Photo: Pubdog · Public domainUnited States Naval Academy is 10.8 miles from Shady Side
No college sits inside Shady Side’s boundary, but United States Naval Academy’s campus in Annapolis, with 4,465 students on campus, is 10.8 miles from the center of town, and Anne Arundel Community College is 15.4 miles away in Arnold. About 7% of Shady Side’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 Shady Side. Colleges are described, not graded.
What stands out about college from Shady Side
Facts about the town and its distance to campus; each college’s own figures follow.
Colleges within 15 miles of Shady Side
One private college within 10.8 miles, and one public college within 10.8 miles.
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 Over $110k, where Shady Side’s median household income ($153,661) 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 Shady Side: 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.
Questions about college near Shady Side
Is Shady Side a college town?
No. About 7 of every 100 Shady Side residents are enrolled in college (Census, 2020–24), about the same as Maryland (7). The nearest campus, United States Naval Academy, is 10.8 miles away in Annapolis.
What colleges are near Shady Side?
Within 15 miles: United States Naval Academy (10.8 miles, 4,465 students on campus) and St. John's College (10.8 miles, 533).
What is the closest community college to Shady Side, and what does it cost?
Anne Arundel Community College in Arnold, 15.4 miles away. Tuition and fees are $4,322 a year for Maryland residents; the federal net price, $14,915, counts housing and food at full cost.
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 Shady Side. 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 →