Photo: User:Ceemo · CC BY-SA 3.0Ottawa University-Surprise is 11.8 miles from Peoria
No college sits inside Peoria’s boundary, but Ottawa University-Surprise’s campus in Surprise, with 749 students on campus, is 11.8 miles from the center of town, and Glendale Community College is 17.9 miles away in Glendale. About 5% of Peoria’s residents are enrolled in college, below Arizona (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 Peoria. Colleges are described, not graded.
What stands out about college from Peoria
Facts about the town and its distance to campus; each college’s own figures follow.
Colleges within 15 miles of Peoria
Two private colleges within 12.9 miles. The nearest public four-year college, Glendale Community College, is 17.9 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 $75–110k, where Peoria’s median household income ($95,815) 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: Ottawa University-Surprise (5).
Questions about college near Peoria
Is Peoria a college town?
No. About 5 of every 100 Peoria residents are enrolled in college (Census, 2020–24), below Arizona (6). The nearest campus, Ottawa University-Surprise, is 11.8 miles away in Surprise.
What colleges are near Peoria?
Within 15 miles: Ottawa University-Surprise (11.8 miles, 749 students on campus) and Midwestern University-Glendale (12.9 miles, 3,780).
What is the closest community college to Peoria, and what does it cost?
Glendale Community College in Glendale, 17.9 miles away. Tuition and fees are $2,358 a year for Arizona residents; the federal net price, $11,650, counts housing and food at full cost.
How much does Glendale Community College cost if we live in Arizona?
Tuition and fees are $2,358 a year in-state and $8,958 from out of state. After grants, families on federal aid paid an average of $10,512 (under $30,000 income) to $17,378 (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 Peoria. 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 →