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Chester Waterside Station of the Philadelphia Electric CompanyChester Waterside Station of the Philadelphia Electric Company · Photo: Jack Boucher · Public domain
Colleges in and near Chester

Chester is home to Widener University

Widener University (4,531 students on campus) is inside the city, and Neumann University (1,914) is 4.1 miles from the center, in Aston Township. About 9% of Chester’s residents are enrolled in college, above Pennsylvania (6%).

Widener UniversityNeumann UniversitySwarthmore 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 Chester. Colleges are described, not graded.

Within 15 miles
31
153,704 students on campus
Nearest college
1.4 mi
Widener University
Residents in college
9%
Above PA (6%)
Nearest community college
4.4 mi
Pennsylvania Institute of Technology · $14,850 tuition
Nearest public university
7 mi
Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Brandywine · $15,208 in-state
Median household income
$41K
prices below start here

What stands out about college in Chester

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

Three colleges within 4.2 milesWidener University admits 71% of applicants; Neumann University admits 81%; Swarthmore College admits 7%. Together they have 8,089 students on campus.A community college 4.4 miles awayPennsylvania Institute of Technology in Media: tuition and fees $14,850 a year for Pennsylvania residents.In-state price at Pennsylvania State University-Penn State BrandywineLiving in Pennsylvania, Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Brandywine charges $15,208 in tuition and fees; from out of state, $25,392. State residency rules decide which a new arrival pays.Students are 9% of residentsAbove Pennsylvania (6%). The Census counts anyone enrolled, including part-time and online students.
Every college

Colleges within 15 miles of Chester

22 private colleges within 14.2 miles, five public colleges within 15 miles, and seven community colleges.

