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Saranac Lake - Lake FlowerPhoto: Mwanner at English Wikipedia · CC BY-SA 3.0
Colleges in and near Saranac Lake

Saranac Lake is home to North Country Community College

North Country Community College (1,410 students on campus) is inside the village. About 6% of Saranac Lake’s residents are enrolled in college, about the same as New York (7%).

North Country Community College

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 Saranac Lake. Colleges are described, not graded.

Within 15 miles
2
1,993 students on campus
Nearest college
0.7 mi
North Country
Residents in college
6%
About the same as NY (7%)
Nearest community college
0.7 mi
North Country · $6,682 tuition
Nearest public university
41.4 mi
SUNY Plattsburgh · $9,035 in-state
Median household income
$62K
prices below start here

What stands out about college in Saranac Lake

Facts about the town and its distance to campus; each college’s own figures follow.

A community college in Saranac LakeNorth Country Community College has 1,410 students on campus in Saranac Lake, 29% of whom graduate within three years.In-state price at SUNY PlattsburghLiving in New York, State University of New York at Plattsburgh charges $9,035 in tuition and fees; from out of state, $18,945. State residency rules decide which a new arrival pays.Students are 6% of residentsAbout the same as New York (7%). The Census counts anyone enrolled, including part-time and online students.
Every college

Colleges within 15 miles of Saranac Lake

One private college within 9.6 miles, and North Country Community College 0.7 miles away. The nearest public four-year college, State University of New York at Plattsburgh, is 41.4 miles away.

5 mi10 mi15 miNorth CountrySaranac Lake
University or collegeCommunity college
North Country Community CollegeCommunity college · Public · 1,410 on campus · In Saranac Lake$12knet price29%graduate$38kearningsTuition and fees: $6,682 a year. The net price counts housing and food at full cost.Paul Smiths College of Arts and ScienceUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 583 on campus · 9.6 mi · Paul Smiths77%admitted$27knet price51%graduate$46kearnings

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 it costs

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.

Family income

Starts at $48–75k, where Saranac Lake’s median household income ($61,967) falls.

North Country Community CollegeIn Saranac Lake · sticker $18,051 · tuition $6,682$14,387a year
State University of New York at Plattsburgh41.4 mi · Plattsburgh · sticker $28,244$17,076a year
Paul Smiths College of Arts and Science9.6 mi · Paul Smiths · sticker $51,506$23,253a year

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.

Outcomes

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.

$0$20k$40k$60k$80k0%25%50%75%100%Graduate →North CountryPaul Smiths College of Arts and ScienceSUNY Plattsburgh
State University of New York at Plattsburgh59% graduate$56k earnings$21k typical debt
North Country Community College29% graduate$38k earnings$12k typical debt
Paul Smiths College of Arts and Science51% graduate$46k earnings$23k typical debt

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.

Majors

What students study in Saranac Lake

Share of bachelor’s and associate degrees by field at North Country Community College, weighted by undergraduates; then the biggest programs.

Health professions 64%Liberal arts 17%Business 13%Public safety 3%Natural resources 2%Public administration 1%Everything else 0%

Biggest programs

Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing50 graduates a year
$85k4 yrs out
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities25 graduates a year
$47k4 yrs out
Business Administration, Management and Operations12 graduates a year
$44k4 yrs out
Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions10 graduates a year
$77k4 yrs out
Health Services/Allied Health/Health Sciences, General7 graduates a year
$72k4 yrs out
Criminal Justice and Corrections4 graduates a year
$45k4 yrs out

College Scorecard: degree shares (PCIP; each college’s six largest fields are kept, the rest count as everything else) and the field-of-study file, median earnings 4 years after graduating.

Questions about college in Saranac Lake

Is Saranac Lake a college town?

No. About 6 of every 100 Saranac Lake residents are enrolled in college (Census, 2020–24), about the same as New York (7). The largest campus in the village, North Country Community College, has 1,410 students on campus.

What colleges are in Saranac Lake?

North Country Community College is inside the village.

What is the closest community college to Saranac Lake, and what does it cost?

North Country Community College in Saranac Lake, 0.7 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 State University of New York at Plattsburgh cost if we live in New York?

Tuition and fees are $9,035 a year in-state and $18,945 from out of state. After grants, families on federal aid paid an average of $9,400 (under $30,000 income) to $24,611 (over $110,000), housing and food included.

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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 Saranac Lake. 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 →