Photo: Awkwafaba · CC BY-SA 3.0Carroll University is 8.9 miles from Vernon
No college sits inside Vernon’s boundary, but Carroll University’s campus in Waukesha, with 3,128 students on campus, is 8.9 miles from the center of town, and Waukesha County Technical College is 13.3 miles away in Pewaukee. About 4% of Vernon’s residents are enrolled in college, about the same as 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 Vernon. Colleges are described, not graded.
What stands out about college from Vernon
Facts about the town and its distance to campus; each college’s own figures follow.
Colleges within 15 miles of Vernon
Three private colleges within 13.4 miles, and Waukesha County Technical College 13.3 miles away. The nearest public four-year college, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, is 23.8 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 Over $110k, where Vernon’s median household income ($120,000) 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. *Reported for all the campuses that file together: Herzing University-Brookfield (11); University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee (2).
Questions about college near Vernon
Is Vernon a college town?
No. About 4 of every 100 Vernon residents are enrolled in college (Census, 2020–24), about the same as Wisconsin (6). The nearest campus, Carroll University, is 8.9 miles away in Waukesha.
What colleges are near Vernon?
Within 15 miles: Carroll University (8.9 miles, 3,128 students on campus), Sacred Heart Seminary and School of Theology (11.5 miles, 147), Waukesha County Technical College (13.3 miles, 7,324) and Herzing University-Brookfield (13.4 miles, 216).
What is the closest community college to Vernon, and what does it cost?
Waukesha County Technical College in Pewaukee, 13.3 miles away. Tuition and fees are $4,872 a year for Wisconsin residents; the federal net price, $11,101, counts housing and food at full cost.
How much does the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee cost if we live in Wisconsin?
Tuition and fees are $10,398 a year in-state and $22,398 from out of state. After grants, families on federal aid paid an average of $10,329 (under $30,000 income) to $21,477 (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 Vernon. 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 →