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Colleges in and near Potomac

SANS Technology Institute is 4.8 miles from Potomac

No college sits inside Potomac’s boundary, but SANS Technology Institute’s campus in North Bethesda, with 119 students on campus, is 4.8 miles from the center of town, and Montgomery College is 6.2 miles away in Rockville. About 5% of Potomac’s residents are enrolled in college, below 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 Potomac. Colleges are described, not graded.

Within 15 miles
26
217,554 students on campus
Nearest college
4.8 mi
SANS Technology Institute
Residents in college
5%
Below MD (7%)
Nearest community college
6.2 mi
Montgomery College · $5,394 tuition
Nearest public university
13.5 mi
University of Maryland-College Park · $11,809 in-state
Median household income
$237K
prices below start here

What stands out about college from Potomac

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

A college 4.8 miles awaySANS Technology Institute has 119 students on campus in North Bethesda.A community college 6.2 miles awayMontgomery College in Rockville: tuition and fees $5,394 a year for Maryland residents.In-state price at University of Maryland-College ParkLiving in Maryland, the University of Maryland-College Park charges $11,809 in tuition and fees; from out of state, $41,186. State residency rules decide which a new arrival pays.Students are 5% of residentsBelow Maryland (7%). The Census counts anyone enrolled, including part-time and online students.
Every college

Colleges within 15 miles of Potomac

21 private colleges within 13.7 miles, three public colleges within 13.9 miles, and two community colleges.

5 mi10 mi15 miNorthern VirginiaGeorge Mason UniversityPotomac
University or collegeCommunity college
SANS Technology InstituteUniversity or college · For-profit · 119 on campus · 4.8 mi · North Bethesda · mostly online93% of its students study only online; price, graduation and earnings count them too.Montgomery CollegeCommunity college · Public · 15,953 on campus · 6.2 mi · Rockville$8knet price32%graduate$50kearningsTuition and fees: $5,394 a year. The net price counts housing and food at full cost.Columbia CollegeUniversity or college · For-profit · 231 on campus · 6.6 mi · Vienna, VA$10knet price80%graduate$22kearningsStandard Healthcare Services-College of NursingUniversity or college · For-profit · 719 on campus · 7.3 mi · Falls Church, VA28%admitted$36knet price66%graduateChamberlain University-VirginiaUniversity or college · For-profit · 540 on campus · 7.3 mi · Vienna, VA90%admitted$33knet price100%graduate$92kearningsEarnings are reported for all 15 campuses that file with it.Virginia University of Integrative MedicineUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 251 on campus · 7.3 mi · Vienna, VAGraduate students only; the Scorecard reports no undergraduate figures.University of the Potomac-VA CampusUniversity or college · For-profit · 547 on campus · 7.4 mi · FALLS CHURCH, VA50%graduate$35kearningsEarnings are reported for all 2 campuses that file with it.Wesley Theological SeminaryUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 378 on campus · 7.5 mi · Washington, DCGraduate students only; the Scorecard reports no undergraduate figures.American UniversityUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 11,897 on campus · 7.8 mi · Washington, DC62%admitted$42knet price75%graduate$77kearningsMarymount UniversityUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 2,811 on campus · 8.2 mi · Arlington, VA93%admitted$29knet price54%graduate$68kearningsUniversity of the District of ColumbiaUniversity or college · Public · 3,833 on campus · 8.4 mi · Washington, DC$11knet price33%graduate$44kearningsGeorgetown UniversityUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 17,465 on campus · 9.7 mi · Washington, DC13%admitted$41knet price95%graduate$103kearningsWashington Adventist UniversityUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 646 on campus · 10.5 mi · Takoma Park46%admitted$19knet price29%graduate$64kearningsArizona College of Nursing-Falls ChurchUniversity or college · For-profit · 284 on campus · 10.6 mi · Falls Church, VA100%admitted$39knet price$35kearningsEarnings are reported for all 20 campuses that file with it.George Washington UniversityUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 21,060 on campus · 11.1 mi · Washington, DC47%admitted$37knet price84%graduate$91kearningsHoward UniversityUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 12,280 on campus · 11.3 mi · Washington, DC41%admitted$51knet price70%graduate$63kearningsCareer Technical InstituteUniversity or college · For-profit · 242 on campus · 11.5 mi · Washington, DCThe Chicago School at Washington DCUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 569 on campus · 11.6 mi · Washington, DC$57kearningsEarnings are reported for all 8 campuses that file with it.Graduate students only; the Scorecard reports no undergraduate figures.University of the Potomac-Washington DC CampusUniversity or college · For-profit · 501 on campus · 11.6 mi · Washington, DC33%graduate$35kearningsEarnings are reported for all 2 campuses that file with it.Trinity Washington UniversityUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 1,576 on campus · 11.8 mi · Washington, DC100%admitted$9knet price49%graduate$54kearningsThe Catholic University of AmericaUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 4,721 on campus · 11.9 mi · Washington, DC83%admitted$30knet price79%graduate$73kearningsNorthern Virginia Community CollegeCommunity college · Public · 48,232 on campus · 12.6 mi · Annandale, VA$10knet price33%graduate$54kearningsTuition and fees: $5,891 a year. The net price counts housing and food at full cost.Gallaudet UniversityUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 1,178 on campus · 13 mi · Washington, DC58%admitted$16knet price47%graduate$43kearningsUniversity of Maryland-College ParkUniversity or college · Public · 39,078 on campus · 13.5 mi · College Park45%admitted$16knet price89%graduate$83kearningsSaint Michael College of Allied HealthUniversity or college · For-profit · 123 on campus · 13.7 mi · Washington, DC75%admitted$39knet price83%graduateGeorge Mason UniversityUniversity or college · Public · 32,320 on campus · 13.9 mi · Fairfax, VA87%admitted$18knet price68%graduate$76kearnings

