Photo: FatCat96 · CC BY-SA 4.0The University of Virginia's College at Wise is 13.7 miles from Payne Gap
No college sits inside Payne Gap’s boundary, but the University of Virginia's College at Wise’s campus in Wise, with 1,262 students on campus, is 13.7 miles from the center of town, and Southeast Kentucky Community & Technical College is 21.9 miles away in Cumberland. About 0% of Payne Gap’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 Payne Gap. Colleges are described, not graded.
What stands out about college from Payne Gap
Facts about the town and its distance to campus; each college’s own figures follow.
Colleges within 15 miles of Payne Gap
It is public. Every other college is more than 15 miles from Payne Gap.
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 Payne Gap’s median household income ($36,250) 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 Payne Gap
Is Payne Gap a college town?
No. About 0 of every 100 Payne Gap residents are enrolled in college (Census, 2020–24), below Kentucky (6). The nearest campus, the University of Virginia's College at Wise, is 13.7 miles away in Wise.
What colleges are near Payne Gap?
Within 15 miles: the University of Virginia's College at Wise (13.7 miles, 1,262 students on campus).
What is the closest community college to Payne Gap, and what does it cost?
Southeast Kentucky Community & Technical College in Cumberland, 21.9 miles away. Tuition and fees are $4,728 a year for Kentucky residents; the federal net price, $3,731, counts housing and food at full cost.
How much does Morehead State University cost if we live in Kentucky?
Tuition and fees are $10,024 a year in-state and $14,980 from out of state. After grants, families on federal aid paid an average of $7,150 (under $30,000 income) to $15,164 (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 Payne Gap. 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 →