Photo: Billertl · CC BY-SA 3.0Ashland is home to Northland College
Northland College (485 students on campus) is inside the city. About 10% of Ashland’s residents are enrolled in college, above Wisconsin (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 Ashland. Colleges are described, not graded.
What stands out about college in Ashland
Facts about the town and its distance to campus; each college’s own figures follow.
Colleges within 15 miles of Ashland
One private college within 0.2 miles. The nearest public four-year college, Lac Courte Oreilles Ojibwe University, is 50.1 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 and the nearest public four-year college. Pick your family’s income.
Starts at $48–75k, where Ashland’s median household income ($54,529) 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: 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 in Ashland
Is Ashland a college town?
No. About 10 of every 100 Ashland residents are enrolled in college (Census, 2020–24), above Wisconsin (6). The largest campus in the city, Northland College, has 485 students on campus.
What colleges are in Ashland?
Northland College is inside the city. Northwood Technical College is 86.9 miles away in Rice Lake.
What is the closest community college to Ashland, and what does it cost?
Northwood Technical College in Rice Lake, 86.9 miles away. Tuition and fees are $4,926 a year for Wisconsin residents; the federal net price, $8,989, counts housing and food at full cost.
How much does Lac Courte Oreilles Ojibwe University cost if we live in Wisconsin?
Tuition and fees are $6,030 a year in-state and $6,030 from out of state.
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 Ashland. 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 →