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Brown County Courthouse BrownwoodPhoto: Renegomezphotography · CC BY-SA 4.0
Colleges in and near Brownwood

Brownwood is home to Howard Payne University

Howard Payne University (755 students on campus) is inside the city. About 7% of Brownwood’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 Brownwood. Colleges are described, not graded.

Within 15 miles
1
755 students on campus
Nearest college
0.5 mi
Howard Payne University
Residents in college
7%
About the same as TX (6%)
Nearest community college
47.6 mi
Cisco College · $4,710 tuition
Nearest public university
56.5 mi
Tarleton State · $8,302 in-state
Median household income
$49K
prices below start here

What stands out about college in Brownwood

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

A university in BrownwoodHoward Payne University has 755 students on campus in Brownwood, 28% of whom graduate within six years.A community college 47.6 miles awayCisco College in Cisco: tuition and fees $4,710 a year for Texas residents.In-state price at Tarleton StateLiving in Texas, Tarleton State University charges $8,302 in tuition and fees; from out of state, $18,142. State residency rules decide which a new arrival pays.Students are 7% of residentsAbout the same as Texas (6%). The Census counts anyone enrolled, including part-time and online students.
Every college

Colleges within 15 miles of Brownwood

One private college within 0.5 miles. The nearest public four-year college, Tarleton State University, is 56.5 miles away.

5 mi10 mi15 miHoward Payne UniversityBrownwood
University or collegeCommunity college
Howard Payne UniversityUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 755 on campus · In Brownwood67%admitted$24knet price28%graduate$48kearnings

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 and the nearest public four-year college. Pick your family’s income.

Family income

Starts at $48–75k, where Brownwood’s median household income ($48,981) falls.

Tarleton State University56.5 mi · Stephenville · sticker $24,100$20,396a year
Howard Payne UniversityIn Brownwood · sticker $46,766$25,917a 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: 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 →Howard Payne UniversityTarleton State
Tarleton State University48% graduate$53k earnings$20k typical debt
Howard Payne University28% graduate$48k earnings$27k 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.

Majors

What students study in Brownwood

Share of bachelor’s and associate degrees by field at Howard Payne University, weighted by undergraduates; then the biggest programs.

Health professions 16%Education 14%Business 14%Parks & recreation 11%Social sciences 9%Psychology 9%Everything else 28%

Biggest programs

Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas19 graduates a year
$56k4 yrs out
Business Administration, Management and Operations13 graduates a year
$55k4 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 Brownwood

Is Brownwood a college town?

No. About 7 of every 100 Brownwood residents are enrolled in college (Census, 2020–24), about the same as Texas (6). The largest campus in the city, Howard Payne University, has 755 students on campus.

What colleges are in Brownwood?

Howard Payne University is inside the city. Cisco College is 47.6 miles away in Cisco.

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

Cisco College in Cisco, 47.6 miles away. Tuition and fees are $4,710 a year for Texas residents; the federal net price, $9,624, counts housing and food at full cost.

How much does Tarleton State University cost if we live in Texas?

Tuition and fees are $8,302 a year in-state and $18,142 from out of state. After grants, families on federal aid paid an average of $15,574 (under $30,000 income) to $24,076 (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 Brownwood. 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 →