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Scranton - Downtown (48472890492)Photo: Ajay Suresh from New York, NY, USA · CC BY 2.0
Colleges in and near Scranton

Scranton is home to six colleges, with 9,553 students on campus

The University of Scranton (4,425 students on campus) and Marywood University (2,410) are inside the city. About 10% of Scranton’s residents are enrolled in college, above Pennsylvania (6%).

University of ScrantonLackawanna CollegeMarywood University

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 Scranton. Colleges are described, not graded.

Within 15 miles
8
11,259 students on campus
Nearest college
0.5 mi
University of Scranton
Residents in college
10%
Above PA (6%)
Nearest community college
3.4 mi
Johnson College · $21,225 tuition
Nearest public university
3.4 mi
Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Scranton · $15,208 in-state
Median household income
$51K
prices below start here

What stands out about college in Scranton

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

Three colleges within 2.7 milesUniversity of Scranton admits 81% of applicants; Marywood University admits 61%. Together they have 8,169 students on campus.A community college 3.4 miles awayJohnson College in Scranton: tuition and fees $21,225 a year for Pennsylvania residents.In-state price at Pennsylvania State University-Penn State ScrantonLiving in Pennsylvania, Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Scranton charges $15,208 in tuition and fees; from out of state, $25,392. State residency rules decide which a new arrival pays.Students are 10% of residentsAbove Pennsylvania (6%). The Census counts anyone enrolled, including part-time and online students.
Every college

Colleges within 15 miles of Scranton

Seven private colleges within 12.2 miles, one public college within 3.4 miles, and Johnson College 3.4 miles away.

5 mi10 mi15 miUniversity of ScrantonMarywood UniversityScranton
University or collegeCommunity college
University of ScrantonUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 4,425 on campus · In Scranton81%admitted$33knet price80%graduate$75kearningsLackawanna CollegeUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 1,334 on campus · In Scranton$20knet price37%graduate$41kearningsGeisinger Commonwealth School of MedicineUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 552 on campus · In Scranton$23knet priceFortis Institute-ScrantonUniversity or college · For-profit · 205 on campus · In Scranton$20knet price46%graduate$30kearningsEarnings are reported for all 2 campuses that file with it.Marywood UniversityUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 2,410 on campus · In Scranton61%admitted$23knet price72%graduate$56kearningsPennsylvania State University-Penn State ScrantonUniversity or college · Public · 835 on campus · 3.4 mi · Dunmore99%admitted$18knet price39%graduate$63kearningsEarnings are reported for all 22 campuses that file with it.Johnson CollegeCommunity college · Private nonprofit · 627 on campus · In Scranton98%admitted$20knet price55%graduate$55kearningsTuition and fees: $21,225 a year. The net price counts housing and food at full cost.Keystone CollegeUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 871 on campus · 12.2 mi · La Plume85%admitted$22knet price36%graduate$45kearnings

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 Scranton’s median household income ($50,739) falls.

Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Scranton3.4 mi · Dunmore · sticker $27,862$14,839a year
Keystone College12.2 mi · La Plume · sticker $32,071$18,916a year
Johnson CollegeIn Scranton · sticker $27,354 · tuition $21,225$19,368a year
Lackawanna CollegeIn Scranton · sticker $28,770$20,224a year
Fortis Institute-ScrantonIn Scranton · sticker $29,552$20,682a year
Marywood UniversityIn Scranton · sticker $55,582$21,303a year
University of ScrantonIn Scranton · sticker $69,552$23,912a year
Geisinger Commonwealth School of MedicineIn Scranton · sticker $25,845—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 Scranton: 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 →University of ScrantonLackawanna CollegeMarywood UniversityPennsylvania State University-Penn State ScrantonJohnson CollegeKeystone College
University of Scranton80% graduate$75k earnings$27k typical debt
Marywood University72% graduate$56k earnings$26k typical debt
Lackawanna College37% graduate$41k earnings$18k typical debt
Keystone College36% graduate$45k earnings$26k typical debt
Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Scranton39% graduate$63k earnings*$25k typical debt
Johnson College55% graduate$55k earnings$12k typical debt
Fortis Institute-Scranton46% graduate$30k earnings*$10k 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: Fortis Institute-Scranton (2); Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Scranton (22).

Majors

What students study in Scranton

Share of bachelor’s and associate degrees by field across Scranton’s 6 colleges, weighted by undergraduates; then the biggest programs.

Health professions 25%Business 16%Biology 8%Public safety 7%Education 6%Parks & recreation 3%Everything else 35%

Biggest programs

Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical NursingUniversity of Scranton · 80 graduates a year
$105k4 yrs out
Finance and Financial Management ServicesUniversity of Scranton · 72 graduates a year
$101k4 yrs out
Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/FitnessUniversity of Scranton · 66 graduates a year
$80k4 yrs out
Biology, GeneralUniversity of Scranton · 62 graduates a year
$65k4 yrs out
Business Administration, Management and OperationsUniversity of Scranton · 50 graduates a year
$81k4 yrs out
ArchitectureMarywood University · 50 graduates a year
$67k4 yrs out
Accounting and Related ServicesUniversity of Scranton · 43 graduates a year
$94k4 yrs out
Mental and Social Health Services and Allied ProfessionsLackawanna College · 42 graduates a year
$41k4 yrs out

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 Scranton

Is Scranton a college town?

No. About 10 of every 100 Scranton residents are enrolled in college (Census, 2020–24), above Pennsylvania (6). The largest campus in the city, the University of Scranton, has 4,425 students on campus.

What colleges are in Scranton?

The University of Scranton, Marywood University, Lackawanna College, Johnson College and 2 more are inside the city.

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

Johnson College in Scranton, 3.4 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.

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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 Scranton. 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 →