Photo: Wicker529 · CC BY-SA 4.0Saint Martin's University is 12 miles from Rainier
No college sits inside Rainier’s boundary, but Saint Martin's University’s campus in Lacey, with 1,405 students on campus, is 12 miles from the center of town, and South Puget Sound Community College is 14.6 miles away in Olympia. About 2% of Rainier’s residents are enrolled in college, below Washington (6%).
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 Rainier. Colleges are described, not graded.
What stands out about college from Rainier
Facts about the town and its distance to campus; each college’s own figures follow.
Colleges within 15 miles of Rainier
One private college within 12 miles, and South Puget Sound Community College 14.6 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 Rainier’s median household income ($106,019) 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 Rainier: 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 Rainier
Is Rainier a college town?
No. About 2 of every 100 Rainier residents are enrolled in college (Census, 2020–24), below Washington (6). The nearest campus, Saint Martin's University, is 12 miles away in Lacey.
What colleges are near Rainier?
Within 15 miles: Saint Martin's University (12 miles, 1,405 students on campus) and South Puget Sound Community College (14.6 miles, 2,236).
What is the closest community college to Rainier, and what does it cost?
South Puget Sound Community College in Olympia, 14.6 miles away. Tuition and fees are $5,252 a year for Washington residents; the federal net price, $9,132, counts housing and food at full cost.
How much does South Puget Sound Community College cost if we live in Washington?
Tuition and fees are $5,252 a year in-state and $5,813 from out of state. After grants, families on federal aid paid an average of $7,757 (under $30,000 income) to $16,766 (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 Rainier. 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 →