Fort Frederick State Park · Photo: Acroterion · CC BY-SA 4.0Valley College-Martinsburg is 10 miles from Big Pool
No college sits inside Big Pool’s boundary, but Valley College-Martinsburg’s campus in Martinsburg, with 190 students on campus, is 10 miles from the center of town, and Hagerstown Community College is 18.6 miles away in Hagerstown. About 12% of Big Pool’s residents are enrolled in college, about the same as Maryland (7%).
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 Big Pool. Colleges are described, not graded.
What stands out about college from Big Pool
Facts about the town and its distance to campus; each college’s own figures follow.
Colleges within 15 miles of Big Pool
One private college within 10 miles, and Blue Ridge Community and Technical College 13.1 miles away. The nearest public four-year college, Frostburg State University, is 48.9 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 Under $30k; the Census has no median household income for Big Pool.
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: Valley College-Martinsburg (2).
Questions about college near Big Pool
Is Big Pool a college town?
No. About 12 of every 100 Big Pool residents are enrolled in college (Census, 2020–24), about the same as Maryland (7). The nearest campus, Valley College-Martinsburg, is 10 miles away in Martinsburg.
What colleges are near Big Pool?
Within 15 miles: Valley College-Martinsburg (10 miles, 190 students on campus) and Blue Ridge Community and Technical College (13.1 miles, 3,779).
What is the closest community college to Big Pool, and what does it cost?
Hagerstown Community College in Hagerstown, 18.6 miles away. Tuition and fees are $4,320 a year for Maryland residents; the federal net price, $6,835, counts housing and food at full cost.
How much does Frostburg State University cost if we live in Maryland?
Tuition and fees are $10,220 a year in-state and $25,814 from out of state. After grants, families on federal aid paid an average of $12,129 (under $30,000 income) to $23,297 (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 Big Pool. 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 →