Photo: Kenneth C. Zirkel · CC BY-SA 4.0The University of New England is 5.1 miles from Saco
No college sits inside Saco’s boundary, but the University of New England’s campus in Biddeford, with 3,690 students on campus, is 5.1 miles from the center of town, and Southern Maine Community College is 12.6 miles away in South Portland. About 5% of Saco’s residents are enrolled in college, about the same as 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 Saco. Colleges are described, not graded.
What stands out about college from Saco
Facts about the town and its distance to campus; each college’s own figures follow.
Colleges within 15 miles of Saco
Two private colleges within 11.9 miles, one public college within 11.8 miles, and Southern Maine Community College 12.6 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. Pick your family’s income.
Starts at $75–110k, where Saco’s median household income ($92,241) 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 Saco: 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 Saco
Is Saco a college town?
No. About 5 of every 100 Saco residents are enrolled in college (Census, 2020–24), about the same as Maine (6). The nearest campus, the University of New England, is 5.1 miles away in Biddeford.
What colleges are near Saco?
Within 15 miles: the University of New England (5.1 miles, 3,690 students on campus), the University of Southern Maine (11.8 miles, 5,699), Maine College of Art & Design (11.9 miles, 470) and Southern Maine Community College (12.6 miles, 5,470).
What is the closest community college to Saco, and what does it cost?
Southern Maine Community College in South Portland, 12.6 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 Saco. 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 →