The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley is 11.2 miles from Elsa
No college sits inside Elsa’s boundary, but The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley’s campus in Edinburg, with 26,858 students on campus, is 11.2 miles from the center of town, and South Texas College is 17 miles away in McAllen. About 8% of Elsa’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 Elsa. Colleges are described, not graded.
What stands out about college from Elsa
Facts about the town and its distance to campus; each college’s own figures follow.
Colleges within 15 miles of Elsa
Two private colleges within 14.2 miles, and one public college within 11.2 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 $30–48k, where Elsa’s median household income ($42,439) 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 Elsa: 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: Southern Careers Institute-Pharr (8).
Questions about college near Elsa
Is Elsa a college town?
No. About 8 of every 100 Elsa residents are enrolled in college (Census, 2020–24), about the same as Texas (6). The nearest campus, The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley, is 11.2 miles away in Edinburg.
What colleges are near Elsa?
Within 15 miles: The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (11.2 miles, 26,858 students on campus), Rio Grande Valley College (12.1 miles, 883) and Southern Careers Institute-Pharr (14.2 miles, 629).
What is the closest community college to Elsa, and what does it cost?
South Texas College in McAllen, 17 miles away. Tuition and fees are $4,920 a year for Texas residents; the federal net price, $1,751, counts housing and food at full cost.
How much does The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley cost if we live in Texas?
Tuition and fees are $9,987 a year in-state and $19,827 from out of state. After grants, families on federal aid paid an average of $3,785 (under $30,000 income) to $13,782 (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 Elsa. 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 →