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 Over $110k, where Potomac’s median household income ($236,675) falls.

Montgomery College6.2 mi · Rockville · sticker $15,298 · tuition $5,394$14,146a year
Trinity Washington University11.8 mi · Washington, DC · sticker $33,903$15,307a year
Northern Virginia Community College12.6 mi · Annandale, VA · sticker $17,153 · tuition $5,891$16,630a year
Gallaudet University13 mi · Washington, DC · sticker $40,374$18,318a year
Washington Adventist University10.5 mi · Takoma Park · sticker $34,309$21,480a year
George Mason University13.9 mi · Fairfax, VA · sticker $28,604$25,894a year
University of Maryland-College Park13.5 mi · College Park · sticker $29,299$26,691a year
Marymount University8.2 mi · Arlington, VA · sticker $57,184$30,618a year
The Catholic University of America11.9 mi · Washington, DC · sticker $75,481$37,651a year
Standard Healthcare Services-College of Nursing7.3 mi · Falls Church, VA · sticker $41,939$41,243a year
Arizona College of Nursing-Falls Church10.6 mi · Falls Church, VA · sticker $42,280$42,280a year
American University7.8 mi · Washington, DC · sticker $76,058$53,673a year
Howard University11.3 mi · Washington, DC · sticker $54,630$54,270a year
George Washington University11.1 mi · Washington, DC · sticker $83,856$55,337a year
Georgetown University9.7 mi · Washington, DC · sticker $88,741$57,403a year
Columbia College6.6 mi · Vienna, VA · sticker $13,440—a year
Chamberlain University-Virginia7.3 mi · Vienna, VA · sticker $45,594—a year
University of the District of Columbia8.4 mi · Washington, DC · sticker $20,437—a year
Saint Michael College of Allied Health13.7 mi · Washington, DC · sticker $45,405—a 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 Potomac: across is the share who graduate, up is what they earn ten years after starting.

$0$20k$40k$60k$80k$100k$120k0%25%50%75%100%Graduate →Montgomery CollegeGeorge Washington UniversityNorthern VirginiaUniversity of Maryland-College ParkGeorge Mason University
Northern Virginia Community College33% graduate$54k earnings$11k typical debt
University of Maryland-College Park89% graduate$83k earnings$19k typical debt
George Mason University68% graduate$76k earnings$20k typical debt
George Washington University84% graduate$91k earnings$20k typical debt
Georgetown University95% graduate$103k earnings$16k typical debt
Montgomery College32% graduate$50k earnings$10k typical debt
Howard University70% graduate$63k earnings$24k typical debt
American University75% graduate$77k earnings$23k typical debt
The Catholic University of America79% graduate$73k earnings$26k typical debt
University of the District of Columbia33% graduate$44k earnings$25k typical debt
Marymount University54% graduate$68k earnings$25k typical debt
Trinity Washington University49% graduate$54k earnings$28k 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: Chamberlain University-Virginia (15); University of the Potomac-VA Campus (2); University of the Potomac-Washington DC Campus (2).

Questions about college near Potomac

Is Potomac a college town?

No. About 5 of every 100 Potomac residents are enrolled in college (Census, 2020–24), below Maryland (7). The nearest campus, SANS Technology Institute, is 4.8 miles away in North Bethesda.

What colleges are near Potomac?

26 colleges are within 15 miles. The largest: Northern Virginia Community College (12.6 miles, 48,232 students on campus), the University of Maryland-College Park (13.5 miles, 39,078) and George Mason University (13.9 miles, 32,320).

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

Montgomery College in Rockville, 6.2 miles away. Tuition and fees are $5,394 a year for Maryland residents; the federal net price, $8,027, counts housing and food at full cost.

How much does the University of Maryland-College Park cost if we live in Maryland?

Tuition and fees are $11,809 a year in-state and $41,186 from out of state. After grants, families on federal aid paid an average of $2,962 (under $30,000 income) to $26,691 (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 Potomac. 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 →