Photo: Brian Stansberry · CC BY 3.0The University of the South is 13.9 miles from Hillsboro
No college sits inside Hillsboro’s boundary, but The University of the South’s campus in Sewanee, with 1,693 students on campus, is 13.9 miles from the center of town, and Motlow State Community College is 19.6 miles away in Tullahoma. About 3% of Hillsboro’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 Hillsboro. Colleges are described, not graded.
What stands out about college from Hillsboro
Facts about the town and its distance to campus; each college’s own figures follow.
Colleges within 15 miles of Hillsboro
One private college within 13.9 miles. The nearest public four-year college, Middle Tennessee State University, is 38.2 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 and the nearest public four-year college. Pick your family’s income.
Starts at Under $30k; the Census has no median household income for Hillsboro.
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: 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 Hillsboro
Is Hillsboro a college town?
No. About 3 of every 100 Hillsboro residents are enrolled in college (Census, 2020–24), about the same as Tennessee (5). The nearest campus, The University of the South, is 13.9 miles away in Sewanee.
What colleges are near Hillsboro?
Within 15 miles: The University of the South (13.9 miles, 1,693 students on campus).
What is the closest community college to Hillsboro, and what does it cost?
Motlow State Community College in Tullahoma, 19.6 miles away. Tuition and fees are $4,738 a year for Tennessee residents; the federal net price, $15,742, counts housing and food at full cost.
How much does Middle Tennessee State University cost if we live in Tennessee?
Tuition and fees are $10,266 a year in-state and $31,574 from out of state. After grants, families on federal aid paid an average of $9,289 (under $30,000 income) to $19,046 (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 Hillsboro. 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 →