Christiana Lindsey House · Photo: Nyttend · Public domainWestminster College is 8.9 miles from Mercer
No college sits inside Mercer’s boundary, but Westminster College’s campus in New Wilmington, with 1,096 students on campus, is 8.9 miles from the center of town, and Butler County Community College is 32.2 miles away in Butler. About 2% of Mercer’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 Mercer. Colleges are described, not graded.
What stands out about college from Mercer
Facts about the town and its distance to campus; each college’s own figures follow.
Colleges within 15 miles of Mercer
Four private colleges within 15 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 Mercer’s median household income ($47,054) 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 Mercer: 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 Shenango (22).
Questions about college near Mercer
Is Mercer a college town?
No. About 2 of every 100 Mercer residents are enrolled in college (Census, 2020–24), below Pennsylvania (6). The nearest campus, Westminster College, is 8.9 miles away in New Wilmington.
What colleges are near Mercer?
Within 15 miles: Westminster College (8.9 miles, 1,096 students on campus), Grove City College (9.4 miles, 2,251), Laurel Technical Institute (12.1 miles, 160), Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Shenango (14.2 miles, 325), Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania (15 miles, 7,094) and Thiel College (15 miles, 920).
What is the closest community college to Mercer, and what does it cost?
Butler County Community College in Butler, 32.2 miles away. Tuition and fees are $5,910 a year for Pennsylvania residents; the federal net price, $6,233, counts housing and food at full cost.
How much does Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Shenango cost if we live in Pennsylvania?
Tuition and fees are $14,024 a year in-state and $23,560 from out of state. After grants, families on federal aid paid an average of $14,946 (under $30,000 income) to $22,729 (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 Mercer. 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 →