5 mi10 mi15 miTemple UniversityUniversity of PennsylvaniaDrexel UniversityChester
University or collegeCommunity college
Widener UniversityUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 4,531 on campus · In Chester71%admitted$26knet price68%graduate$71kearningsAll-State Career SchoolUniversity or college · For-profit · 831 on campus · 3.9 mi · Essington$18knet price53%graduate$38kearningsNeumann UniversityUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 1,914 on campus · 4.1 mi · Aston81%admitted$28knet price54%graduate$58kearningsSwarthmore CollegeUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 1,644 on campus · 4.2 mi · Swarthmore7%admitted$23knet price92%graduate$80kearningsPennsylvania Institute of TechnologyCommunity college · Private nonprofit · 604 on campus · 4.4 mi · Media$18knet price21%graduate$36kearningsTuition and fees: $14,850 a year. The net price counts housing and food at full cost.Williamson College of the TradesCommunity college · Private nonprofit · 313 on campus · 5.1 mi · Media22%admitted$2knet price83%graduateTuition and fees: $31,611 a year. The net price counts housing and food at full cost.Pennsylvania State University-Penn State BrandywineUniversity or college · Public · 1,216 on campus · 7 mi · Media98%admitted$23knet price26%graduate$63kearningsEarnings are reported for all 22 campuses that file with it.Delaware County Community CollegeCommunity college · Public · 5,578 on campus · 8.4 mi · Media$7knet price24%graduate$45kearningsTuition and fees: $6,930 a year. The net price counts housing and food at full cost.Cheyney University of PennsylvaniaUniversity or college · Public · 696 on campus · 10.3 mi · Cheyney$14knet price41%graduate$38kearningsSalem Community CollegeCommunity college · Public · 931 on campus · 11.4 mi · Carneys Point, NJ$11knet price40%graduate$38kearningsTuition and fees: $6,360 a year. The net price counts housing and food at full cost.Walnut Hill CollegeUniversity or college · For-profit · 127 on campus · 11.5 mi · Philadelphia43%admitted$32knet price58%graduate$37kearningsHaverford CollegeUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 1,424 on campus · 11.7 mi · Haverford12%admitted$25knet price90%graduate$80kearningsUniversity of PennsylvaniaUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 25,644 on campus · 11.9 mi · Philadelphia5%admitted$29knet price97%graduate$111kearningsTalmudical Yeshiva of PhiladelphiaUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 120 on campus · 11.9 mi · Philadelphia90%admitted$11knet price50%graduateDrexel UniversityUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 19,393 on campus · 12.3 mi · Philadelphia79%admitted$39knet price78%graduate$85kearningsSaint Joseph's University - PhiladelphiaUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 5,782 on campus · 12.5 mi · Philadelphia89%admitted$30knet price79%graduate$87kearningsEarnings are reported for all 2 campuses that file with it.Harcum CollegeCommunity college · Private nonprofit · 644 on campus · 12.6 mi · Bryn Mawr$25knet price44%graduate$47kearningsTuition and fees: $32,000 a year. The net price counts housing and food at full cost.Curtis Institute of MusicUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 159 on campus · 12.8 mi · Philadelphia5%admitted96%graduateBryn Mawr CollegeUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 1,666 on campus · 12.9 mi · Bryn Mawr29%admitted$32knet price82%graduate$75kearningsMoore College of Art and DesignUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 398 on campus · 13.1 mi · Philadelphia56%admitted$43knet price57%graduate$38kearningsRosemont CollegeUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 449 on campus · 13.2 mi · Rosemont76%admitted$20knet price57%graduate$49kearningsVillanova UniversityUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 8,998 on campus · 13.3 mi · Villanova27%admitted$44knet price92%graduate$100kearningsThomas Jefferson UniversityUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 7,162 on campus · 13.4 mi · Philadelphia81%admitted$29knet price69%graduate$77kearningsPennsylvania Academy of the Fine ArtsUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 127 on campus · 13.4 mi · Philadelphia$42knet price58%graduate$30kearningsCommunity College of PhiladelphiaCommunity college · Public · 6,659 on campus · 13.6 mi · Philadelphia$12knet price24%graduate$41kearningsTuition and fees: $4,632 a year. The net price counts housing and food at full cost.Philadelphia College of Osteopathic MedicineUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 2,932 on campus · 13.8 mi · Philadelphia$139kearningsGraduate students only; the Scorecard reports no undergraduate figures.Rowan College of South Jersey-Gloucester CampusCommunity college · Public · 3,857 on campus · 14 mi · Sewell, NJ$12knet price39%graduate$42kearningsTuition and fees: $5,160 a year. The net price counts housing and food at full cost.Earnings are reported for all 2 campuses that file with it.West Chester University of PennsylvaniaUniversity or college · Public · 15,394 on campus · 14.1 mi · West Chester78%admitted$23knet price71%graduate$61kearningsEastern UniversityUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 2,192 on campus · 14.2 mi · Saint Davids · mostly online91%admitted$27knet price54%graduate$52kearnings69% of its students study only online; price, graduation and earnings count them too.Temple UniversityUniversity or college · Public · 27,767 on campus · 14.7 mi · Philadelphia80%admitted$28knet price75%graduate$64kearningsRutgers University-CamdenUniversity or college · Public · 4,552 on campus · 15 mi · Camden, NJ66%admitted$19knet price67%graduate$74kearningsEarnings are reported for all 3 campuses that file with it.

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 $30–48k, where Chester’s median household income ($41,342) falls.

