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Allentown, Pennsylvania (cropped)Photo: Quintin Soloviev · CC BY 4.0
Colleges in and near Allentown

Allentown is home to two colleges, with 2,837 students on campus

Muhlenberg College (1,815 students on campus) and Cedar Crest College (1,022) are inside the city. About 7% of Allentown’s residents are enrolled in college, about the same as Pennsylvania (6%).

Muhlenberg CollegeCedar Crest 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 Allentown. Colleges are described, not graded.

Within 15 miles
10
27,794 students on campus
Nearest college
1.6 mi
Muhlenberg College
Residents in college
7%
About the same as PA (6%)
Nearest community college
8.5 mi
Lehigh Carbon · $5,280 tuition
Nearest public university
4.6 mi
Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Lehigh Valley · $15,208 in-state
Median household income
$55K
prices below start here

What stands out about college in Allentown

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

Two colleges within 2.2 milesMuhlenberg College admits 72% of applicants; Cedar Crest College admits 84%. Together they have 2,837 students on campus.In-state price at Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Lehigh ValleyLiving in Pennsylvania, Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Lehigh Valley charges $15,208 in tuition and fees; from out of state, $25,392. State residency rules decide which a new arrival pays.A community college 8.5 miles awayLehigh Carbon Community College in Schnecksville: tuition and fees $5,280 a year for Pennsylvania residents.Students are 7% of residentsAbout the same as Pennsylvania (6%). The Census counts anyone enrolled, including part-time and online students.
Every college

Colleges within 15 miles of Allentown

Seven private colleges within 6.6 miles, one public college within 4.6 miles, and two community colleges.

5 mi10 mi15 miLehigh UniversityNorthampton County AreaLehigh CarbonAllentown
University or collegeCommunity college
Muhlenberg CollegeUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 1,815 on campus · In Allentown72%admitted$29knet price82%graduate$69kearningsCedar Crest CollegeUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 1,022 on campus · In Allentown84%admitted$19knet price60%graduate$59kearningsMiller-Motte College-Berks Technical Institute-AllentownUniversity or college · For-profit · 277 on campus · 3.6 mi · Allentown$22knet price83%graduate$31kearningsEarnings are reported for all 22 campuses that file with it.Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Lehigh ValleyUniversity or college · Public · 934 on campus · 4.6 mi · Center Valley97%admitted$18knet price18%graduate$63kearningsEarnings are reported for all 22 campuses that file with it.Lincoln Technical Institute-AllentownUniversity or college · For-profit · 529 on campus · 4.8 mi · Allentown$36knet price61%graduate$39kearningsEarnings are reported for all 8 campuses that file with it.Lehigh UniversityUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 7,156 on campus · 5.2 mi · Bethlehem26%admitted$37knet price88%graduate$106kearningsMoravian UniversityUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 2,327 on campus · 5.6 mi · Bethlehem54%admitted$31knet price72%graduate$62kearningsDeSales UniversityUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 2,290 on campus · 6.6 mi · Center Valley77%admitted$32knet price72%graduate$61kearningsLehigh Carbon Community CollegeCommunity college · Public · 4,402 on campus · 8.5 mi · Schnecksville$9knet price30%graduate$42kearningsTuition and fees: $5,280 a year. The net price counts housing and food at full cost.Northampton County Area Community CollegeCommunity college · Public · 7,042 on campus · 9.8 mi · Bethlehem$12knet price24%graduate$42kearningsTuition and fees: $5,550 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. Pick your family’s income.

Family income

Starts at $48–75k, where Allentown’s median household income ($55,494) falls.

Lehigh Carbon Community College8.5 mi · Schnecksville · sticker $15,405 · tuition $5,280$9,908a year
Northampton County Area Community College9.8 mi · Bethlehem · sticker $18,119 · tuition $5,550$13,016a year
Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Lehigh Valley4.6 mi · Center Valley · sticker $28,109$16,438a year
Lehigh University5.2 mi · Bethlehem · sticker $80,856$18,722a year
Muhlenberg CollegeIn Allentown · sticker $77,270$19,717a year
Cedar Crest CollegeIn Allentown · sticker $57,206$21,490a year
Miller-Motte College-Berks Technical Institute-Allentown3.6 mi · Allentown · sticker $27,372$21,881a year
DeSales University6.6 mi · Center Valley · sticker $62,745$26,096a year
Moravian University5.6 mi · Bethlehem · sticker $65,601$26,390a year
Lincoln Technical Institute-Allentown4.8 mi · Allentown · sticker $40,879$36,770a 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 within 15 miles of Allentown: across is the share who graduate, up is what they earn ten years after starting.

$0$20k$40k$60k$80k$100k$120k0%25%50%75%100%Graduate →Muhlenberg CollegeLehigh UniversityMoravian UniversityDeSales UniversityLehigh CarbonNorthampton County Area
Lehigh University88% graduate$106k earnings$22k typical debt
Northampton County Area Community College24% graduate$42k earnings$15k typical debt
Lehigh Carbon Community College30% graduate$42k earnings$11k typical debt
Moravian University72% graduate$62k earnings$27k typical debt
DeSales University72% graduate$61k earnings$26k typical debt
Muhlenberg College82% graduate$69k earnings$25k typical debt
Cedar Crest College60% graduate$59k earnings$27k typical debt
Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Lehigh Valley18% graduate$63k earnings*$25k typical debt
Lincoln Technical Institute-Allentown61% graduate$39k earnings*$11k typical debt
Miller-Motte College-Berks Technical Institute-Allentown83% graduate$31k earnings*$16k 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. *Reported for all the campuses that file together: Miller-Motte College-Berks Technical Institute-Allentown (22); Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Lehigh Valley (22); Lincoln Technical Institute-Allentown (8).

Majors

What students study in Allentown

Share of bachelor’s and associate degrees by field across Allentown’s 2 colleges, weighted by undergraduates; then the biggest programs.

Business 19%Visual & performing arts 14%Health professions 10%Psychology 10%Biology 7%Communication 4%Everything else 36%

Biggest programs

Drama/Theatre Arts and StagecraftMuhlenberg College · 106 graduates a year
$42k4 yrs out
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical NursingCedar Crest College · 95 graduates a year
$84k4 yrs out
Business Administration, Management and OperationsMuhlenberg College · 64 graduates a year
$78k4 yrs out
Communication and Media StudiesMuhlenberg College · 58 graduates a year
$58k4 yrs out
Psychology, GeneralMuhlenberg College · 56 graduates a year
$61k4 yrs out
Biology, GeneralMuhlenberg College · 41 graduates a year
$83k4 yrs out
Finance and Financial Management ServicesMuhlenberg College · 39 graduates a year
$94k4 yrs out
Political Science and GovernmentMuhlenberg College · 32 graduates a year
$67k4 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 Allentown

Is Allentown a college town?

No. About 7 of every 100 Allentown residents are enrolled in college (Census, 2020–24), about the same as Pennsylvania (6). The largest campus in the city, Muhlenberg College, has 1,815 students on campus.

What colleges are in Allentown?

Muhlenberg College and Cedar Crest College are inside the city. Lehigh Carbon Community College is 8.5 miles away in Schnecksville.

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

Lehigh Carbon Community College in Schnecksville, 8.5 miles away. Tuition and fees are $5,280 a year for Pennsylvania residents; the federal net price, $9,203, counts housing and food at full cost.

How much does Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Lehigh Valley cost if we live in Pennsylvania?

Tuition and fees are $15,208 a year in-state and $25,392 from out of state. After grants, families on federal aid paid an average of $12,422 (under $30,000 income) to $24,539 (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 Allentown. 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 →