.5 miles away. Tuition and fees are $6,718 a year for South Dakota residents; the federal net price, $15,979, counts housing and food at full cost.
How much does Northern State University cost if we live in South Dakota?
Tuition and fees are $8,845 a year in-state and $11,947 from out of state. After grants, families on federal aid paid an average of $10,762 (under $30,000 income) to $17,933 (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 Westport. 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 →