Photo: Brian Stansberry · CC BY 3.0Lees-McRae College is 11.1 miles from Roan Mountain
No college sits inside Roan Mountain’s boundary, but Lees-McRae College’s campus in Banner Elk, with 672 students on campus, is 11.1 miles from the center of town, and Northeast State Community College is 27.9 miles away in Blountville. About 1% of Roan Mountain’s residents are enrolled in college, below 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 Roan Mountain. Colleges are described, not graded.
What stands out about college from Roan Mountain
Facts about the town and its distance to campus; each college’s own figures follow.
Colleges within 15 miles of Roan Mountain
Two private colleges within 14.7 miles. The nearest public four-year college, East Tennessee State University, is 18.3 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 $48–75k, where Roan Mountain’s median household income ($55,625) 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: 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 Roan Mountain
Is Roan Mountain a college town?
No. About 1 of every 100 Roan Mountain residents are enrolled in college (Census, 2020–24), below Tennessee (5). The nearest campus, Lees-McRae College, is 11.1 miles away in Banner Elk.
What colleges are near Roan Mountain?
Within 15 miles: Lees-McRae College (11.1 miles, 672 students on campus) and Milligan University (14.7 miles, 1,148).
What is the closest community college to Roan Mountain, and what does it cost?
Northeast State Community College in Blountville, 27.9 miles away. Tuition and fees are $4,782 a year for Tennessee residents; the federal net price, $6,864, counts housing and food at full cost.
How much does East Tennessee State University cost if we live in Tennessee?
Tuition and fees are $10,472 a year in-state and $14,522 from out of state. After grants, families on federal aid paid an average of $12,433 (under $30,000 income) to $21,193 (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 Roan Mountain. 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 →