University of Pennsylvania11.9 mi · Philadelphia · sticker $89,028$316a year
Williamson College of the Trades5.1 mi · Media · sticker $37,263 · tuition $31,611$1,545a year
Swarthmore College4.2 mi · Swarthmore · sticker $84,103$4,951a year
Delaware County Community College8.4 mi · Media · sticker $13,530 · tuition $6,930$6,075a year
Talmudical Yeshiva of Philadelphia11.9 mi · Philadelphia · sticker $22,680$8,600a year
Salem Community College11.4 mi · Carneys Point, NJ · sticker $17,857 · tuition $6,360$8,997a year
Haverford College11.7 mi · Haverford · sticker $90,382$9,388a year
Rowan College of South Jersey-Gloucester Campus14 mi · Sewell, NJ · sticker $16,151 · tuition $5,160$10,064a year
Community College of Philadelphia13.6 mi · Philadelphia · sticker $19,172 · tuition $4,632$11,339a year
Cheyney University of Pennsylvania10.3 mi · Cheyney · sticker $26,782$12,358a year
Rosemont College13.2 mi · Rosemont · sticker $38,498$13,373a year
Rutgers University-Camden15 mi · Camden, NJ · sticker $35,178$14,357a year
Pennsylvania Institute of Technology4.4 mi · Media · sticker $23,995 · tuition $14,850$16,247a year
Villanova University13.3 mi · Villanova · sticker $84,793$16,496a year
Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Brandywine7 mi · Media · sticker $31,088$16,580a year
West Chester University of Pennsylvania14.1 mi · West Chester · sticker $28,394$17,414a year
All-State Career School3.9 mi · Essington · sticker $23,923$17,751a year
Bryn Mawr College12.9 mi · Bryn Mawr · sticker $83,250$18,457a year
Walnut Hill College11.5 mi · Philadelphia · sticker $35,504$18,479a year
Harcum College12.6 mi · Bryn Mawr · sticker $42,997 · tuition $32,000$19,744a year
Eastern University14.2 mi · Saint Davids · mostly online · sticker $55,001$22,232a year
Widener UniversityIn Chester · sticker $70,621$22,275a year
Saint Joseph's University - Philadelphia12.5 mi · Philadelphia · sticker $67,954$23,022a year
Neumann University4.1 mi · Aston · sticker $57,180$23,150a year
Temple University14.7 mi · Philadelphia · sticker $40,903$23,431a year
Thomas Jefferson University13.4 mi · Philadelphia · sticker $64,197$24,407a year
Drexel University12.3 mi · Philadelphia · sticker $76,835$29,435a year
Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts13.4 mi · Philadelphia · sticker $66,106$42,301a year
Moore College of Art and Design13.1 mi · Philadelphia · sticker $71,327$42,789a 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 Chester: 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 →University of PennsylvaniaDrexel UniversityVillanova UniversityThomas Jefferson UniversityWest Chester University of PennsylvaniaTemple University
Temple University75% graduate$64k earnings$24k typical debt
University of Pennsylvania97% graduate$111k earnings$16k typical debt
Drexel University78% graduate$85k earnings$25k typical debt
West Chester University of Pennsylvania71% graduate$61k earnings$24k typical debt
Villanova University92% graduate$100k earnings$26k typical debt
Thomas Jefferson University69% graduate$77k earnings$15k typical debt
Community College of Philadelphia24% graduate$41k earnings$11k typical debt
Saint Joseph's University - Philadelphia79% graduate$87k earnings*$26k typical debt
Delaware County Community College24% graduate$45k earnings$13k typical debt
Rutgers University-Camden67% graduate$74k earnings*$22k typical debt
Widener University68% graduate$71k earnings$27k typical debt
Rowan College of South Jersey-Gloucester Campus39% graduate$42k earnings*$12k 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: Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Brandywine (22); Saint Joseph's University - Philadelphia (2); Rowan College of South Jersey-Gloucester Campus (2); Rutgers University-Camden (3).

Majors

What students study in Chester

Share of bachelor’s and associate degrees by field at Widener University, weighted by undergraduates; then the biggest programs.

Health professions 36%Business 19%Engineering 15%Psychology 9%Biology 6%Computer science 3%Everything else 13%

Biggest programs

Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing201 graduates a year
$98k4 yrs out
Psychology, General48 graduates a year
$61k4 yrs out
Business Administration, Management and Operations44 graduates a year
$62k4 yrs out
Mechanical Engineering39 graduates a year
$88k4 yrs out
Biology, General35 graduates a year
$74k4 yrs out
Finance and Financial Management Services21 graduates a year
$79k4 yrs out
Civil Engineering19 graduates a year
$80k4 yrs out
Criminal Justice and Corrections17 graduates a year
$61k4 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 Chester

Is Chester a college town?

No. About 9 of every 100 Chester residents are enrolled in college (Census, 2020–24), above Pennsylvania (6). The largest campus in the city, Widener University, has 4,531 students on campus.

What colleges are in Chester?

Widener University is inside the city. Neumann University is 4.1 miles from the center, in Aston Township, Swarthmore College is 4.2 miles from the center, in Swarthmore, and Pennsylvania Institute of Technology is 4.4 miles away in Media.

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

Pennsylvania Institute of Technology in Media, 4.4 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.

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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 Chester. 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 →