Wilkes University is 10.8 miles from Penn Lake Park
No college sits inside Penn Lake Park’s boundary, but Wilkes University’s campus in Wilkes-Barre, with 2,185 students on campus, is 10.8 miles from the center of town, and Luzerne County Community College is 12.5 miles away in Nanticoke. About 2% of Penn Lake Park’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 Penn Lake Park. Colleges are described, not graded.
What stands out about college from Penn Lake Park
Facts about the town and its distance to campus; each college’s own figures follow.
Colleges within 15 miles of Penn Lake Park
Two private colleges within 10.8 miles, and Luzerne County Community College 12.5 miles away. The nearest public four-year college, Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Hazleton, is 16.1 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 and the nearest public four-year college. Pick your family’s income.
Starts at $75–110k, where Penn Lake Park’s median household income ($87,159) 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: 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 Hazleton (22).
Questions about college near Penn Lake Park
Is Penn Lake Park a college town?
No. About 2 of every 100 Penn Lake Park residents are enrolled in college (Census, 2020–24), below Pennsylvania (6). The nearest campus, Wilkes University, is 10.8 miles away in Wilkes-Barre.
What colleges are near Penn Lake Park?
Within 15 miles: Wilkes University (10.8 miles, 2,185 students on campus), King's College (10.8 miles, 1,708) and Luzerne County Community College (12.5 miles, 3,643).
What is the closest community college to Penn Lake Park, and what does it cost?
Luzerne County Community College in Nanticoke, 12.5 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 Hazleton 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 $11,770 (under $30,000 income) to $23,218 (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 Penn Lake Park. 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 →