Photo: Textah01 · CC BY-SA 3.0Bethany College is 6.8 miles from Avella
No college sits inside Avella’s boundary, but Bethany College’s campus in Bethany, with 645 students on campus, is 6.8 miles from the center of town, and Rosedale Technical College is 22.8 miles away in Pittsburgh. About 3% of Avella’s residents are enrolled in college, below Pennsylvania (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 Avella. Colleges are described, not graded.
What stands out about college from Avella
Facts about the town and its distance to campus; each college’s own figures follow.
Colleges within 15 miles of Avella
Four private colleges within 13.9 miles, one public college within 10.4 miles, and Eastern Gateway Community College 12.8 miles away. The nearest public four-year college, Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Beaver, is 29.4 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 Avella’s median household income ($71,000) 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: Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Beaver (22).
Questions about college near Avella
Is Avella a college town?
No. About 3 of every 100 Avella residents are enrolled in college (Census, 2020–24), below Pennsylvania (6). The nearest campus, Bethany College, is 6.8 miles away in Bethany.
What colleges are near Avella?
Within 15 miles: Bethany College (6.8 miles, 645 students on campus), West Liberty University (10.4 miles, 2,058), Franciscan University of Steubenville (10.8 miles, 2,743), Eastern Gateway Community College (12.8 miles, 1,978), Penn Commercial Business/Technical School (13.6 miles, 223) and Washington & Jefferson College (13.9 miles, 1,162).
What is the closest community college to Avella, and what does it cost?
Rosedale Technical College in Pittsburgh, 22.8 miles away. Tuition and fees are $17,402 a year for Pennsylvania residents; the federal net price, $19,760, counts housing and food at full cost.
How much does Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Beaver cost if we live in Pennsylvania?
Tuition and fees are $14,408 a year in-state and $24,134 from out of state. After grants, families on federal aid paid an average of $9,228 (under $30,000 income) to $22,285 (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 Avella. 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 →