The University of Wisconsin-Platteville is 6.5 miles from Smelser
No college sits inside Smelser’s boundary, but the University of Wisconsin-Platteville’s campus in Platteville, with 5,671 students on campus, is 6.5 miles from the center of town, and Southwest Wisconsin Technical College is 24.5 miles away in Fennimore. About 2% of Smelser’s residents are enrolled in college, below 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 Smelser. Colleges are described, not graded.
What stands out about college from Smelser
Facts about the town and its distance to campus; each college’s own figures follow.
Colleges within 15 miles of Smelser
Five private colleges within 14.9 miles, and one public college within 6.5 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 $48–75k, where Smelser’s median household income ($72,358) 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 Smelser: 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 Smelser
Is Smelser a college town?
No. About 2 of every 100 Smelser residents are enrolled in college (Census, 2020–24), below Wisconsin (6). The nearest campus, the University of Wisconsin-Platteville, is 6.5 miles away in Platteville.
What colleges are near Smelser?
Within 15 miles: the University of Wisconsin-Platteville (6.5 miles, 5,671 students on campus), Loras College (13.6 miles, 1,185), Clarke University (13.7 miles, 950), the University of Dubuque (14.4 miles, 1,736), Emmaus Bible College (14.4 miles, 178) and Wartburg Theological Seminary (14.9 miles, 161).
What is the closest community college to Smelser, and what does it cost?
Southwest Wisconsin Technical College in Fennimore, 24.5 miles away. Tuition and fees are $4,904 a year for Wisconsin residents; the federal net price, $12,896, counts housing and food at full cost.
How much does the University of Wisconsin-Platteville cost if we live in Wisconsin?
Tuition and fees are $8,644 a year in-state and $17,603 from out of state. After grants, families on federal aid paid an average of $9,009 (under $30,000 income) to $20,245 (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 Smelser. 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 →