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Buildings on North Park Place, Painesville, Ohio, September 2025Photo: Niagara · CC BY-SA 3.0
Colleges in and near Painesville

Painesville is home to Lake Erie College

Lake Erie College (776 students on campus) is inside the city. About 6% of Painesville’s residents are enrolled in college, about the same as Ohio (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 Painesville. Colleges are described, not graded.

Within 15 miles
2
4,117 students on campus
Nearest college
0.4 mi
Lake Erie College
Residents in college
6%
About the same as OH (6%)
Nearest community college
8 mi
Lakeland · $3,872 tuition
Nearest public university
26.3 mi
Cleveland State · $12,988 in-state
Median household income
$52K
prices below start here

What stands out about college in Painesville

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

A college in PainesvilleLake Erie College has 776 students on campus in Painesville, 38% of whom graduate within six years.A community college 8 miles awayLakeland Community College in Kirtland: tuition and fees $3,872 a year for Ohio residents.In-state price at Cleveland StateLiving in Ohio, Cleveland State University charges $12,988 in tuition and fees; from out of state, $18,510. State residency rules decide which a new arrival pays.Students are 6% of residentsAbout the same as Ohio (6%). The Census counts anyone enrolled, including part-time and online students.
Every college

Colleges within 15 miles of Painesville

One private college within 0.4 miles, and Lakeland Community College 8 miles away. The nearest public four-year college, Cleveland State University, is 26.3 miles away.

5 mi10 mi15 miLakelandLake Erie CollegePainesville
University or collegeCommunity college
Lake Erie CollegeUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 776 on campus · In Painesville70%admitted$21knet price38%graduate$50kearningsLakeland Community CollegeCommunity college · Public · 3,341 on campus · 8 mi · Kirtland$8knet price24%graduate$40kearningsTuition and fees: $3,872 a year. The net price counts housing and food at full cost.

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 Painesville’s median household income ($51,516) falls.

Lakeland Community College8 mi · Kirtland · sticker $11,859 · tuition $3,872$8,506a year
Cleveland State University26.3 mi · Cleveland · sticker $27,159$14,727a year
Lake Erie CollegeIn Painesville · sticker $50,790$18,548a 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 →Lake Erie CollegeLakelandCleveland State
Cleveland State University51% graduate$52k earnings$22k typical debt
Lakeland Community College24% graduate$40k earnings$15k typical debt
Lake Erie College38% graduate$50k earnings$26k 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 Painesville

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

Business 26%Education 22%Psychology 10%Agriculture 8%Biology 7%Parks & recreation 7%Everything else 19%

Biggest programs

Business Administration, Management and Operations19 graduates a year
$70k4 yrs out
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods15 graduates a year
$41k4 yrs out
Psychology, General13 graduates a year
$49k4 yrs out
Biology, General12 graduates a year
$58k4 yrs out
Criminal Justice and Corrections9 graduates a year
$49k4 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 Painesville

Is Painesville a college town?

No. About 6 of every 100 Painesville residents are enrolled in college (Census, 2020–24), about the same as Ohio (6). The largest campus in the city, Lake Erie College, has 776 students on campus.

What colleges are in Painesville?

Lake Erie College is inside the city. Lakeland Community College is 8 miles away in Kirtland.

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

Lakeland Community College in Kirtland, 8 miles away. Tuition and fees are $3,872 a year for Ohio residents; the federal net price, $7,606, counts housing and food at full cost.

How much does Cleveland State University cost if we live in Ohio?

Tuition and fees are $12,988 a year in-state and $18,510 from out of state. After grants, families on federal aid paid an average of $11,958 (under $30,000 income) to $20,378 (over $110,000), housing and food included.

Neighbors talk college

Students, parents, alumni and the neighbors next door.

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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 Painesville. 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 →