Photo: W.marsh · CC BY-SA 3.0Centre College is 11 miles from Lancaster
No college sits inside Lancaster’s boundary, but Centre College’s campus in Danville, with 1,356 students on campus, is 11 miles from the center of town, and Bluegrass Community and Technical College is 31.5 miles away in Lexington. About 2% of Lancaster’s residents are enrolled in college, below Kentucky (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 Lancaster. Colleges are described, not graded.
What stands out about college from Lancaster
Facts about the town and its distance to campus; each college’s own figures follow.
Colleges within 15 miles of Lancaster
One private college within 11 miles. The nearest public four-year college, Eastern Kentucky University, 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 $30–48k, where Lancaster’s median household income ($43,898) 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 Lancaster
Is Lancaster a college town?
No. About 2 of every 100 Lancaster residents are enrolled in college (Census, 2020–24), below Kentucky (6). The nearest campus, Centre College, is 11 miles away in Danville.
What colleges are near Lancaster?
Within 15 miles: Centre College (11 miles, 1,356 students on campus).
What is the closest community college to Lancaster, and what does it cost?
Bluegrass Community and Technical College in Lexington, 31.5 miles away. Tuition and fees are $4,808 a year for Kentucky residents; the federal net price, $6,113, counts housing and food at full cost.
How much does Eastern Kentucky University cost if we live in Kentucky?
Tuition and fees are $10,320 a year in-state and $21,230 from out of state. After grants, families on federal aid paid an average of $8,591 (under $30,000 income) to $17,009 (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 Lancaster. 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 →