Pennsylvania Western University is 4.3 miles from Fairhope
No college sits inside Fairhope’s boundary, but Pennsylvania Western University’s campus in California, with 7,576 students on campus, is 4.3 miles from the center of town, and Westmoreland County Community College is 16.6 miles away in Youngwood. About 3% of Fairhope’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 Fairhope. Colleges are described, not graded.
What stands out about college from Fairhope
Facts about the town and its distance to campus; each college’s own figures follow.
Colleges within 15 miles of Fairhope
One private college within 4.1 miles, and two public colleges within 15 miles.
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 $30–48k, where Fairhope’s median household income ($37,014) 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 Fairhope: 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 Fayette- Eberly (22).
Questions about college near Fairhope
Is Fairhope a college town?
No. About 3 of every 100 Fairhope residents are enrolled in college (Census, 2020–24), about the same as Pennsylvania (6). The nearest campus, Douglas Education Center, is 4.1 miles away in Monessen.
What colleges are near Fairhope?
Within 15 miles: Douglas Education Center (4.1 miles, 200 students on campus), Pennsylvania Western University (4.3 miles, 7,576) and Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Fayette- Eberly (15 miles, 417).
What is the closest community college to Fairhope, and what does it cost?
Westmoreland County Community College in Youngwood, 16.6 miles away. Tuition and fees are $6,018 a year for Pennsylvania residents; the federal net price, $5,167, counts housing and food at full cost.
How much does Pennsylvania Western University cost if we live in Pennsylvania?
Tuition and fees are $11,436 a year in-state and $16,054 from out of state. After grants, families on federal aid paid an average of $13,944 (under $30,000 income) to $23,272 (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 Fairhope. 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 →