Anderson House and Store · Photo: Larry D. Moore · CC BY 4.0The University of Mary Hardin-Baylor is 9 miles from Salado
No college sits inside Salado’s boundary, but the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor’s campus in Belton, with 3,306 students on campus, is 9 miles from the center of town, and Temple College is 13.5 miles away in Temple. About 3% of Salado’s residents are enrolled in college, below 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 Salado. Colleges are described, not graded.
What stands out about college from Salado
Facts about the town and its distance to campus; each college’s own figures follow.
Colleges within 15 miles of Salado
One private college within 9 miles, and Temple College 13.5 miles away. The nearest public four-year college, Austin Community College District, is 44.4 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 $75–110k, where Salado’s median household income ($107,679) 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 Salado
Is Salado a college town?
No. About 3 of every 100 Salado residents are enrolled in college (Census, 2020–24), below Texas (6). The nearest campus, the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor, is 9 miles away in Belton.
What colleges are near Salado?
Within 15 miles: the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor (9 miles, 3,306 students on campus) and Temple College (13.5 miles, 2,495).
What is the closest community college to Salado, and what does it cost?
Temple College in Temple, 13.5 miles away. Tuition and fees are $3,000 a year for Texas residents; the federal net price, $10,682, counts housing and food at full cost.
How much does Austin Community College District cost if we live in Texas?
Tuition and fees are $2,550 a year in-state and $10,590 from out of state. After grants, families on federal aid paid an average of $3,789 (under $30,000 income) to $14,889 (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 Salado. 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 →