Central Penn College is 4.4 miles from Dauphin
No college sits inside Dauphin’s boundary, but Central Penn College’s campus in Summerdale, with 386 students on campus, is 4.4 miles from the center of town, and Harrisburg Area Community College is 5.5 miles away in Harrisburg. About 7% of Dauphin’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 Dauphin. Colleges are described, not graded.
What stands out about college from Dauphin
Facts about the town and its distance to campus; each college’s own figures follow.
Colleges within 15 miles of Dauphin
Three private colleges within 14.9 miles, and Harrisburg Area Community College 5.5 miles away. The nearest public four-year college, Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Harrisburg, is 15.1 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 Dauphin’s median household income ($45,625) 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 Harrisburg (22).
Questions about college near Dauphin
Is Dauphin a college town?
No. About 7 of every 100 Dauphin residents are enrolled in college (Census, 2020–24), about the same as Pennsylvania (6). The nearest campus, Central Penn College, is 4.4 miles away in Summerdale.
What colleges are near Dauphin?
Within 15 miles: Central Penn College (4.4 miles, 386 students on campus), Harrisburg Area Community College (5.5 miles, 6,841), Harrisburg University of Science and Technology (7.8 miles, 3,306) and Messiah University (14.9 miles, 2,684).
What is the closest community college to Dauphin, and what does it cost?
Harrisburg Area Community College in Harrisburg, 5.5 miles away. Tuition and fees are $6,975 a year for Pennsylvania residents; the federal net price, $14,471, counts housing and food at full cost.
How much does Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Harrisburg 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 $16,219 (under $30,000 income) to $29,834 (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 Dauphin. 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 →