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MD 56 wb in Big Spring, Aug. 2024Photo: Mr. Matté (if there is an issue with this image, contact me using this image's Commons talk page, my Commons user talk page, or my English Wikipedia user talk page; I'll know about it a lot faster) · CC BY-SA 4.0
Colleges in and near Big Spring

Valley College-Martinsburg is 9.7 miles from Big Spring

No college sits inside Big Spring’s boundary, but Valley College-Martinsburg’s campus in Martinsburg, with 190 students on campus, is 9.7 miles from the center of town, and Hagerstown Community College is 14.5 miles away in Hagerstown. About 0% of Big Spring’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 Spring. Colleges are described, not graded.

Within 15 miles
3
8,531 students on campus
Nearest college
9.7 mi
Valley College-Martinsburg
Residents in college
0%
About the same as MD (7%)
Nearest community college
14.5 mi
Hagerstown · $4,320 tuition
Nearest public university
53 mi
Frostburg State · $10,220 in-state
Median household income
—
prices below start here

What stands out about college from Big Spring

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

A college 9.7 miles awayValley College-Martinsburg has 190 students on campus in Martinsburg, 66% of whom graduate within six years.A community college 14.5 miles awayHagerstown Community College in Hagerstown: tuition and fees $4,320 a year for Maryland residents.In-state price at Frostburg StateLiving in Maryland, Frostburg State University charges $10,220 in tuition and fees; from out of state, $25,814. State residency rules decide which a new arrival pays.Students are 0% of residentsAbout the same as Maryland (7%). The Census counts anyone enrolled, including part-time and online students.
Every college

Colleges within 15 miles of Big Spring

One private college within 9.7 miles, and two community colleges. The nearest public four-year college, Frostburg State University, is 53 miles away.

5 mi10 mi15 miHagerstownBlue Ridge Community and Technical CollegeValley College-MartinsburgBig Spring
University or collegeCommunity college
Valley College-MartinsburgUniversity or college · For-profit · 190 on campus · 9.7 mi · Martinsburg, WV · mostly online$26knet price66%graduate$25kearnings71% of its students study only online; price, graduation and earnings count them too.Earnings are reported for all 2 campuses that file with it.Blue Ridge Community and Technical CollegeCommunity college · Public · 3,779 on campus · 13.6 mi · Martinsburg, WV$5knet price32%graduate$39kearningsTuition and fees: $4,752 a year. The net price counts housing and food at full cost.Hagerstown Community CollegeCommunity college · Public · 4,562 on campus · 14.5 mi · Hagerstown$7knet price39%graduate$42kearningsTuition and fees: $4,320 a year. The net price counts housing and food at full cost.

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 and the nearest public four-year college. Pick your family’s income.

Family income

Starts at Under $30k; the Census has no median household income for Big Spring.

Blue Ridge Community and Technical College13.6 mi · Martinsburg, WV · sticker $11,522 · tuition $4,752$4,201a year
Hagerstown Community College14.5 mi · Hagerstown · sticker $12,747 · tuition $4,320$6,093a year
Frostburg State University53 mi · Frostburg · sticker $27,056$12,129a year
Valley College-Martinsburg9.7 mi · Martinsburg, WV · mostly online · sticker $31,332$25,497a 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: 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 →Valley College-MartinsburgBlue Ridge Community and Technical CollegeHagerstownFrostburg State
Hagerstown Community College39% graduate$42k earnings$11k typical debt
Blue Ridge Community and Technical College32% graduate$39k earnings$13k typical debt
Frostburg State University50% graduate$55k earnings$21k typical debt
Valley College-Martinsburg66% graduate$25k earnings*$10k 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: Valley College-Martinsburg (2).

Questions about college near Big Spring

Is Big Spring a college town?

No. About 0 of every 100 Big Spring residents are enrolled in college (Census, 2020–24), about the same as Maryland (7). The nearest campus, Valley College-Martinsburg, is 9.7 miles away in Martinsburg.

What colleges are near Big Spring?

Within 15 miles: Valley College-Martinsburg (9.7 miles, 190 students on campus), Blue Ridge Community and Technical College (13.6 miles, 3,779) and Hagerstown Community College (14.5 miles, 4,562).

What is the closest community college to Big Spring, and what does it cost?

Hagerstown Community College in Hagerstown, 14.5 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.

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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 Big Spring. 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 →