North American University is 12.2 miles from Arcola
No college sits inside Arcola’s boundary, but North American University’s campus in Stafford, with 573 students on campus, is 12.2 miles from the center of town, and Alvin Community College is 15.6 miles away in Alvin. About 4% of Arcola’s residents are enrolled in college, about the same as Texas (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 Arcola. Colleges are described, not graded.
What stands out about college from Arcola
Facts about the town and its distance to campus; each college’s own figures follow.
Colleges within 15 miles of Arcola
Five private colleges within 15 miles, and two public colleges within 14.7 miles.
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 Arcola’s median household income ($75,086) 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 Arcola: 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: College of Health Care Professions (7); The College of Health Care Professions-Southwest Houston (7).
Questions about college near Arcola
Is Arcola a college town?
No. About 4 of every 100 Arcola residents are enrolled in college (Census, 2020–24), about the same as Texas (6). The nearest campus, North American University, is 12.2 miles away in Stafford.
What colleges are near Arcola?
7 colleges are within 15 miles. The largest: The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston (14.3 miles, 4,876 students on campus), Houston Christian University (13.4 miles, 3,012) and Baylor College of Medicine (15 miles, 1,699).
What is the closest community college to Arcola, and what does it cost?
Alvin Community College in Alvin, 15.6 miles away. Tuition and fees are $1,906 a year for Texas residents; the federal net price, $8,525, counts housing and food at full cost.
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 Arcola. 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 →