Photo: Adavidb at English Wikipedia · CC BY-SA 3.0Capitol Technology University is 3.4 miles from Laurel
No college sits inside Laurel’s boundary, but Capitol Technology University’s campus in Laurel, with 242 students on campus, is 3.4 miles from the center of town, and Howard Community College is 8.2 miles away in Columbia. About 8% of Laurel’s residents are enrolled in college, above 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 Laurel. Colleges are described, not graded.
What stands out about college from Laurel
Facts about the town and its distance to campus; each college’s own figures follow.
Colleges within 15 miles of Laurel
11 private colleges within 14.8 miles, four public colleges within 13.7 miles, and two community colleges.
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 Laurel’s median household income ($100,504) 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 Laurel: 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: Lincoln College of Technology-Columbia (8); Fortis College-Landover (3).
Questions about college near Laurel
Is Laurel a college town?
No. About 8 of every 100 Laurel residents are enrolled in college (Census, 2020–24), above Maryland (7). The nearest campus, Capitol Technology University, is 3.4 miles away in Laurel.
What colleges are near Laurel?
17 colleges are within 15 miles. The largest: the University of Maryland-College Park (8.6 miles, 39,078 students on campus), the University of Maryland-Baltimore County (13.7 miles, 13,491) and Howard University (14.6 miles, 12,280).
What is the closest community college to Laurel, and what does it cost?
Howard Community College in Columbia, 8.2 miles away. Tuition and fees are $4,080 a year for Maryland residents; the federal net price, $11,133, counts housing and food at full cost.
How much does Bowie State University cost if we live in Maryland?
Tuition and fees are $9,218 a year in-state and $19,938 from out of state. After grants, families on federal aid paid an average of $17,071 (under $30,000 income) to $24,919 (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 Laurel. 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 →