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Woodbridge Street Historic DistrictWoodbridge Street Historic District · Photo: John Phelan · CC BY-SA 4.0
Colleges in and near South Hadley

South Hadley is a college town: 19 of every 100 residents are students

Mount Holyoke College (2,210 students on campus) is inside the town. Across Massachusetts, 8 of every 100 residents are enrolled in college.

College town19% of residents are studentsMount Holyoke College

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 South Hadley. Colleges are described, not graded.

Within 15 miles
14
54,759 students on campus
Nearest college
0.3 mi
Mount Holyoke College
Residents in college
19%
Above MA (8%)
Nearest community college
5.6 mi
Holyoke · $5,988 tuition
Nearest public university
9.4 mi
University of Massachusetts-Amherst · $17,772 in-state
Students on campus in South Hadley
2,210
next to 17,768 residents

What stands out about college in South Hadley

Facts about the town and its distance to campus; each college’s own figures follow.

A college town19 of every 100 South Hadley residents are enrolled in college, against 8 across Massachusetts.A college in South HadleyMount Holyoke College has 2,210 students on campus in South Hadley, 84% of whom graduate within six years.A community college 5.6 miles awayHolyoke Community College in Holyoke: tuition and fees $5,988 a year for Massachusetts residents.In-state price at University of Massachusetts-AmherstLiving in Massachusetts, the University of Massachusetts-Amherst charges $17,772 in tuition and fees; from out of state, $40,449. State residency rules decide which a new arrival pays.
Town & gown

What it’s like to live in South Hadley

How much the colleges shape the town, from the Census Bureau’s survey of residents.

19 of every 100 South Hadley residents are in college (MA: 8).

2,210students on campus at Mount Holyoke College, next to 17,768 residents (dorm students count as residents)
965college students live in South Hadley households rather than dorms
42.6median age · MA 40.0
58%of residents are women · MA 51% (±1.8 points)
23%of homes rented · MA 38%
$1,325median rent · 25% below the state
Cost of living$1,325/mo median rentC−SafetyCrime reported to the FBIBHealthCDC estimatesAJobs & incomeIncome, jobs, getting aroundA−HandbookTrash day, parking, who to call

How students change South Hadley’s other numbers

Read the town’s other grades with this in mind. How TownRatings handles college towns →

Jobs & income A−

Students who live off campus count in the Census poverty figures: 7.2% of South Hadley residents are below the poverty line, 6.5% when college students are left out (that estimate could be off by 2 points either way). 18% of the students themselves are below the line. In college towns, the Jobs & income grade uses the rate without students and leaves unemployment out.

Cost of living C−

The Cost grade counts the share of renters paying 30% or more of income on rent, leaving it out only where students are a quarter of residents or more. Here they are 19%, so student incomes still weigh on that figure.

Health A

CDC’s estimates follow each place’s age mix, and South Hadley’s median age is 42.6 (Massachusetts 40.0), so the adult figures describe a young population.

Safety B

Crime is counted per resident, and students who live here count as residents. A college with its own police department reports its incidents under that department, not the city.

Every college

Colleges within 15 miles of South Hadley

10 private colleges within 13.9 miles, two public colleges within 14 miles, and two community colleges.

5 mi10 mi15 miUniversity of Massachusetts-AmherstWestfield StateWestern New England UniversitySouth Hadley
University or collegeCommunity college
Mount Holyoke CollegeUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 2,210 on campus · In South Hadley36%admitted$26knet price84%graduate$58kearningsSmith CollegeUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 2,830 on campus · 5.2 mi · Northampton21%admitted$28knet price89%graduate$64kearningsHampshire CollegeUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 717 on campus · 5.4 mi · Amherst75%admitted$24knet price54%graduate$47kearningsHolyoke Community CollegeCommunity college · Public · 2,424 on campus · 5.6 mi · Holyoke$8knet price29%graduate$37kearningsTuition and fees: $5,988 a year. The net price counts housing and food at full cost.College of Our Lady of the ElmsUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 1,066 on campus · 8 mi · Chicopee85%admitted$18knet price68%graduate$52kearningsAmherst CollegeUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 1,910 on campus · 8.6 mi · Amherst9%admitted$23knet price94%graduate$78kearningsUniversity of Massachusetts-AmherstUniversity or college · Public · 28,168 on campus · 9.4 mi · Amherst60%admitted$22knet price83%graduate$72kearningsAmerican International CollegeUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 1,652 on campus · 10 mi · Springfield100%admitted$23knet price46%graduate$53kearningsWestern New England UniversityUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 3,362 on campus · 10.2 mi · Springfield83%admitted$27knet price64%graduate$73kearningsSpringfield Technical Community CollegeCommunity college · Public · 2,845 on campus · 10.2 mi · Springfield$6knet price32%graduate$37kearningsTuition and fees: $5,904 a year. The net price counts housing and food at full cost.Springfield CollegeUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 2,777 on campus · 10.7 mi · Springfield72%admitted$31knet price74%graduate$48kearningsEarnings are reported for all 2 campuses that file with it.Springfield College-Regional, Online, and Continuing EducationUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 117 on campus · 10.7 mi · Springfield · mostly online$48kearnings72% of its students study only online; price, graduation and earnings count them too.Earnings are reported for all 2 campuses that file with it.Bay Path UniversityUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 662 on campus · 13.9 mi · Longmeadow · mostly online85%admitted$14knet price44%graduate$55kearnings75% of its students study only online; price, graduation and earnings count them too.Westfield State UniversityUniversity or college · Public · 4,019 on campus · 14 mi · Westfield81%admitted$17knet price54%graduate$57kearnings

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 it costs

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.

