Photo: Umrok · CC BY-SA 4.0King's College is 1.5 miles from Wilkes-Barre Township
No college sits inside Wilkes-Barre Township’s boundary, but King's College’s campus in Wilkes-Barre, with 1,708 students on campus, is 1.5 miles from the center of town, and Luzerne County Community College is 7.3 miles away in Nanticoke. About 1% of Wilkes-Barre Township’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 Wilkes-Barre Township. Colleges are described, not graded.
What stands out about college from Wilkes-Barre Township
Facts about the town and its distance to campus; each college’s own figures follow.
Colleges within 15 miles of Wilkes-Barre Township
Three private colleges within 9.7 miles, one public college within 9.5 miles, and Luzerne County Community College 7.3 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 Wilkes-Barre Township’s median household income ($67,656) 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 Wilkes-Barre Township: 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 Wilkes-Barre (22).
Questions about college near Wilkes-Barre Township
Is Wilkes-Barre Township a college town?
No. About 1 of every 100 Wilkes-Barre Township residents are enrolled in college (Census, 2020–24), below Pennsylvania (6). The nearest campus, King's College, is 1.5 miles away in Wilkes-Barre.
What colleges are near Wilkes-Barre Township?
Within 15 miles: King's College (1.5 miles, 1,708 students on campus), Wilkes University (1.7 miles, 2,185), Luzerne County Community College (7.3 miles, 3,643), Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Wilkes-Barre (9.5 miles, 345) and Misericordia University (9.7 miles, 1,884).
What is the closest community college to Wilkes-Barre Township, and what does it cost?
Luzerne County Community College in Nanticoke, 7.3 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 Wilkes-Barre cost if we live in Pennsylvania?
Tuition and fees are $14,280 a year in-state and $24,006 from out of state. After grants, families on federal aid paid an average of $9,795 (under $30,000 income) to $22,027 (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 Wilkes-Barre Township. 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 →