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Colleges in and near Lancaster

Lancaster is home to three colleges, with 3,682 students on campus

Franklin and Marshall College (1,911 students on campus) and Thaddeus Stevens College of Technology (1,453) are inside the city, and Millersville University of Pennsylvania (5,833) is 4.1 miles from the center, in Millersville. About 10% of Lancaster’s residents are enrolled in college, above Pennsylvania (6%).

Thaddeus Stevens College of TechnologyFranklin and Marshall CollegeLancaster Bible CollegeSaint Joseph's University - LancasterMillersville University of Pennsylvania

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 Lancaster. Colleges are described, not graded.

Within 15 miles
7
12,755 students on campus
Nearest college
0.4 mi
Pennsylvania College of Art and Design
Residents in college
10%
Above PA (6%)
Nearest community college
0.7 mi
Thaddeus Stevens College of Technology · $9,050 tuition
Nearest public university
4.1 mi
Millersville University of Pennsylvania · $11,128 in-state
Median household income
$64K
prices below start here

What stands out about college in Lancaster

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

Five colleges within 4.1 milesThaddeus Stevens College of Technology admits 71% of applicants; Franklin and Marshall College admits 28%; Lancaster Bible College admits 56%. Together they have 12,187 students on campus.A community college 0.7 miles awayThaddeus Stevens College of Technology in Lancaster: tuition and fees $9,050 a year for Pennsylvania residents.In-state price at Millersville University of PennsylvaniaLiving in Pennsylvania, Millersville University of Pennsylvania charges $11,128 in tuition and fees; from out of state, $22,952. State residency rules decide which a new arrival pays.Students are 10% of residentsAbove Pennsylvania (6%). The Census counts anyone enrolled, including part-time and online students.
Every college

Colleges within 15 miles of Lancaster

Four private colleges within 3.1 miles, one public college within 4.1 miles, and two community colleges.

5 mi10 mi15 miMillersville University of PennsylvaniaFranklin and Marshall CollegeLancaster Bible CollegeLancaster
University or collegeCommunity college
Pennsylvania College of Art and DesignUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 318 on campus · In Lancaster99%admitted$30knet price69%graduate$33kearningsThaddeus Stevens College of TechnologyCommunity college · Public · 1,453 on campus · In Lancaster71%admitted$14knet price71%graduate$55kearningsTuition and fees: $9,050 a year. The net price counts housing and food at full cost.Franklin and Marshall CollegeUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 1,911 on campus · In Lancaster28%admitted$36knet price84%graduate$76kearningsLancaster Bible CollegeUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 1,588 on campus · 2.4 mi · Lancaster56%admitted$25knet price67%graduate$44kearningsSaint Joseph's University - LancasterUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 1,402 on campus · 3.1 mi · Lancaster41%admitted$42knet price69%graduate$87kearningsEarnings are reported for all 2 campuses that file with it.Millersville University of PennsylvaniaUniversity or college · Public · 5,833 on campus · 4.1 mi · Millersville86%admitted$21knet price58%graduate$55kearningsLancaster County Career and Technology CenterCommunity college · Public · 250 on campus · 4.4 mi · Willow Street$18knet price91%graduate$45kearnings

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 $48–75k, where Lancaster’s median household income ($63,690) falls.

Thaddeus Stevens College of TechnologyIn Lancaster · sticker $18,694 · tuition $9,050$13,176a year
Lancaster County Career and Technology Center4.4 mi · Willow Street · sticker $22,146$16,146a year
Franklin and Marshall CollegeIn Lancaster · sticker $85,776$16,245a year
Millersville University of Pennsylvania4.1 mi · Millersville · sticker $26,913$17,961a year
Lancaster Bible College2.4 mi · Lancaster · sticker $44,066$23,904a year
Pennsylvania College of Art and DesignIn Lancaster · sticker $43,815$26,576a year
Saint Joseph's University - Lancaster3.1 mi · Lancaster · sticker $47,879$41,420a 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 Lancaster: across is the share who graduate, up is what they earn ten years after starting.

$0$20k$40k$60k$80k$100k0%25%50%75%100%Graduate →Pennsylvania College of Art and DesignThaddeus Stevens College of TechnologyFranklin and Marshall CollegeLancaster Bible CollegeSaint Joseph's University - LancasterMillersville University of Pennsylvania
Millersville University of Pennsylvania58% graduate$55k earnings$24k typical debt
Franklin and Marshall College84% graduate$76k earnings$19k typical debt
Lancaster Bible College67% graduate$44k earnings$20k typical debt
Thaddeus Stevens College of Technology71% graduate$55k earnings$10k typical debt
Saint Joseph's University - Lancaster69% graduate$87k earnings*$26k typical debt
Pennsylvania College of Art and Design69% graduate$33k earnings$27k typical debt
Lancaster County Career and Technology Center91% graduate$45k earnings$15k 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: Saint Joseph's University - Lancaster (2).

Majors

What students study in Lancaster

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

Interdisciplinary 13%Visual & performing arts 11%Mechanics & repair 11%Construction trades 8%Precision production 8%Biology 7%Everything else 44%

Biggest programs

Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies, OtherFranklin and Marshall College · 92 graduates a year
$74k4 yrs out
Precision Metal WorkingThaddeus Stevens College of Technology · 83 graduates a year
$68k4 yrs out
Business Administration, Management and OperationsFranklin and Marshall College · 62 graduates a year
$102k4 yrs out
Heating, Air Conditioning, Ventilation and Refrigeration Maintenance Technology/Technician (HAC, HACR, HVAC, HVACR)Thaddeus Stevens College of Technology · 56 graduates a year
$62k4 yrs out
Electrical/Electronics Maintenance and Repair Technologies/TechniciansThaddeus Stevens College of Technology · 54 graduates a year
$81k4 yrs out
Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies/TechniciansThaddeus Stevens College of Technology · 41 graduates a year
$55k4 yrs out
EconomicsFranklin and Marshall College · 41 graduates a year
$90k4 yrs out
Political Science and GovernmentFranklin and Marshall College · 41 graduates a year
$75k4 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 Lancaster

Is Lancaster a college town?

No. About 10 of every 100 Lancaster residents are enrolled in college (Census, 2020–24), above Pennsylvania (6). The largest campus in the city, Franklin and Marshall College, has 1,911 students on campus.

What colleges are in Lancaster?

Franklin and Marshall College, Thaddeus Stevens College of Technology and Pennsylvania College of Art and Design are inside the city. Millersville University of Pennsylvania is 4.1 miles from the center, in Millersville, Lancaster Bible College is 2.4 miles from the center, in Manheim Township, and Saint Joseph's University - Lancaster is 3.1 miles from the center, in East Lampeter Township.

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

Thaddeus Stevens College of Technology in Lancaster, 0.7 miles away. Tuition and fees are $9,050 a year for Pennsylvania residents; the federal net price, $14,104, counts housing and food at full cost.

How much does Millersville University of Pennsylvania cost if we live in Pennsylvania?

Tuition and fees are $11,128 a year in-state and $22,952 from out of state. After grants, families on federal aid paid an average of $14,565 (under $30,000 income) to $24,541 (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 Lancaster. 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 →