Springfield is home to five colleges, with about 11,000 students on campus
Western New England University (3,362 students on campus) and Springfield Technical Community College (2,845) are inside the city, and College of Our Lady of the Elms (1,066) is 3.6 miles from the center, just over the line in Chicopee. About 8% of Springfield’s residents are enrolled in college, about the same as 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 Springfield. Colleges are described, not graded.
Within 15 miles
12
24,681 students on campus
Nearest college
1 mi
Western New England University
Residents in college
8%
About the same as MA (8%)
Nearest community college
2 mi
Springfield Technical · $5,904 tuition
Nearest public university
13.2 mi
Westfield State · $12,179 in-state
Median household income
$53K
prices below start here
What stands out about college in Springfield
Facts about the town and its distance to campus; each college’s own figures follow.
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 $48–75k, where Springfield’s median household income ($52,656) 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.
Outcomes
Do students finish, and does it pay?
Each dot is a college within 15 miles of Springfield: across is the share who graduate, up is what they earn ten years after starting.
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
American International College46% graduate$53k earnings$27k typical debt
College of Our Lady of the Elms68% graduate$52k earnings$25k typical debt
Bay Path University44% graduate$55k earnings$25k 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 Springfield
Share of bachelor’s and associate degrees by field across Springfield’s 4 colleges, weighted by undergraduates; then the biggest programs.
Health professions 22%Business 16%Liberal arts 7%Parks & recreation 6%Education 6%Engineering 5%Everything else 38%
Biggest programs
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and HumanitiesSpringfield Technical Community College · 120 graduates a year
$42k4 yrs out
Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/FitnessSpringfield College · 97 graduates a year
$54k4 yrs out
Rehabilitation and Therapeutic ProfessionsSpringfield College · 79 graduates a year
$69k4 yrs out
Business/Commerce, GeneralSpringfield Technical Community College · 58 graduates a year
$48k4 yrs out
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical NursingSpringfield Technical Community College · 57 graduates a year
$87k4 yrs out
Psychology, GeneralWestern New England University · 54 graduates a year
$58k4 yrs out
Mechanical Engineering Related Technologies/TechniciansWestern New England University · 53 graduates a year
$90k4 yrs out
Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/FitnessWestern New England University · 45 graduates a year
$56k4 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. Left out: Springfield College-Regional, Online, and Continuing Education, where most students study only online.
Questions about college in Springfield
Is Springfield a college town?
No. About 8 of every 100 Springfield residents are enrolled in college (Census, 2020–24), about the same as Massachusetts (8). The largest campus in the city, Western New England University, has 3,362 students on campus.
What colleges are in Springfield?
Western New England University, Springfield Technical Community College, Springfield College, American International College and 1 more are inside the city. College of Our Lady of the Elms is 3.6 miles from the center, in Chicopee.
What is the closest community college to Springfield, and what does it cost?
Springfield Technical Community College in Springfield, 2 miles away. Tuition and fees are $5,904 a year for Massachusetts residents; the federal net price, $5,662, 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 Springfield. 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 →
Photo: Quintin Soloviev · CC BY 4.0