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Erie PA skyline from tower observation deck (cropped)Photo: User:Cards84664 · CC BY-SA 4.0
Colleges in and near Erie

Erie is home to three colleges, with about 11,000 students on campus

Gannon University (4,281 students on campus) and Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine (4,046) are inside the city, and Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Erie-Behrend College (3,306) is 4.6 miles from the center, just over the line in Harborcreek Township. About 9% of Erie’s residents are enrolled in college, above Pennsylvania (6%).

Gannon UniversityMercyhurst UniversityLake Erie College of Osteopathic MedicinePennsylvania State University-Penn State Erie-Behrend 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 Erie. Colleges are described, not graded.

Within 15 miles
6
14,620 students on campus
Nearest college
1.1 mi
Gannon University
Residents in college
9%
Above PA (6%)
Nearest community college
51.1 mi
Northern Pennsylvania Regional College · $4,440 tuition
Nearest public university
4.6 mi
Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Erie-Behrend College · $15,972 in-state
Median household income
$46K
prices below start here

What stands out about college in Erie

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

Four colleges within 4.6 milesGannon University admits 74% of applicants; Mercyhurst University admits 81%; Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Erie-Behrend College admits 97%. Together they have 14,136 students on campus.In-state price at Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Erie-Behrend CollegeLiving in Pennsylvania, Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Erie-Behrend College charges $15,972 in tuition and fees; from out of state, $26,958. State residency rules decide which a new arrival pays.A community college 51.1 miles awayNorthern Pennsylvania Regional College in Warren: tuition and fees $4,440 a year for Pennsylvania residents.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 Erie

Five private colleges within 3.4 miles, and one public college within 4.6 miles.

5 mi10 mi15 miGannon UniversityLake Erie College of Osteopathic MedicineErie
University or collegeCommunity college
Gannon UniversityUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 4,281 on campus · In Erie74%admitted$23knet price66%graduate$59kearningsMercyhurst UniversityUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 2,503 on campus · In Erie81%admitted$19knet price60%graduate$47kearningsGreat Lakes Institute of TechnologyUniversity or college · For-profit · 301 on campus · 2.7 mi · Erie$18knet price64%graduate$29kearningsLake Erie College of Osteopathic MedicineUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 4,046 on campus · In ErieErie Institute of Technology IncUniversity or college · For-profit · 183 on campus · 3.4 mi · Erie$30knet price67%graduate$42kearningsPennsylvania State University-Penn State Erie-Behrend CollegeUniversity or college · Public · 3,306 on campus · 4.6 mi · Erie97%admitted$25knet price44%graduate$63kearningsEarnings are reported for all 22 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 Erie’s median household income ($46,113) falls.

Great Lakes Institute of Technology2.7 mi · Erie · sticker $23,028$14,722a year
Gannon UniversityIn Erie · sticker $52,869$15,945a year
Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Erie-Behrend College4.6 mi · Erie · sticker $34,081$17,884a year
Mercyhurst UniversityIn Erie · sticker $59,557$22,429a year
Erie Institute of Technology Inc3.4 mi · Erie · sticker $38,471$27,512a 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 Erie: across is the share who graduate, up is what they earn ten years after starting.

$0$20k$40k$60k$80k0%25%50%75%100%Graduate →Gannon UniversityMercyhurst UniversityGreat Lakes Institute of TechnologyErie Institute of Technology IncPennsylvania State University-Penn State Erie-Behrend College
Gannon University66% graduate$59k earnings$27k typical debt
Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Erie-Behrend College44% graduate$63k earnings*$25k typical debt
Mercyhurst University60% graduate$47k earnings$25k typical debt
Great Lakes Institute of Technology64% graduate$29k earnings$11k typical debt
Erie Institute of Technology Inc67% graduate$42k earnings$11k 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 Erie-Behrend College (22).

Majors

What students study in Erie

Share of bachelor’s and associate degrees by field across Erie’s 3 colleges, weighted by undergraduates; then the biggest programs.

Health professions 26%Business 18%Biology 9%Public safety 7%Engineering 4%Education 3%Everything else 33%

Biggest programs

Health Professions and Related Clinical Sciences, OtherGannon University · 132 graduates a year
$93k4 yrs out
Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/FitnessGannon University · 61 graduates a year
$54k4 yrs out
Intelligence, Command Control and Information OperationsMercyhurst University · 59 graduates a year
$87k4 yrs out
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical NursingGannon University · 51 graduates a year
$81k4 yrs out
Biology, GeneralGannon University · 47 graduates a year
$61k4 yrs out
Criminal Justice and CorrectionsMercyhurst University · 30 graduates a year
$55k4 yrs out
Biology, GeneralMercyhurst University · 28 graduates a year
$65k4 yrs out
Finance and Financial Management ServicesGannon University · 27 graduates a year
$74k4 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 Erie

Is Erie a college town?

No. About 9 of every 100 Erie residents are enrolled in college (Census, 2020–24), above Pennsylvania (6). The largest campus in the city, Gannon University, has 4,281 students on campus.

What colleges are in Erie?

Gannon University, Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine and Mercyhurst University are inside the city. Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Erie-Behrend College is 4.6 miles from the center, in Harborcreek Township, and Northern Pennsylvania Regional College is 51.1 miles away in Warren.

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

Northern Pennsylvania Regional College in Warren, 51.1 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.

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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 Erie. 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 →