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Lower Merion Township buildingPhoto: Ii2nmd · CC BY-SA 4.0
Colleges in and near Lower Merion Township

Lower Merion Township is home to three colleges, with 2,759 students on campus

Bryn Mawr College (1,666 students on campus) and Harcum College (644) are inside the town, and Villanova University (8,998) is 3.3 miles from the center, just over the line in Radnor Township. About 9% of Lower Merion Township’s residents are enrolled in college, above Pennsylvania (6%).

Bryn Mawr CollegeHaverford CollegeSaint Joseph's University - PhiladelphiaVillanova UniversityPhiladelphia College of Osteopathic MedicineChestnut Hill 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 Lower Merion Township. Colleges are described, not graded.

Within 15 miles
45
155,678 students on campus
Nearest college
1.8 mi
Bryn Mawr College
Residents in college
9%
Above PA (6%)
Nearest community college
1.9 mi
Harcum College · $32,000 tuition
Nearest public university
7.3 mi
Temple University · $23,011 in-state
Median household income
$177K
prices below start here

What stands out about college in Lower Merion Township

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

Six colleges within 4.8 milesBryn Mawr College admits 29% of applicants; Haverford College admits 12%; Saint Joseph's University - Philadelphia admits 89%. Together they have 22,006 students on campus.A community college 1.9 miles awayHarcum College in Bryn Mawr: tuition and fees $32,000 a year for Pennsylvania residents.In-state price at Temple UniversityLiving in Pennsylvania, Temple University charges $23,011 in tuition and fees; from out of state, $38,958. 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 Lower Merion Township

36 private colleges within 14.9 miles, six public colleges within 14.8 miles, and eight community colleges.

