Photo: Michael Rivera · CC BY-SA 4.0Southeastern Technical College is 3.1 miles from Santa Claus
No college sits inside Santa Claus’ boundary, but Southeastern Technical College’s campus in Vidalia, with 1,235 students on campus, is 3.1 miles from the center of town. About 5% of Santa Claus’ residents are enrolled in college, about the same as Georgia (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 Santa Claus. Colleges are described, not graded.
What stands out about college from Santa Claus
Facts about the town and its distance to campus; each college’s own figures follow.
Colleges within 15 miles of Santa Claus
One private college within 15 miles, and Southeastern Technical College 3.1 miles away. The nearest public four-year college, East Georgia State College, is 29.3 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 Santa Claus’ median household income ($53,750) 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 near Santa Claus
Is Santa Claus a college town?
No. About 5 of every 100 Santa Claus residents are enrolled in college (Census, 2020–24), about the same as Georgia (6). The nearest campus, Southeastern Technical College, is 3.1 miles away in Vidalia.
What colleges are near Santa Claus?
Within 15 miles: Southeastern Technical College (3.1 miles, 1,235 students on campus) and Brewton-Parker College (15 miles, 914).
What is the closest community college to Santa Claus, and what does it cost?
Southeastern Technical College in Vidalia, 3.1 miles away. Tuition and fees are $3,400 a year for Georgia residents; the federal net price, $10,612, counts housing and food at full cost.
How much does East Georgia State College cost if we live in Georgia?
Tuition and fees are $2,900 a year in-state and $9,860 from out of state. After grants, families on federal aid paid an average of $8,278 (under $30,000 income) to $15,214 (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 Santa Claus. 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 →