Photo: GatewayPolitics · CC BY-SA 4.0Meridian Institute of Surgical Assisting is 11.6 miles from Ashland City
No college sits inside Ashland City’s boundary, but Meridian Institute of Surgical Assisting’s campus in Nashville, with 751 students on campus, is 11.6 miles from the center of town, and Nashville State Community College is 12.9 miles away in Nashville. About 4% of Ashland City’s residents are enrolled in college, about the same as Tennessee (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 Ashland City. Colleges are described, not graded.
What stands out about college from Ashland City
Facts about the town and its distance to campus; each college’s own figures follow.
Colleges within 15 miles of Ashland City
Five private colleges within 14.9 miles, one public college within 13 miles, and Nashville State Community College 12.9 miles away.
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 $75–110k, where Ashland City’s median household income ($79,231) 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 Ashland City: 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 Ashland City
Is Ashland City a college town?
No. About 4 of every 100 Ashland City residents are enrolled in college (Census, 2020–24), about the same as Tennessee (5). The nearest campus, Meridian Institute of Surgical Assisting, is 11.6 miles away in Nashville.
What colleges are near Ashland City?
7 colleges are within 15 miles. The largest: Vanderbilt University (14.9 miles, 12,817 students on campus), Tennessee State University (13 miles, 7,546) and Nashville State Community College (12.9 miles, 5,120).
What is the closest community college to Ashland City, and what does it cost?
Nashville State Community College in Nashville, 12.9 miles away. Tuition and fees are $4,730 a year for Tennessee residents; the federal net price, $6,777, counts housing and food at full cost.
How much does Tennessee State University cost if we live in Tennessee?
Tuition and fees are $8,616 a year in-state and $22,416 from out of state. After grants, families on federal aid paid an average of $15,005 (under $30,000 income) to $20,099 (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 Ashland City. 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 →