Cyrus McCormick Farm and Workshop · Photo: Morgan Riley · CC BY 3.0Southern Virginia University is 10.5 miles from Fairfield
No college sits inside Fairfield’s boundary, but Southern Virginia University’s campus in Buena Vista, with 967 students on campus, is 10.5 miles from the center of town, and Mountain Gateway Community College is 31.5 miles away in Clifton Forge. About 4% of Fairfield’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 Fairfield. Colleges are described, not graded.
What stands out about college from Fairfield
Facts about the town and its distance to campus; each college’s own figures follow.
Colleges within 15 miles of Fairfield
Two private colleges within 10.9 miles, and one public college within 10.6 miles.
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 Fairfield’s median household income ($113,646) 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 Fairfield: 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 Fairfield
Is Fairfield a college town?
No. About 4 of every 100 Fairfield residents are enrolled in college (Census, 2020–24), about the same as Virginia (7). The nearest campus, Southern Virginia University, is 10.5 miles away in Buena Vista.
What colleges are near Fairfield?
Within 15 miles: Southern Virginia University (10.5 miles, 967 students on campus), Virginia Military Institute (10.6 miles, 1,560) and Washington and Lee University (10.9 miles, 2,277).
What is the closest community college to Fairfield, and what does it cost?
Mountain Gateway Community College in Clifton Forge, 31.5 miles away. Tuition and fees are $5,022 a year for Virginia residents; the federal net price, $4,861, counts housing and food at full cost.
How much does Virginia Military Institute cost if we live in Virginia?
Tuition and fees are $21,046 a year in-state and $52,638 from out of state. After grants, families on federal aid paid an average of $12,697 (under $30,000 income) to $23,434 (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 Fairfield. 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 →