Guest, Sign inJoin

Post to Great Falls

We’ll email a one-tap link to publish your post. No password, and nothing is public until you click it.
Already a member? Sign in
William Gunnell HouseWilliam Gunnell House · Photo: JERRYE & ROY KLOTZ MD · CC BY-SA 3.0
Colleges in and near Great Falls

Columbia College is 6.4 miles from Great Falls

No college sits inside Great Falls’ boundary, but Columbia College’s campus in Vienna, with 231 students on campus, is 6.4 miles from the center of town, and Northern Virginia Community College is 12.8 miles away in Annandale. About 5% of Great Falls’ 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 Great Falls. Colleges are described, not graded.

Within 15 miles
15
135,580 students on campus
Nearest college
6.4 mi
Columbia College
Residents in college
5%
Below VA (7%)
Nearest community college
12.8 mi
Northern Virginia · $5,891 tuition
Nearest public university
12.4 mi
George Mason University · $14,220 in-state
Median household income
$250K
prices below start here

What stands out about college from Great Falls

Facts about the town and its distance to campus; each college’s own figures follow.

A college 6.4 miles awayColumbia College has 231 students on campus in Vienna, 80% of whom graduate within three years.In-state price at George Mason UniversityLiving in Virginia, George Mason University charges $14,220 in tuition and fees; from out of state, $38,688. State residency rules decide which a new arrival pays.A community college 12.8 miles awayNorthern Virginia Community College in Annandale: tuition and fees $5,891 a year for Virginia residents.Students are 5% of residentsBelow Virginia (7%). The Census counts anyone enrolled, including part-time and online students.
Every college

Colleges within 15 miles of Great Falls

11 private colleges within 14.2 miles, two public colleges within 13.5 miles, and two community colleges.

5 mi10 mi15 miNorthern VirginiaGeorge Mason UniversityGeorgetown UniversityGreat Falls
University or collegeCommunity college
Columbia CollegeUniversity or college · For-profit · 231 on campus · 6.4 mi · Vienna$10knet price80%graduate$22kearningsVirginia University of Integrative MedicineUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 251 on campus · 8.2 mi · ViennaGraduate students only; the Scorecard reports no undergraduate figures.Chamberlain University-VirginiaUniversity or college · For-profit · 540 on campus · 8.3 mi · Vienna90%admitted$33knet price100%graduate$92kearningsEarnings are reported for all 15 campuses that file with it.University of the Potomac-VA CampusUniversity or college · For-profit · 547 on campus · 8.6 mi · FALLS CHURCH50%graduate$35kearningsEarnings are reported for all 2 campuses that file with it.Standard Healthcare Services-College of NursingUniversity or college · For-profit · 719 on campus · 8.8 mi · Falls Church28%admitted$36knet price66%graduateMontgomery CollegeCommunity college · Public · 15,953 on campus · 9.7 mi · Rockville, MD$8knet price32%graduate$50kearningsTuition and fees: $5,394 a year. The net price counts housing and food at full cost.SANS Technology InstituteUniversity or college · For-profit · 119 on campus · 10.5 mi · North Bethesda, MD · mostly online93% of its students study only online; price, graduation and earnings count them too.Arizona College of Nursing-Falls ChurchUniversity or college · For-profit · 284 on campus · 11.4 mi · Falls Church100%admitted$39knet price$35kearningsEarnings are reported for all 20 campuses that file with it.Marymount UniversityUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 2,811 on campus · 11.9 mi · Arlington93%admitted$29knet price54%graduate$68kearningsGeorge Mason UniversityUniversity or college · Public · 32,320 on campus · 12.4 mi · Fairfax87%admitted$18knet price68%graduate$76kearningsWesley Theological SeminaryUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 378 on campus · 12.4 mi · Washington, DCGraduate students only; the Scorecard reports no undergraduate figures.American UniversityUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 11,897 on campus · 12.6 mi · Washington, DC62%admitted$42knet price75%graduate$77kearningsNorthern Virginia Community CollegeCommunity college · Public · 48,232 on campus · 12.8 mi · Annandale$10knet price33%graduate$54kearningsTuition and fees: $5,891 a year. The net price counts housing and food at full cost.University of the District of ColumbiaUniversity or college · Public · 3,833 on campus · 13.5 mi · Washington, DC$11knet price33%graduate$44kearningsGeorgetown UniversityUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 17,465 on campus · 14.2 mi · Washington, DC13%admitted$41knet price95%graduate$103kearnings

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 it costs

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.

Family income

Starts at Over $110k, where Great Falls’ median household income ($250,001) falls.

Montgomery College9.7 mi · Rockville, MD · sticker $15,298 · tuition $5,394$14,146a year
Northern Virginia Community College12.8 mi · Annandale · sticker $17,153 · tuition $5,891$16,630a year
George Mason University12.4 mi · Fairfax · sticker $28,604$25,894a year
Marymount University11.9 mi · Arlington · sticker $57,184$30,618a year
Standard Healthcare Services-College of Nursing8.8 mi · Falls Church · sticker $41,939$41,243a year
Arizona College of Nursing-Falls Church11.4 mi · Falls Church · sticker $42,280$42,280a year
American University12.6 mi · Washington, DC · sticker $76,058$53,673a year
Georgetown University14.2 mi · Washington, DC · sticker $88,741$57,403a year
Columbia College6.4 mi · Vienna · sticker $13,440—a year
Chamberlain University-Virginia8.3 mi · Vienna · sticker $45,594—a year
University of the District of Columbia13.5 mi · Washington, DC · sticker $20,437—a year

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.

Outcomes

Do students finish, and does it pay?

Each dot is a college within 15 miles of Great Falls: across is the share who graduate, up is what they earn ten years after starting.

$0$20k$40k$60k$80k$100k$120k0%25%50%75%100%Graduate →Montgomery CollegeGeorge Mason UniversityAmerican UniversityNorthern VirginiaUniversity of the District of ColumbiaGeorgetown University
Northern Virginia Community College33% graduate$54k earnings$11k typical debt
George Mason University68% graduate$76k earnings$20k typical debt
Georgetown University95% graduate$103k earnings$16k typical debt
Montgomery College32% graduate$50k earnings$10k typical debt
American University75% graduate$77k earnings$23k typical debt
University of the District of Columbia33% graduate$44k earnings$25k typical debt
Marymount University54% graduate$68k earnings$25k typical debt
University of the Potomac-VA Campus50% graduate$35k earnings*$9k typical debt
Chamberlain University-Virginia100% graduate$92k earnings*$21k typical debt
Columbia College80% graduate$22k earnings$8k typical debt

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: Chamberlain University-Virginia (15); University of the Potomac-VA Campus (2).

Questions about college near Great Falls

Is Great Falls a college town?

No. About 5 of every 100 Great Falls residents are enrolled in college (Census, 2020–24), below Virginia (7). The nearest campus, Columbia College, is 6.4 miles away in Vienna.

What colleges are near Great Falls?

15 colleges are within 15 miles. The largest: Northern Virginia Community College (12.8 miles, 48,232 students on campus), George Mason University (12.4 miles, 32,320) and Georgetown University (14.2 miles, 17,465).

What is the closest community college to Great Falls, and what does it cost?

Northern Virginia Community College in Annandale, 12.8 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.

Town Square →
Start the conversation

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 Great Falls. 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 →