Photo: Brian Stansberry · CC BY 3.0South College is 6.2 miles from Powell
No college sits inside Powell’s boundary, but South College’s campus in Knoxville, with 4,052 students on campus, is 6.2 miles from the center of town, and Pellissippi State Community College is 9.8 miles away in Knoxville. About 10% of Powell’s residents are enrolled in college, above Tennessee (5%).
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 Powell. Colleges are described, not graded.
What stands out about college from Powell
Facts about the town and its distance to campus; each college’s own figures follow.
Colleges within 15 miles of Powell
One private college within 6.2 miles, one public college within 8.2 miles, and Pellissippi State Community College 9.8 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 $75–110k, where Powell’s median household income ($82,434) 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 Powell: 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 Powell
Is Powell a college town?
No. About 10 of every 100 Powell residents are enrolled in college (Census, 2020–24), above Tennessee (5). The nearest campus, South College, is 6.2 miles away in Knoxville.
What colleges are near Powell?
Within 15 miles: South College (6.2 miles, 4,052 students on campus), The University of Tennessee-Knoxville (8.2 miles, 33,547) and Pellissippi State Community College (9.8 miles, 6,641).
What is the closest community college to Powell, and what does it cost?
Pellissippi State Community College in Knoxville, 9.8 miles away. Tuition and fees are $4,786 a year for Tennessee residents; the federal net price, $4,983, counts housing and food at full cost.
How much does The University of Tennessee-Knoxville cost if we live in Tennessee?
Tuition and fees are $13,812 a year in-state and $33,256 from out of state. After grants, families on federal aid paid an average of $10,029 (under $30,000 income) to $25,688 (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 Powell. 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 →