5 mi10 mi15 miTemple UniversityUniversity of PennsylvaniaDrexel UniversityLower Merion Township
University or collegeCommunity college
Bryn Mawr CollegeUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 1,666 on campus · In Lower Merion Township29%admitted$32knet price82%graduate$75kearningsHarcum CollegeCommunity college · Private nonprofit · 644 on campus · In Lower Merion Township$25knet price44%graduate$47kearningsTuition and fees: $32,000 a year. The net price counts housing and food at full cost.Haverford CollegeUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 1,424 on campus · 2 mi · Haverford12%admitted$25knet price90%graduate$80kearningsRosemont CollegeUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 449 on campus · In Lower Merion Township76%admitted$20knet price57%graduate$49kearningsSaint Joseph's University - PhiladelphiaUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 5,782 on campus · 3.2 mi · Philadelphia89%admitted$30knet price79%graduate$87kearningsEarnings are reported for all 2 campuses that file with it.Talmudical Yeshiva of PhiladelphiaUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 120 on campus · 3.2 mi · Philadelphia90%admitted$11knet price50%graduateVillanova UniversityUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 8,998 on campus · 3.3 mi · Villanova27%admitted$44knet price92%graduate$100kearningsPhiladelphia College of Osteopathic MedicineUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 2,932 on campus · 3.7 mi · Philadelphia$139kearningsGraduate students only; the Scorecard reports no undergraduate figures.Chestnut Hill CollegeUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 1,204 on campus · 4.8 mi · Philadelphia74%admitted$28knet price49%graduate$52kearningsEastern UniversityUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 2,192 on campus · 5 mi · Saint Davids · mostly online91%admitted$27knet price54%graduate$52kearnings69% of its students study only online; price, graduation and earnings count them too.Walnut Hill CollegeUniversity or college · For-profit · 127 on campus · 6.4 mi · Philadelphia43%admitted$32knet price58%graduate$37kearningsLa Salle UniversityUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 2,827 on campus · 6.7 mi · Philadelphia97%admitted$19knet price57%graduate$67kearningsUniversity of PennsylvaniaUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 25,644 on campus · 7 mi · Philadelphia5%admitted$29knet price97%graduate$111kearningsDrexel UniversityUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 19,393 on campus · 7 mi · Philadelphia79%admitted$39knet price78%graduate$85kearningsWestminster Theological SeminaryUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 414 on campus · 7.2 mi · Glenside · mostly online60% of its students study only online; price, graduation and earnings count them too.Graduate students only; the Scorecard reports no undergraduate figures.Temple UniversityUniversity or college · Public · 27,767 on campus · 7.3 mi · Philadelphia80%admitted$28knet price75%graduate$64kearningsDelaware County Community CollegeCommunity college · Public · 5,578 on campus · 7.4 mi · Media$7knet price24%graduate$45kearningsTuition and fees: $6,930 a year. The net price counts housing and food at full cost.Arcadia UniversityUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 2,647 on campus · 7.5 mi · Glenside80%admitted$29knet price67%graduate$58kearningsMoore College of Art and DesignUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 398 on campus · 7.5 mi · Philadelphia56%admitted$43knet price57%graduate$38kearningsCommunity College of PhiladelphiaCommunity college · Public · 6,659 on campus · 7.6 mi · Philadelphia$12knet price24%graduate$41kearningsTuition and fees: $4,632 a year. The net price counts housing and food at full cost.Curtis Institute of MusicUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 159 on campus · 8 mi · Philadelphia5%admitted96%graduatePennsylvania Academy of the Fine ArtsUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 127 on campus · 8 mi · Philadelphia$42knet price58%graduate$30kearningsGratz CollegeUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 126 on campus · 8.1 mi · Melrose Park · mostly online74% of its students study only online; price, graduation and earnings count them too.Thomas Jefferson UniversityUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 7,162 on campus · 8.5 mi · Philadelphia81%admitted$29knet price69%graduate$77kearningsPITC InstituteUniversity or college · For-profit · 113 on campus · 8.5 mi · Wyncote$28knet price31%graduate$58kearningsSalus UniversityUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 1,137 on campus · 8.8 mi · Elkins ParkGraduate students only; the Scorecard reports no undergraduate figures.Swarthmore CollegeUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 1,644 on campus · 9.4 mi · Swarthmore7%admitted$23knet price92%graduate$80kearningsRutgers University-CamdenUniversity or college · Public · 4,552 on campus · 10 mi · Camden, NJ66%admitted$19knet price67%graduate$74kearningsEarnings are reported for all 3 campuses that file with it.Montgomery County Community CollegeCommunity college · Public · 5,817 on campus · 10.1 mi · Blue Bell$11knet price28%graduate$46kearningsTuition and fees: $6,690 a year. The net price counts housing and food at full cost.Manor CollegeCommunity college · Private nonprofit · 562 on campus · 10.1 mi · Jenkintown95%admitted$13knet price26%graduate$47kearningsTuition and fees: $21,780 a year. The net price counts housing and food at full cost.Pennsylvania Institute of TechnologyCommunity college · Private nonprofit · 604 on campus · 10.2 mi · Media$18knet price21%graduate$36kearningsTuition and fees: $14,850 a year. The net price counts housing and food at full cost.Pennsylvania State University-Penn State AbingtonUniversity or college · Public · 3,055 on campus · 10.8 mi · Abington97%admitted$18knet price20%graduate$63kearningsEarnings are reported for all 22 campuses that file with it.All-State Career SchoolUniversity or college · For-profit · 831 on campus · 11.3 mi · Essington$18knet price53%graduate$38kearningsWilliamson College of the TradesCommunity college · Private nonprofit · 313 on campus · 11.3 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 · 11.5 mi · Media98%admitted$23knet price26%graduate$63kearningsEarnings are reported for all 22 campuses that file with it.Gwynedd Mercy UniversityUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 1,455 on campus · 11.9 mi · Gwynedd Valley90%admitted$27knet price57%graduate$67kearningsSaint Charles Borromeo Seminary-OverbrookUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 165 on campus · 12.2 mi · Ambler100%admitted42%graduate$55kearningsWidener UniversityUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 4,531 on campus · 12.3 mi · Chester71%admitted$26knet price68%graduate$71kearningsPennsylvania State University-Penn State Great ValleyUniversity or college · Public · 244 on campus · 13 mi · Malvern$63kearningsEarnings are reported for all 22 campuses that file with it.Graduate students only; the Scorecard reports no undergraduate figures.Neumann UniversityUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 1,914 on campus · 13.6 mi · Aston81%admitted$28knet price54%graduate$58kearningsBryn Athyn College of the New ChurchUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 279 on campus · 13.6 mi · Bryn Athyn83%admitted$21knet price68%graduate$40kearningsUrsinus CollegeUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 1,492 on campus · 14.7 mi · Collegeville92%admitted$31knet price73%graduate$74kearningsCheyney University of PennsylvaniaUniversity or college · Public · 696 on campus · 14.8 mi · Cheyney$14knet price41%graduate$38kearningsOrleans Technical CollegeCommunity college · Private nonprofit · 245 on campus · 14.8 mi · Philadelphia80%admitted$20knet price90%graduate$39kearningsLincoln Technical Institute-PhiladelphiaUniversity or college · For-profit · 374 on campus · 14.9 mi · Philadelphia$27knet price58%graduate$39kearningsEarnings are reported for all 8 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 Over $110k, where Lower Merion Township’s median household income ($176,512) falls.

