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Monessen02Photo: Mlouns · CC BY-SA 3.0
Colleges in and near Monessen

Monessen is home to Douglas Education Center

Douglas Education Center (200 students on campus) is inside the city. About 5% of Monessen’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 Monessen. Colleges are described, not graded.

Within 15 miles
4
8,725 students on campus
Nearest college
0.7 mi
Douglas Education Center
Residents in college
5%
About the same as PA (6%)
Nearest community college
13.9 mi
Pittsburgh Institute of Aeronautics · $18,730 tuition
Nearest public university
6 mi
Pennsylvania Western University · $11,436 in-state
Median household income
$53K
prices below start here

What stands out about college in Monessen

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

A college in MonessenDouglas Education Center has 200 students on campus in Monessen, 88% of whom graduate within three years.In-state price at Pennsylvania Western UniversityLiving in Pennsylvania, Pennsylvania Western University charges $11,436 in tuition and fees; from out of state, $16,054. State residency rules decide which a new arrival pays.A community college 13.9 miles awayPittsburgh Institute of Aeronautics in West Mifflin: tuition and fees $18,730 a year for Pennsylvania residents.Students are 5% of residentsAbout the same as Pennsylvania (6%). The Census counts anyone enrolled, including part-time and online students.
Every college

Colleges within 15 miles of Monessen

Two private colleges within 13.9 miles, two public colleges within 13.7 miles, and Pittsburgh Institute of Aeronautics 13.9 miles away.

5 mi10 mi15 miPennsylvania Western UniversityPittsburgh Institute of AeronauticsMonessen
University or collegeCommunity college
Douglas Education CenterUniversity or college · For-profit · 200 on campus · In Monessen$27knet price88%graduate$31kearningsPennsylvania Western UniversityUniversity or college · Public · 7,576 on campus · 6 mi · California94%admitted$18knet price52%graduate$47kearningsPennsylvania State University-Penn State Greater AlleghenyUniversity or college · Public · 358 on campus · 13.7 mi · McKeesport96%admitted$16knet price19%graduate$63kearningsEarnings are reported for all 22 campuses that file with it.Pittsburgh Institute of AeronauticsCommunity college · Private nonprofit · 591 on campus · 13.9 mi · West Mifflin$33knet price76%graduate$67kearningsTuition and fees: $18,730 a year. The net price counts housing and food at full cost.

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 Monessen’s median household income ($52,889) falls.

Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Greater Allegheny13.7 mi · McKeesport · sticker $26,214$13,420a year
Pennsylvania Western University6 mi · California · sticker $26,916$16,517a year
Douglas Education CenterIn Monessen · sticker $32,767$28,247a year
Pittsburgh Institute of Aeronautics13.9 mi · West Mifflin · sticker $37,350 · tuition $18,730$30,623a 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 Monessen: across is the share who graduate, up is what they earn ten years after starting.

$0$20k$40k$60k$80k0%25%50%75%100%Graduate →Douglas Education CenterPennsylvania Western UniversityPennsylvania State University-Penn State Greater AlleghenyPittsburgh Institute of Aeronautics
Pennsylvania Western University52% graduate$47k earnings$24k typical debt
Pittsburgh Institute of Aeronautics76% graduate$67k earnings$12k typical debt
Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Greater Allegheny19% graduate$63k earnings*$25k typical debt
Douglas Education Center88% graduate$31k earnings$12k 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: Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Greater Allegheny (22).

Majors

What students study in Monessen

Share of bachelor’s and associate degrees by field at Douglas Education Center, weighted by undergraduates; then the biggest programs.

Personal & culinary services 64%Transportation 26%Health professions 6%Visual & performing arts 4%Everything else 0%

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 Monessen

Is Monessen a college town?

No. About 5 of every 100 Monessen residents are enrolled in college (Census, 2020–24), about the same as Pennsylvania (6). The largest campus in the city, Douglas Education Center, has 200 students on campus.

What colleges are in Monessen?

Douglas Education Center is inside the city. Pittsburgh Institute of Aeronautics is 13.9 miles away in West Mifflin.

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

Pittsburgh Institute of Aeronautics in West Mifflin, 13.9 miles away. Tuition and fees are $18,730 a year for Pennsylvania residents; the federal net price, $32,618, 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.

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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 Monessen. 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 →