Photo: Pesotsky · CC BY 3.0Boston University is 2.6 miles from Brookline
Boston Graduate School of Psychoanalysis Inc (165 students on campus) and Hellenic College-Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology (125) are inside the town, and Boston University (32,537) is 2.6 miles from the center, just over the line in Boston. About 11% of Brookline’s residents are enrolled in college, above Massachusetts (8%).
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 Brookline. Colleges are described, not graded.
What stands out about college in Brookline
Facts about the town and its distance to campus; each college’s own figures follow.
Colleges within 15 miles of Brookline
41 private colleges within 8.8 miles, two public colleges within 5.4 miles, and five community colleges.
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. Pick your family’s income.
Starts at Over $110k, where Brookline’s median household income ($142,101) 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 within 15 miles of Brookline: 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: Northeastern University (3); Longy School of Music of Bard College (3).
What students study in Brookline
Share of bachelor’s and associate degrees by field at Hellenic College-Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology, weighted by undergraduates; then the biggest programs.
College Scorecard: degree shares (PCIP; each college’s six largest fields are kept, the rest count as everything else) and the field-of-study file, median earnings 4 years after graduating.
Questions about college in Brookline
Is Brookline a college town?
No. About 11 of every 100 Brookline residents are enrolled in college (Census, 2020–24), above Massachusetts (8). The largest campus in the town, Boston Graduate School of Psychoanalysis Inc, has 165 students on campus.
What colleges are in Brookline?
Boston Graduate School of Psychoanalysis Inc and Hellenic College-Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology are inside the town. Boston University is 2.6 miles from the center, in Boston, Northeastern University is 2.9 miles from the center, in Boston, Harvard University is 3.7 miles from the center, in Cambridge, and Roxbury Community College is 2.4 miles away in Roxbury Crossing.
What is the closest community college to Brookline, and what does it cost?
Roxbury Community College in Roxbury Crossing, 2.4 miles away. Tuition and fees are $6,024 a year for Massachusetts residents; the federal net price, $12,244, counts housing and food at full cost.
How much does Massachusetts College of Art and Design cost if we live in Massachusetts?
Tuition and fees are $15,400 a year in-state and $43,400 from out of state. After grants, families on federal aid paid an average of $16,351 (under $30,000 income) to $31,882 (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 Brookline. 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 →