Photo: Andrew Bossi · CC BY-SA 2.5Saint Joseph's University - Lancaster is 10.7 miles from Blue Ball
No college sits inside Blue Ball’s boundary, but Saint Joseph's University - Lancaster’s campus in Lancaster, with 1,402 students on campus, is 10.7 miles from the center of town, and Thaddeus Stevens College of Technology is 13.3 miles away in Lancaster. About 2% of Blue Ball’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 Blue Ball. Colleges are described, not graded.
What stands out about college from Blue Ball
Facts about the town and its distance to campus; each college’s own figures follow.
Colleges within 15 miles of Blue Ball
Four private colleges within 14.6 miles, and two community colleges. The nearest public four-year college, Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Berks, is 17.6 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 $75–110k, where Blue Ball’s median household income ($98,727) 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: Saint Joseph's University - Lancaster (2); Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Berks (22).
Questions about college near Blue Ball
Is Blue Ball a college town?
No. About 2 of every 100 Blue Ball residents are enrolled in college (Census, 2020–24), below Pennsylvania (6). The nearest campus, Saint Joseph's University - Lancaster, is 10.7 miles away in Lancaster.
What colleges are near Blue Ball?
Within 15 miles: Saint Joseph's University - Lancaster (10.7 miles, 1,402 students on campus), Lancaster Bible College (12.5 miles, 1,588), Thaddeus Stevens College of Technology (13.3 miles, 1,453), Lancaster County Career and Technology Center (14.2 miles, 250), Pennsylvania College of Art and Design (14.3 miles, 318) and Franklin and Marshall College (14.6 miles, 1,911).
What is the closest community college to Blue Ball, and what does it cost?
Thaddeus Stevens College of Technology in Lancaster, 13.3 miles away. Tuition and fees are $9,050 a year for Pennsylvania residents; the federal net price, $14,104, counts housing and food at full cost.
How much does Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Berks 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 $16,429 (under $30,000 income) to $29,541 (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 Blue Ball. 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 →