Delaware County Community College7.4 mi · Media · sticker $13,530 · tuition $6,930$10,603a year
Montgomery County Community College10.1 mi · Blue Bell · sticker $16,233 · tuition $6,690$16,169a year
Cheyney University of Pennsylvania14.8 mi · Cheyney · sticker $26,782$16,493a year
Manor College10.1 mi · Jenkintown · sticker $27,557 · tuition $21,780$17,817a year
Community College of Philadelphia7.6 mi · Philadelphia · sticker $19,172 · tuition $4,632$18,795a year
Bryn Athyn College of the New Church13.6 mi · Bryn Athyn · sticker $41,093$23,565a year
All-State Career School11.3 mi · Essington · sticker $23,923$23,923a year
Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Abington10.8 mi · Abington · sticker $28,795$25,785a year
Orleans Technical College14.8 mi · Philadelphia · sticker $26,587$26,587a year
La Salle University6.7 mi · Philadelphia · sticker $48,337$27,190a year
Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Brandywine11.5 mi · Media · sticker $31,088$29,031a year
Rutgers University-Camden10 mi · Camden, NJ · sticker $35,178$30,639a year
Rosemont CollegeIn Lower Merion Township · sticker $38,498$30,670a year
Lincoln Technical Institute-Philadelphia14.9 mi · Philadelphia · sticker $31,905$31,450a year
Widener University12.3 mi · Chester · sticker $70,621$32,296a year
Eastern University5 mi · Saint Davids · mostly online · sticker $55,001$32,353a year
Gwynedd Mercy University11.9 mi · Gwynedd Valley · sticker $55,786$32,456a year
Chestnut Hill College4.8 mi · Philadelphia · sticker $58,168$33,175a year
Saint Joseph's University - Philadelphia3.2 mi · Philadelphia · sticker $67,954$33,222a year
Ursinus College14.7 mi · Collegeville · sticker $76,815$33,625a year
Arcadia University7.5 mi · Glenside · sticker $64,645$34,339a year
Neumann University13.6 mi · Aston · sticker $57,180$34,471a year
Thomas Jefferson University8.5 mi · Philadelphia · sticker $64,197$34,889a year
Temple University7.3 mi · Philadelphia · sticker $40,903$34,947a year
Walnut Hill College6.4 mi · Philadelphia · sticker $35,504$35,504a year
Harcum CollegeIn Lower Merion Township · sticker $42,997 · tuition $32,000$39,270a year
Bryn Mawr CollegeIn Lower Merion Township · sticker $83,250$40,085a year
Haverford College2 mi · Haverford · sticker $90,382$45,991a year
Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts8 mi · Philadelphia · sticker $66,106$46,702a year
Moore College of Art and Design7.5 mi · Philadelphia · sticker $71,327$47,504a year
Swarthmore College9.4 mi · Swarthmore · sticker $84,103$47,544a year
Drexel University7 mi · Philadelphia · sticker $76,835$48,089a year
University of Pennsylvania7 mi · Philadelphia · sticker $89,028$55,972a year
Villanova University3.3 mi · Villanova · sticker $84,793$58,741a year
Talmudical Yeshiva of Philadelphia3.2 mi · Philadelphia · sticker $22,680—a year
PITC Institute8.5 mi · Wyncote · sticker $35,926—a year
Pennsylvania Institute of Technology10.2 mi · Media · sticker $23,995 · tuition $14,850—a year
Williamson College of the Trades11.3 mi · Media · sticker $37,263 · tuition $31,611—a 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 Lower Merion Township: 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 →Villanova UniversityUniversity of PennsylvaniaDrexel UniversityTemple UniversityCommunity College of PhiladelphiaThomas Jefferson 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
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
Montgomery County Community College28% graduate$46k earnings$12k 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
Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Abington20% graduate$63k earnings*$25k 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 - Philadelphia (2); Rutgers University-Camden (3); Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Abington (22); Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Brandywine (22); Lincoln Technical Institute-Philadelphia (8).

Majors

What students study in Lower Merion Township

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

Health professions 15%Social sciences 11%Biology 8%Psychology 8%Business 7%Agriculture 4%Everything else 47%

Biggest programs

Allied Health and Medical Assisting ServicesHarcum College · 41 graduates a year
$58k4 yrs out
Human Development, Family Studies, and Related ServicesHarcum College · 37 graduates a year
$40k4 yrs out
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical NursingHarcum College · 33 graduates a year
$95k4 yrs out
English Language and Literature, GeneralBryn Mawr College · 29 graduates a year
$38k4 yrs out
Veterinary/Animal Health Technologies/TechniciansHarcum College · 28 graduates a year
$42k4 yrs out
Dental Support Services and Allied ProfessionsHarcum College · 25 graduates a year
$66k4 yrs out
Human Services, GeneralHarcum College · 24 graduates a year
$48k4 yrs out
SociologyBryn Mawr College · 20 graduates a year
$43k4 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 Lower Merion Township

Is Lower Merion Township a college town?

No. About 9 of every 100 Lower Merion Township residents are enrolled in college (Census, 2020–24), above Pennsylvania (6). The largest campus in the town, Bryn Mawr College, has 1,666 students on campus.

What colleges are in Lower Merion Township?

Bryn Mawr College, Harcum College and Rosemont College are inside the town. Villanova University is 3.3 miles from the center, in Radnor Township, Saint Joseph's University - Philadelphia is 3.2 miles from the center, in Philadelphia, and Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine is 3.7 miles from the center, in Philadelphia.

What is the closest community college to Lower Merion Township, and what does it cost?

Harcum College in Bryn Mawr, 1.9 miles away. Tuition and fees are $32,000 a year for Pennsylvania residents; the federal net price, $24,776, counts housing and food at full cost.

How much does Temple University cost if we live in Pennsylvania?

Tuition and fees are $23,011 a year in-state and $38,958 from out of state. After grants, families on federal aid paid an average of $22,694 (under $30,000 income) to $34,947 (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 Lower Merion Township. 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 →