Photo: Troy R. Bennett · CC BY-SA 4.0Bowdoin College is 12 miles from Harpswell
No college sits inside Harpswell’s boundary, but Bowdoin College’s campus in Brunswick, with 1,850 students on campus, is 12 miles from the center of town, and Southern Maine Community College is 14.2 miles away in South Portland. About 2% of Harpswell’s residents are enrolled in college, below Maine (6%).
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 Harpswell. Colleges are described, not graded.
What stands out about college from Harpswell
Facts about the town and its distance to campus; each college’s own figures follow.
Colleges within 15 miles of Harpswell
One private college within 12 miles, and Southern Maine Community College 14.2 miles away. The nearest public four-year college, University of Southern Maine, is 15.9 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 $75–110k, where Harpswell’s median household income ($96,250) 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: 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 Harpswell
Is Harpswell a college town?
No. About 2 of every 100 Harpswell residents are enrolled in college (Census, 2020–24), below Maine (6). The nearest campus, Bowdoin College, is 12 miles away in Brunswick.
What colleges are near Harpswell?
Within 15 miles: Bowdoin College (12 miles, 1,850 students on campus) and Southern Maine Community College (14.2 miles, 5,470).
What is the closest community college to Harpswell, and what does it cost?
Southern Maine Community College in South Portland, 14.2 miles away. Tuition and fees are $4,156 a year for Maine residents; the federal net price, $11,086, counts housing and food at full cost.
How much does the University of Southern Maine cost if we live in Maine?
Tuition and fees are $11,284 a year in-state and $27,944 from out of state. After grants, families on federal aid paid an average of $9,999 (under $30,000 income) to $19,180 (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 Harpswell. 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 →