Photo: Original uploader was Mwanner at en.wikipedia Later version(s) were uploaded by XcepticZP at en.wikipedia. · CC BY-SA 3.0Paul Smiths College of Arts and Science is 7 miles from Santa Clara
No college sits inside Santa Clara’s boundary, but Paul Smiths College of Arts and Science’s campus in Paul Smiths, with 583 students on campus, is 7 miles from the center of town, and North Country Community College is 17.2 miles away in Saranac Lake. About 5% of Santa Clara’s residents are enrolled in college, below New York (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 Santa Clara. Colleges are described, not graded.
What stands out about college from Santa Clara
Facts about the town and its distance to campus; each college’s own figures follow.
Colleges within 15 miles of Santa Clara
One private college within 7 miles. The nearest public four-year college, SUNY College at Potsdam, is 32.1 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 Santa Clara’s median household income ($96,964) 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 Santa Clara
Is Santa Clara a college town?
No. About 5 of every 100 Santa Clara residents are enrolled in college (Census, 2020–24), below New York (7). The nearest campus, Paul Smiths College of Arts and Science, is 7 miles away in Paul Smiths.
What colleges are near Santa Clara?
Within 15 miles: Paul Smiths College of Arts and Science (7 miles, 583 students on campus).
What is the closest community college to Santa Clara, and what does it cost?
North Country Community College in Saranac Lake, 17.2 miles away. Tuition and fees are $6,682 a year for New York residents; the federal net price, $11,868, counts housing and food at full cost.
How much does SUNY College at Potsdam cost if we live in New York?
Tuition and fees are $8,768 a year in-state and $18,678 from out of state. After grants, families on federal aid paid an average of $8,623 (under $30,000 income) to $20,041 (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 Santa Clara. 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 →