Photo: The original uploader was ColWilliam at English Wikipedia. · CC BY-SA 2.5The University of Massachusetts-Amherst is 11.3 miles from New Salem
No college sits inside New Salem’s boundary, but the University of Massachusetts-Amherst’s campus in Amherst, with 28,168 students on campus, is 11.3 miles from the center of town, and Greenfield Community College is 18.3 miles away in Greenfield. About 3% of New Salem’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 New Salem. Colleges are described, not graded.
What stands out about college from New Salem
Facts about the town and its distance to campus; each college’s own figures follow.
Colleges within 15 miles of New Salem
Two private colleges within 13.9 miles, and one public college within 11.3 miles.
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 $75–110k, where New Salem’s median household income ($79,688) 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 New Salem: 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 New Salem
Is New Salem a college town?
No. About 3 of every 100 New Salem residents are enrolled in college (Census, 2020–24), below Massachusetts (8). The nearest campus, the University of Massachusetts-Amherst, is 11.3 miles away in Amherst.
What colleges are near New Salem?
Within 15 miles: the University of Massachusetts-Amherst (11.3 miles, 28,168 students on campus), Amherst College (11.4 miles, 1,910) and Hampshire College (13.9 miles, 717).
What is the closest community college to New Salem, and what does it cost?
Greenfield Community College in Greenfield, 18.3 miles away. Tuition and fees are $5,810 a year for Massachusetts residents; the federal net price, $7,679, counts housing and food at full cost.
How much does the University of Massachusetts-Amherst cost if we live in Massachusetts?
Tuition and fees are $17,772 a year in-state and $40,449 from out of state. After grants, families on federal aid paid an average of $10,164 (under $30,000 income) to $30,793 (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 New Salem. 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 →