Photo: Nyttend · Public domainGrove City College is 13.4 miles from Sandy Lake
No college sits inside Sandy Lake’s boundary, but Grove City College’s campus in Grove City, with 2,251 students on campus, is 13.4 miles from the center of town, and Butler County Community College is 37.1 miles away in Butler. About 4% of Sandy Lake’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 Sandy Lake. Colleges are described, not graded.
What stands out about college from Sandy Lake
Facts about the town and its distance to campus; each college’s own figures follow.
Colleges within 15 miles of Sandy Lake
One private college within 13.4 miles. The nearest public four-year college, Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania, is 20 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 Sandy Lake’s median household income ($83,875) 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.
Questions about college near Sandy Lake
Is Sandy Lake a college town?
No. About 4 of every 100 Sandy Lake residents are enrolled in college (Census, 2020–24), about the same as Pennsylvania (6). The nearest campus, Grove City College, is 13.4 miles away in Grove City.
What colleges are near Sandy Lake?
Within 15 miles: Grove City College (13.4 miles, 2,251 students on campus).
What is the closest community college to Sandy Lake, and what does it cost?
Butler County Community College in Butler, 37.1 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 Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania cost if we live in Pennsylvania?
Tuition and fees are $10,568 a year in-state and $14,676 from out of state. After grants, families on federal aid paid an average of $12,555 (under $30,000 income) to $24,121 (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 Sandy Lake. 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 →