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The United States Post Office in McDonald, Tennessee, Bradley CountyPhoto: Harrison Keely · CC BY 4.0
Colleges in and near McDonald

Southern Adventist University is 5.6 miles from McDonald

No college sits inside McDonald’s boundary, but Southern Adventist University’s campus in Collegedale, with 2,956 students on campus, is 5.6 miles from the center of town, and Cleveland State Community College is 8.7 miles away in Cleveland. About 6% of McDonald’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 McDonald. Colleges are described, not graded.

Within 15 miles
6
14,343 students on campus
Nearest college
5.6 mi
Southern Adventist University
Residents in college
6%
About the same as TN (5%)
Nearest community college
8.7 mi
Cleveland State · $4,762 tuition
Nearest public university
18.3 mi
The University of Tennessee-Chattanooga · $10,448 in-state
Median household income
$96K
prices below start here

What stands out about college from McDonald

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

A university 5.6 miles awaySouthern Adventist University has 2,956 students on campus in Collegedale, 49% of whom graduate within six years.A community college 8.7 miles awayCleveland State Community College in Cleveland: tuition and fees $4,762 a year for Tennessee residents.In-state price at The University of Tennessee-ChattanoogaLiving in Tennessee, The University of Tennessee-Chattanooga charges $10,448 in tuition and fees; from out of state, $18,512. State residency rules decide which a new arrival pays.Students are 6% of residentsAbout the same as Tennessee (5%). The Census counts anyone enrolled, including part-time and online students.
Every college

Colleges within 15 miles of McDonald

Four private colleges within 14.4 miles, and two community colleges. The nearest public four-year college, The University of Tennessee-Chattanooga, is 18.3 miles away.

5 mi10 mi15 miChattanooga StateLee UniversitySouthern Adventist UniversityMcDonald
University or collegeCommunity college
Southern Adventist UniversityUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 2,956 on campus · 5.6 mi · Collegedale66%admitted$24knet price49%graduate$54kearningsLee UniversityUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 3,258 on campus · 7.6 mi · Cleveland71%admitted$19knet price63%graduate$43kearningsCleveland State Community CollegeCommunity college · Public · 2,758 on campus · 8.7 mi · Cleveland$6knet price37%graduate$37kearningsTuition and fees: $4,762 a year. The net price counts housing and food at full cost.Miller-Motte College-ChattanoogaUniversity or college · For-profit · 236 on campus · 12.3 mi · Chattanooga · mostly online$24knet price60%graduate$31kearnings94% of its students study only online; price, graduation and earnings count them too.Earnings are reported for all 22 campuses that file with it.Chattanooga State Community CollegeCommunity college · Public · 4,824 on campus · 14.3 mi · Chattanooga$5knet price26%graduate$38kearningsTuition and fees: $4,772 a year. The net price counts housing and food at full cost.Chattanooga College Medical Dental and & Technical CareersUniversity or college · For-profit · 311 on campus · 14.4 mi · Chattanooga$34knet price12%graduate$26kearnings

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 and the nearest public four-year college. Pick your family’s income.

Family income

Starts at $75–110k, where McDonald’s median household income ($95,698) falls.

Chattanooga State Community College14.3 mi · Chattanooga · sticker $13,348 · tuition $4,772$8,002a year
Cleveland State Community College8.7 mi · Cleveland · sticker $14,834 · tuition $4,762$9,083a year
The University of Tennessee-Chattanooga18.3 mi · Chattanooga · sticker $25,489$17,374a year
Lee University7.6 mi · Cleveland · sticker $35,688$19,699a year
Southern Adventist University5.6 mi · Collegedale · sticker $38,618$26,679a year
Miller-Motte College-Chattanooga12.3 mi · Chattanooga · mostly online · sticker $29,203$29,203a year
Chattanooga College Medical Dental and & Technical Careers14.4 mi · Chattanooga · sticker $37,746—a 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: 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 →Southern Adventist UniversityLee UniversityCleveland StateChattanooga StateChattanooga College Medical Dental and & Technical CareersThe University of Tennessee-Chattanooga
The University of Tennessee-Chattanooga50% graduate$51k earnings$20k typical debt
Chattanooga State Community College26% graduate$38k earnings$10k typical debt
Lee University63% graduate$43k earnings$26k typical debt
Southern Adventist University49% graduate$54k earnings$24k typical debt
Cleveland State Community College37% graduate$37k earnings$8k typical debt
Chattanooga College Medical Dental and & Technical Careers12% graduate$26k earnings$8k typical debt
Miller-Motte College-Chattanooga60% graduate$31k earnings*$16k 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: Miller-Motte College-Chattanooga (22).

Questions about college near McDonald

Is McDonald a college town?

No. About 6 of every 100 McDonald residents are enrolled in college (Census, 2020–24), about the same as Tennessee (5). The nearest campus, Southern Adventist University, is 5.6 miles away in Collegedale.

What colleges are near McDonald?

Within 15 miles: Southern Adventist University (5.6 miles, 2,956 students on campus), Lee University (7.6 miles, 3,258), Cleveland State Community College (8.7 miles, 2,758), Miller-Motte College-Chattanooga (12.3 miles, 236), Chattanooga State Community College (14.3 miles, 4,824) and Chattanooga College Medical Dental and & Technical Careers (14.4 miles, 311).

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

Cleveland State Community College in Cleveland, 8.7 miles away. Tuition and fees are $4,762 a year for Tennessee residents; the federal net price, $6,384, counts housing and food at full cost.

How much does The University of Tennessee-Chattanooga cost if we live in Tennessee?

Tuition and fees are $10,448 a year in-state and $18,512 from out of state. After grants, families on federal aid paid an average of $9,876 (under $30,000 income) to $19,137 (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 McDonald. 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 →