Photo: Grk1011/Stephen · CC BY-SA 3.0Tufts University is 4.4 miles from Melrose
No college sits inside Melrose’s boundary, but Tufts University’s campus in Medford, with 12,718 students on campus, is 4.4 miles from the center of town, and Lawrence Memorial Hospital School of Nursing is 3.4 miles away in Medford. About 5% of Melrose’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 Melrose. Colleges are described, not graded.
What stands out about college from Melrose
Facts about the town and its distance to campus; each college’s own figures follow.
Colleges within 15 miles of Melrose
39 private colleges within 14.7 miles, three public colleges within 9.9 miles, and seven 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 Melrose’s median household income ($133,953) 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 Melrose: 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: Longy School of Music of Bard College (3); Northeastern University (3).
Questions about college near Melrose
Is Melrose a college town?
No. About 5 of every 100 Melrose residents are enrolled in college (Census, 2020–24), below Massachusetts (8). The nearest campus, Lawrence Memorial Hospital School of Nursing, is 3.4 miles away in Medford.
What colleges are near Melrose?
48 colleges are within 15 miles. The largest: Boston University (7.6 miles, 32,537 students on campus), Northeastern University (8.1 miles, 29,851) and Harvard University (6.4 miles, 22,636).
What is the closest community college to Melrose, and what does it cost?
Lawrence Memorial Hospital School of Nursing in Medford, 3.4 miles away. Tuition and fees are $31,038 a year for Massachusetts residents.
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 Melrose. 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 →