Photo: Ascended Dreamer · CC BY-SA 4.0Bard College at Simon's Rock is 9.9 miles from Lee
No college sits inside Lee’s boundary, but Bard College at Simon's Rock’s campus in Great Barrington, with 306 students on campus, is 9.9 miles from the center of town, and Berkshire Community College is 11.6 miles away in Pittsfield. About 5% of Lee’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 Lee. Colleges are described, not graded.
What stands out about college from Lee
Facts about the town and its distance to campus; each college’s own figures follow.
Colleges within 15 miles of Lee
One private college within 9.9 miles, and Berkshire Community College 11.6 miles away. The nearest public four-year college, Westfield State University, is 25.3 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 $75–110k, where Lee’s median household income ($83,750) 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. *Reported for all the campuses that file together: Bard College at Simon's Rock (3).
Questions about college near Lee
Is Lee a college town?
No. About 5 of every 100 Lee residents are enrolled in college (Census, 2020–24), below Massachusetts (8). The nearest campus, Bard College at Simon's Rock, is 9.9 miles away in Great Barrington.
What colleges are near Lee?
Within 15 miles: Bard College at Simon's Rock (9.9 miles, 306 students on campus) and Berkshire Community College (11.6 miles, 1,222).
What is the closest community college to Lee, and what does it cost?
Berkshire Community College in Pittsfield, 11.6 miles away. Tuition and fees are $6,164 a year for Massachusetts residents; the federal net price, $9,921, counts housing and food at full cost.
How much does Westfield State University cost if we live in Massachusetts?
Tuition and fees are $12,179 a year in-state and $18,259 from out of state. After grants, families on federal aid paid an average of $10,751 (under $30,000 income) to $23,286 (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 Lee. 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 →