Photo: Mr. Matté (if there is an issue with this image, contact me using this image's Commons talk page, my Commons user talk page, or my English Wikipedia user talk page; I'll know about it a lot faster) · CC BY-SA 4.0East Stroudsburg University of Pennsylvania is 6.4 miles from Columbia
No college sits inside Columbia’s boundary, but East Stroudsburg University of Pennsylvania’s campus in East Stroudsburg, with 5,124 students on campus, is 6.4 miles from the center of town, and Warren County Community College is 13.1 miles away in Washington. About 0% of Columbia’s residents are enrolled in college, about the same as New Jersey (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 Columbia. Colleges are described, not graded.
What stands out about college from Columbia
Facts about the town and its distance to campus; each college’s own figures follow.
Colleges within 15 miles of Columbia
One private college within 14.6 miles, one public college within 6.4 miles, and Warren County Community College 13.1 miles away. The nearest public four-year college, Rutgers University-New Brunswick, is 45 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 $48–75k, where Columbia’s median household income ($74,125) 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. *Reported for all the campuses that file together: Rutgers University-New Brunswick (3).
Questions about college near Columbia
Is Columbia a college town?
No. About 0 of every 100 Columbia residents are enrolled in college (Census, 2020–24), about the same as New Jersey (6). The nearest campus, East Stroudsburg University of Pennsylvania, is 6.4 miles away in East Stroudsburg.
What colleges are near Columbia?
Within 15 miles: East Stroudsburg University of Pennsylvania (6.4 miles, 5,124 students on campus), Warren County Community College (13.1 miles, 3,157) and Centenary University (14.6 miles, 1,203).
What is the closest community college to Columbia, and what does it cost?
Warren County Community College in Washington, 13.1 miles away. Tuition and fees are $5,460 a year for New Jersey residents; the federal net price, $5,726, counts housing and food at full cost.
How much does Rutgers University-New Brunswick cost if we live in New Jersey?
Tuition and fees are $17,929 a year in-state and $37,441 from out of state. After grants, families on federal aid paid an average of $16,343 (under $30,000 income) to $35,016 (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 Columbia. 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 →