Family income

Starts at $75–110k, where South Hadley’s median household income ($93,910) falls.

Springfield Technical Community College10.2 mi · Springfield · sticker $14,971 · tuition $5,904$8,925a year
Holyoke Community College5.6 mi · Holyoke · sticker $15,043 · tuition $5,988$9,415a year
Smith College5.2 mi · Northampton · sticker $86,030$11,750a year
Bay Path University13.9 mi · Longmeadow · mostly online · sticker $47,308$17,528a year
Westfield State University14 mi · Westfield · sticker $27,649$18,201a year
University of Massachusetts-Amherst9.4 mi · Amherst · sticker $34,549$18,964a year
College of Our Lady of the Elms8 mi · Chicopee · sticker $54,027$21,243a year
Amherst College8.6 mi · Amherst · sticker $87,640$23,639a year
Mount Holyoke CollegeIn South Hadley · sticker $84,926$24,247a year
American International College10 mi · Springfield · sticker $59,270$24,772a year
Hampshire College5.4 mi · Amherst · sticker $74,195$25,447a year
Springfield College10.7 mi · Springfield · sticker $60,729$27,470a year
Western New England University10.2 mi · Springfield · sticker $60,262$28,660a year

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.

Outcomes

Do students finish, and does it pay?

Each dot is a college within 15 miles of South Hadley: across is the share who graduate, up is what they earn ten years after starting.

$0$20k$40k$60k$80k0%25%50%75%100%Graduate →Smith CollegeUniversity of Massachusetts-AmherstWestern New England UniversitySpringfield TechnicalSpringfield CollegeWestfield State
University of Massachusetts-Amherst83% graduate$72k earnings$23k typical debt
Westfield State University54% graduate$57k earnings$22k typical debt
Western New England University64% graduate$73k earnings$26k typical debt
Springfield Technical Community College32% graduate$37k earnings$7k typical debt
Smith College89% graduate$64k earnings$18k typical debt
Springfield College74% graduate$48k earnings*$26k typical debt
Holyoke Community College29% graduate$37k earnings$8k typical debt
Mount Holyoke College84% graduate$58k earnings$23k typical debt
Amherst College94% graduate$78k earnings$14k typical debt
American International College46% graduate$53k earnings$27k typical debt
College of Our Lady of the Elms68% graduate$52k earnings$25k typical debt
Hampshire College54% graduate$47k earnings$27k typical debt

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: Springfield College (2).

Majors

What students study in South Hadley

Share of bachelor’s and associate degrees by field at Mount Holyoke College, weighted by undergraduates; then the biggest programs.

Social sciences 19%Biology 16%Visual & performing arts 11%English 8%Computer science 7%Psychology 5%Everything else 34%

Biggest programs

Biology, General58 graduates a year
$56k4 yrs out
English Language and Literature, General37 graduates a year
$49k4 yrs out
Computer Science33 graduates a year
$120k4 yrs out
Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics33 graduates a year
$34k4 yrs out
Political Science and Government31 graduates a year
$62k4 yrs out
Fine and Studio Arts27 graduates a year
$36k4 yrs out
Natural Resources Conservation and Research26 graduates a year
$43k4 yrs out

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 South Hadley

Is South Hadley a college town?

Yes. 19 of every 100 South Hadley residents are enrolled in college (Census, 2020–24), against 8 across Massachusetts. Mount Holyoke College has 2,210 students on campus, next to 17,768 residents.

What colleges are in South Hadley?

Mount Holyoke College is inside the town. Holyoke Community College is 5.6 miles away in Holyoke.

Why is South Hadley’s poverty rate so high?

Students who live off campus count in the Census figures. 7.2% of residents are below the poverty line; leaving college students out, 6.5% are (ACS 2020–24, give or take 2 points).

What is the closest community college to South Hadley, and what does it cost?

Holyoke Community College in Holyoke, 5.6 miles away. Tuition and fees are $5,988 a year for Massachusetts residents; the federal net price, $8,068, counts housing and food at full cost.

How hard is it to get into Mount Holyoke College?

Mount Holyoke College admitted 36% of applicants in the Scorecard’s latest year; the middle half of admitted students scored 1,380–1,530 on the SAT.

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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 South Hadley. 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 →