Widener University is 2 miles from Brookhaven
No college sits inside Brookhaven’s boundary, but Widener University’s campus in Chester, with 4,531 students on campus, is 2 miles from the center of town, and Pennsylvania Institute of Technology is 2.6 miles away in Media. About 5% of Brookhaven’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 Brookhaven. Colleges are described, not graded.
What stands out about college from Brookhaven
Facts about the town and its distance to campus; each college’s own figures follow.
Colleges within 15 miles of Brookhaven
23 private colleges within 14.4 miles, five public colleges within 14.5 miles, and six community colleges.
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. Pick your family’s income.
Starts at $75–110k, where Brookhaven’s median household income ($91,042) 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 within 15 miles of Brookhaven: 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 Brandywine (22); Saint Joseph's University - Philadelphia (2).
Questions about college near Brookhaven
Is Brookhaven a college town?
No. About 5 of every 100 Brookhaven residents are enrolled in college (Census, 2020–24), about the same as Pennsylvania (6). The nearest campus, Widener University, is 2 miles away in Chester.
What colleges are near Brookhaven?
31 colleges are within 15 miles. The largest: Temple University (14.5 miles, 27,767 students on campus), the University of Pennsylvania (11.8 miles, 25,644) and Drexel University (12.1 miles, 19,393).
What is the closest community college to Brookhaven, and what does it cost?
Pennsylvania Institute of Technology in Media, 2.6 miles away. Tuition and fees are $14,850 a year for Pennsylvania residents; the federal net price, $17,850, counts housing and food at full cost.
How much does Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Brandywine 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 $15,904 (under $30,000 income) to $29,031 (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 Brookhaven. 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 →