Photo: Quintin Soloviev · CC BY 4.0Merrimack College is 2.9 miles from Lawrence
No college sits inside Lawrence’s boundary, but Merrimack College’s campus in North Andover, with 4,664 students on campus, is 2.9 miles from the center of town, and Northern Essex Community College is 8.8 miles away in Haverhill. About 5% of Lawrence’s residents are enrolled in college, below 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 Lawrence. Colleges are described, not graded.
What stands out about college from Lawrence
Facts about the town and its distance to campus; each college’s own figures follow.
Colleges within 15 miles of Lawrence
Two private colleges within 2.9 miles, one public college within 9 miles, and three 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 $48–75k, where Lawrence’s median household income ($60,433) 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 Lawrence: 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 Lawrence
Is Lawrence a college town?
No. About 5 of every 100 Lawrence residents are enrolled in college (Census, 2020–24), below Massachusetts (8). The nearest campus, Massachusetts School of Law, is 2.3 miles away in Andover.
What colleges are near Lawrence?
Within 15 miles: Massachusetts School of Law (2.3 miles, 284 students on campus), Merrimack College (2.9 miles, 4,664), Northern Essex Community College (8.8 miles, 3,674), the University of Massachusetts-Lowell (9 miles, 11,742), North Shore Community College (12.4 miles, 3,919) and Middlesex Community College (13.5 miles, 6,225).
What is the closest community college to Lawrence, and what does it cost?
Northern Essex Community College in Haverhill, 8.8 miles away. Tuition and fees are $6,732 a year for Massachusetts residents; the federal net price, $6,046, counts housing and food at full cost.
How much does the University of Massachusetts-Lowell cost if we live in Massachusetts?
Tuition and fees are $16,966 a year in-state and $36,264 from out of state. After grants, families on federal aid paid an average of $9,943 (under $30,000 income) to $26,139 (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 Lawrence. 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 →