Photo: Adam Moss from East Amherst, New York, United States · CC BY-SA 2.0Jamestown Business College is 14.7 miles from Bear Lake
No college sits inside Bear Lake’s boundary, but Jamestown Business College’s campus in Jamestown, with 143 students on campus, is 14.7 miles from the center of town, and Northern Pennsylvania Regional College is 20.9 miles away in Warren. About 0% of Bear Lake’s residents are enrolled in college, about the same as 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 Bear Lake. Colleges are described, not graded.
What stands out about college from Bear Lake
Facts about the town and its distance to campus; each college’s own figures follow.
Colleges within 15 miles of Bear Lake
One private college within 14.7 miles. The nearest public four-year college, Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Erie-Behrend College, is 26.2 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 $30–48k, where Bear Lake’s median household income ($38,750) 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 Erie-Behrend College (22).
Questions about college near Bear Lake
Is Bear Lake a college town?
No. About 0 of every 100 Bear Lake residents are enrolled in college (Census, 2020–24), about the same as Pennsylvania (6). The nearest campus, Jamestown Business College, is 14.7 miles away in Jamestown.
What colleges are near Bear Lake?
Within 15 miles: Jamestown Business College (14.7 miles, 143 students on campus).
What is the closest community college to Bear Lake, and what does it cost?
Northern Pennsylvania Regional College in Warren, 20.9 miles away. Tuition and fees are $4,440 a year for Pennsylvania residents.
How much does Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Erie-Behrend College cost if we live in Pennsylvania?
Tuition and fees are $15,972 a year in-state and $26,958 from out of state. After grants, families on federal aid paid an average of $16,092 (under $30,000 income) to $29,692 (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 Bear 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 →