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Colleges in and near New Bedford

New Castle School of Trades is 6.1 miles from New Bedford

No college sits inside New Bedford’s boundary, but New Castle School of Trades’s campus in New Castle, with 623 students on campus, is 6.1 miles from the center of town, and Community College of Beaver County is 31.5 miles away in Monaca. About 7% of New Bedford’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 New Bedford. Colleges are described, not graded.

Within 15 miles
6
11,168 students on campus
Nearest college
6.1 mi
New Castle School of Trades
Residents in college
7%
About the same as PA (6%)
Nearest community college
31.5 mi
Community College of Beaver County · $7,500 tuition
Nearest public university
10.1 mi
Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Shenango · $14,024 in-state
Median household income
$90K
prices below start here

What stands out about college from New Bedford

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

A college 6.1 miles awayNew Castle School of Trades has 623 students on campus in New Castle, 76% of whom graduate within three years.In-state price at Pennsylvania State University-Penn State ShenangoLiving in Pennsylvania, Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Shenango charges $14,024 in tuition and fees; from out of state, $23,560. State residency rules decide which a new arrival pays.A community college 31.5 miles awayCommunity College of Beaver County in Monaca: tuition and fees $7,500 a year for Pennsylvania residents.Students are 7% 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 New Bedford

Four private colleges within 13.7 miles, and two public colleges within 10.1 miles.

5 mi10 mi15 miYoungstown StateWestminster CollegeNew Castle School of TradesNew Bedford
University or collegeCommunity college
New Castle School of TradesUniversity or college · For-profit · 623 on campus · 6.1 mi · New Castle$8knet price76%graduate$45kearningsLaurel Technical InstituteUniversity or college · For-profit · 160 on campus · 7.1 mi · Hermitage85%admitted$7knet price73%graduate$28kearningsYoungstown State UniversityUniversity or college · Public · 8,809 on campus · 8 mi · Youngstown, OH84%admitted$13knet price50%graduate$42kearningsWestminster CollegeUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 1,096 on campus · 8.7 mi · New Wilmington93%admitted$20knet price65%graduate$54kearningsPennsylvania State University-Penn State ShenangoUniversity or college · Public · 325 on campus · 10.1 mi · Sharon92%admitted$18knet price42%graduate$63kearningsEarnings are reported for all 22 campuses that file with it.ETI Technical College of NilesUniversity or college · For-profit · 155 on campus · 13.7 mi · Niles, OH$14knet price62%graduate$34kearnings

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 $75–110k, where New Bedford’s median household income ($90,000) falls.

Laurel Technical Institute7.1 mi · Hermitage · sticker $14,270$11,051a year
New Castle School of Trades6.1 mi · New Castle · sticker $15,355$12,817a year
Youngstown State University8 mi · Youngstown, OH · sticker $21,708$16,249a year
Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Shenango10.1 mi · Sharon · sticker $26,821$17,600a year
Westminster College8.7 mi · New Wilmington · sticker $53,003$19,595a year
ETI Technical College of Niles13.7 mi · Niles, OH · sticker $22,732—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 New Bedford: 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 →New Castle School of TradesLaurel Technical InstituteYoungstown StateWestminster CollegePennsylvania State University-Penn State ShenangoETI Technical College of Niles
Youngstown State University50% graduate$42k earnings$24k typical debt
Westminster College65% graduate$54k earnings$26k typical debt
New Castle School of Trades76% graduate$45k earnings$10k typical debt
Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Shenango42% graduate$63k earnings*$25k typical debt
Laurel Technical Institute73% graduate$28k earnings$11k typical debt
ETI Technical College of Niles62% graduate$34k earnings$14k 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 Shenango (22).

Questions about college near New Bedford

Is New Bedford a college town?

No. About 7 of every 100 New Bedford residents are enrolled in college (Census, 2020–24), about the same as Pennsylvania (6). The nearest campus, New Castle School of Trades, is 6.1 miles away in New Castle.

What colleges are near New Bedford?

Within 15 miles: New Castle School of Trades (6.1 miles, 623 students on campus), Laurel Technical Institute (7.1 miles, 160), Youngstown State University (8 miles, 8,809), Westminster College (8.7 miles, 1,096), Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Shenango (10.1 miles, 325) and ETI Technical College of Niles (13.7 miles, 155).

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

Community College of Beaver County in Monaca, 31.5 miles away. Tuition and fees are $7,500 a year for Pennsylvania residents; the federal net price, $6,937, 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.

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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 New Bedford. 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 →