Photo: Vasiliymeshko · CC BY-SA 3.0King's College is 2.7 miles from Luzerne
No college sits inside Luzerne’s boundary, but King's College’s campus in Wilkes-Barre, with 1,708 students on campus, is 2.7 miles from the center of town, and Luzerne County Community College is 8 miles away in Nanticoke. About 1% of Luzerne’s residents are enrolled in college, below 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 Luzerne. Colleges are described, not graded.
What stands out about college from Luzerne
Facts about the town and its distance to campus; each college’s own figures follow.
Colleges within 15 miles of Luzerne
Five private colleges within 15 miles, one public college within 6.3 miles, and Luzerne County Community College 8 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. Pick your family’s income.
Starts at $30–48k, where Luzerne’s median household income ($42,135) 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 Luzerne: 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 Wilkes-Barre (22).
Questions about college near Luzerne
Is Luzerne a college town?
No. About 1 of every 100 Luzerne residents are enrolled in college (Census, 2020–24), below Pennsylvania (6). The nearest campus, King's College, is 2.7 miles away in Wilkes-Barre.
What colleges are near Luzerne?
7 colleges are within 15 miles. The largest: the University of Scranton (14.9 miles, 4,425 students on campus), Luzerne County Community College (8 miles, 3,643) and Wilkes University (3 miles, 2,185).
What is the closest community college to Luzerne, and what does it cost?
Luzerne County Community College in Nanticoke, 8 miles away. Tuition and fees are $6,600 a year for Pennsylvania residents; the federal net price, $9,433, counts housing and food at full cost.
How much does Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Wilkes-Barre cost if we live in Pennsylvania?
Tuition and fees are $14,280 a year in-state and $24,006 from out of state. After grants, families on federal aid paid an average of $9,795 (under $30,000 income) to $22,027 (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 Luzerne. 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 →