Photo: Mojo Hand · CC BY-SA 4.0George Mason University is 5.6 miles from Clifton
No college sits inside Clifton’s boundary, but George Mason University’s campus in Fairfax, with 32,320 students on campus, is 5.6 miles from the center of town, and Northern Virginia Community College is 8.8 miles away in Annandale. About 4% of Clifton’s residents are enrolled in college, below Virginia (7%).
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 Clifton. Colleges are described, not graded.
What stands out about college from Clifton
Facts about the town and its distance to campus; each college’s own figures follow.
Colleges within 15 miles of Clifton
Six private colleges within 13 miles, one public college within 5.6 miles, and Northern Virginia Community College 8.8 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. Pick your family’s income.
Starts at Over $110k, where Clifton’s median household income ($232,500) 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 within 15 miles of Clifton: 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. *Reported for all the campuses that file together: University of the Potomac-VA Campus (2); Chamberlain University-Virginia (15).
Questions about college near Clifton
Is Clifton a college town?
No. About 4 of every 100 Clifton residents are enrolled in college (Census, 2020–24), below Virginia (7). The nearest campus, George Mason University, is 5.6 miles away in Fairfax.
What colleges are near Clifton?
8 colleges are within 15 miles. The largest: Northern Virginia Community College (8.8 miles, 48,232 students on campus), George Mason University (5.6 miles, 32,320) and Standard Healthcare Services-College of Nursing (13 miles, 719).
What is the closest community college to Clifton, and what does it cost?
Northern Virginia Community College in Annandale, 8.8 miles away. Tuition and fees are $5,891 a year for Virginia residents; the federal net price, $9,919, counts housing and food at full cost.
How much does George Mason University cost if we live in Virginia?
Tuition and fees are $14,220 a year in-state and $38,688 from out of state. After grants, families on federal aid paid an average of $11,942 (under $30,000 income) to $25,894 (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 Clifton. 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 →