Photo: Bill McChesney from Charlottesville, VA · CC BY 2.0James Madison University is 4 miles from Dayton
No college sits inside Dayton’s boundary, but James Madison University’s campus in Harrisonburg, with 21,645 students on campus, is 4 miles from the center of town, and Blue Ridge Community College is 9.6 miles away in Weyers Cave. About 3% of Dayton’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 Dayton. Colleges are described, not graded.
What stands out about college from Dayton
Facts about the town and its distance to campus; each college’s own figures follow.
Colleges within 15 miles of Dayton
Two private colleges within 5 miles, one public college within 4 miles, and Blue Ridge Community College 9.6 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 $75–110k, where Dayton’s median household income ($75,769) 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 Dayton: 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 Dayton
Is Dayton a college town?
No. About 3 of every 100 Dayton residents are enrolled in college (Census, 2020–24), below Virginia (7). The nearest campus, Bridgewater College, is 3.1 miles away in Bridgewater.
What colleges are near Dayton?
Within 15 miles: Bridgewater College (3.1 miles, 1,419 students on campus), James Madison University (4 miles, 21,645), Eastern Mennonite University (5 miles, 1,003) and Blue Ridge Community College (9.6 miles, 2,664).
What is the closest community college to Dayton, and what does it cost?
Blue Ridge Community College in Weyers Cave, 9.6 miles away. Tuition and fees are $5,646 a year for Virginia residents; the federal net price, $13,997, counts housing and food at full cost.
How much does James Madison University cost if we live in Virginia?
Tuition and fees are $14,250 a year in-state and $31,604 from out of state. After grants, families on federal aid paid an average of $11,444 (under $30,000 income) to $30,147 (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 Dayton. 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 →