Photo: DwayneP. The original uploader was DwayneP at English Wikipedia. · CC BY-SA 3.0Galen Health Institutes-Roanoke is 9.9 miles from Elliston
No college sits inside Elliston’s boundary, but Galen Health Institutes-Roanoke’s campus in Roanoke, with 173 students on campus, is 9.9 miles from the center of town, and Virginia Western Community College is 13.4 miles away in Roanoke. About 7% of Elliston’s residents are enrolled in college, about the same as 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 Elliston. Colleges are described, not graded.
What stands out about college from Elliston
Facts about the town and its distance to campus; each college’s own figures follow.
Colleges within 15 miles of Elliston
Four private colleges within 11.8 miles, one public college within 11.5 miles, and Virginia Western Community College 13.4 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. Pick your family’s income.
Starts at $30–48k, where Elliston’s median household income ($47,045) 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 Elliston: 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 Elliston
Is Elliston a college town?
No. About 7 of every 100 Elliston residents are enrolled in college (Census, 2020–24), about the same as Virginia (7). The nearest campus, Galen Health Institutes-Roanoke, is 9.9 miles away in Roanoke.
What colleges are near Elliston?
Within 15 miles: Galen Health Institutes-Roanoke (9.9 miles, 173 students on campus), Roanoke College (10.1 miles, 1,835), Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine (10.6 miles, 2,596), Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University (11.5 miles, 36,796), American National University (11.8 miles, 194) and Virginia Western Community College (13.4 miles, 4,883).
What is the closest community college to Elliston, and what does it cost?
Virginia Western Community College in Roanoke, 13.4 miles away. Tuition and fees are $5,400 a year for Virginia residents; the federal net price, $4,966, counts housing and food at full cost.
How much does Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University cost if we live in Virginia?
Tuition and fees are $15,948 a year in-state and $37,764 from out of state. After grants, families on federal aid paid an average of $11,689 (under $30,000 income) to $34,201 (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 Elliston. 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 →