Photo: Mr. Matté (if there is an issue with this image, contact me using this image's Commons talk page, my Commons user talk page, or my English Wikipedia user talk page; I'll know about it a lot faster) · CC BY-SA 4.0The University of Scranton is 5 miles from Old Forge
No college sits inside Old Forge’s boundary, but the University of Scranton’s campus in Scranton, with 4,425 students on campus, is 5 miles from the center of town, and Johnson College is 7.5 miles away in Scranton. About 4% of Old Forge’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 Old Forge. Colleges are described, not graded.
What stands out about college from Old Forge
Facts about the town and its distance to campus; each college’s own figures follow.
Colleges within 15 miles of Old Forge
10 private colleges within 13.2 miles, two public colleges within 15 miles, and Johnson College 7.5 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 $48–75k, where Old Forge’s median household income ($71,812) 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 Old Forge: 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: Fortis Institute-Scranton (2); Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Scranton (22); Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Wilkes-Barre (22).
Questions about college near Old Forge
Is Old Forge a college town?
No. About 4 of every 100 Old Forge residents are enrolled in college (Census, 2020–24), about the same as Pennsylvania (6). The nearest campus, the University of Scranton, is 5 miles away in Scranton.
What colleges are near Old Forge?
12 colleges are within 15 miles. The largest: the University of Scranton (5 miles, 4,425 students on campus), Marywood University (7.1 miles, 2,410) and Wilkes University (11.7 miles, 2,185).
What is the closest community college to Old Forge, and what does it cost?
Johnson College in Scranton, 7.5 miles away. Tuition and fees are $21,225 a year for Pennsylvania residents; the federal net price, $19,954, counts housing and food at full cost.
How much does Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Scranton cost if we live in Pennsylvania?
Tuition and fees are $15,208 a year in-state and $25,392 from out of state. After grants, families on federal aid paid an average of $14,322 (under $30,000 income) to $23,599 (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 Old Forge. 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 →