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Colleges in and near Hays

Southern Careers Institute-Austin is 9 miles from Hays

No college sits inside Hays’ boundary, but Southern Careers Institute-Austin’s campus in Austin, with 340 students on campus, is 9 miles from the center of town, and Austin Community College District is 17 miles away in Austin. About 6% of Hays’ residents are enrolled in college, about the same as Texas (6%).

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 Hays. Colleges are described, not graded.

Within 15 miles
6
57,452 students on campus
Nearest college
9 mi
Southern Careers Institute-Austin
Residents in college
6%
About the same as TX (6%)
Nearest community college
17 mi
Austin Community College District · $2,550 tuition
Nearest public university
13.7 mi
The University of Texas at Austin · $11,688 in-state
Median household income
$71K
prices below start here

What stands out about college from Hays

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

A college 9 miles awaySouthern Careers Institute-Austin has 340 students on campus in Austin, 53% of whom graduate within three years.In-state price at The University of Texas at AustinLiving in Texas, The University of Texas at Austin charges $11,688 in tuition and fees; from out of state, $44,908. State residency rules decide which a new arrival pays.A community college 17 miles awayAustin Community College District in Austin: tuition and fees $2,550 a year for Texas residents.Students are 6% of residentsAbout the same as Texas (6%). The Census counts anyone enrolled, including part-time and online students.
Every college

Colleges within 15 miles of Hays

Five private colleges within 14.5 miles, and one public college within 13.7 miles.

5 mi10 mi15 miThe University of Texas at AustinSaint Edward's UniversityHuston-Tillotson UniversityHays
University or collegeCommunity college
Southern Careers Institute-AustinUniversity or college · For-profit · 340 on campus · 9 mi · Austin · mostly online$26knet price53%graduate$27kearnings68% of its students study only online; price, graduation and earnings count them too.Earnings are reported for all 8 campuses that file with it.Saint Edward's UniversityUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 2,999 on campus · 10.2 mi · Austin81%admitted$26knet price63%graduate$59kearningsHuston-Tillotson UniversityUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 1,009 on campus · 13.4 mi · Austin39%admitted$20knet price34%graduate$43kearningsThe University of Texas at AustinUniversity or college · Public · 52,820 on campus · 13.7 mi · Austin27%admitted$20knet price89%graduate$75kearningsAustin Presbyterian Theological SeminaryUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 168 on campus · 14.3 mi · AustinGraduate students only; the Scorecard reports no undergraduate figures.Episcopal Theological Seminary of the SouthwestUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 116 on campus · 14.5 mi · AustinGraduate students only; the Scorecard reports no undergraduate figures.

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. Pick your family’s income.

Family income

Starts at $48–75k, where Hays’ median household income ($70,625) falls.

The University of Texas at Austin13.7 mi · Austin · sticker $31,247$17,207a year
Huston-Tillotson University13.4 mi · Austin · sticker $25,384$20,487a year
Saint Edward's University10.2 mi · Austin · sticker $66,719$22,944a year
Southern Careers Institute-Austin9 mi · Austin · mostly online · sticker $29,968$25,937a 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 within 15 miles of Hays: 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 Careers Institute-AustinSaint Edward's UniversityHuston-Tillotson UniversityThe University of Texas at Austin
The University of Texas at Austin89% graduate$75k earnings$20k typical debt
Saint Edward's University63% graduate$59k earnings$25k typical debt
Huston-Tillotson University34% graduate$43k earnings$31k typical debt
Southern Careers Institute-Austin53% graduate$27k earnings*$9k 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: Southern Careers Institute-Austin (8).

Questions about college near Hays

Is Hays a college town?

No. About 6 of every 100 Hays residents are enrolled in college (Census, 2020–24), about the same as Texas (6). The nearest campus, Southern Careers Institute-Austin, is 9 miles away in Austin.

What colleges are near Hays?

Within 15 miles: Southern Careers Institute-Austin (9 miles, 340 students on campus), Saint Edward's University (10.2 miles, 2,999), Huston-Tillotson University (13.4 miles, 1,009), The University of Texas at Austin (13.7 miles, 52,820), Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary (14.3 miles, 168) and Episcopal Theological Seminary of the Southwest (14.5 miles, 116).

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

Austin Community College District in Austin, 17 miles away. Tuition and fees are $2,550 a year for Texas residents; the federal net price, $6,390, counts housing and food at full cost.

How much does The University of Texas at Austin cost if we live in Texas?

Tuition and fees are $11,688 a year in-state and $44,908 from out of state. After grants, families on federal aid paid an average of $12,553 (under $30,000 income) to $30,082 (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 Hays. 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 →