The University of Houston-Clear Lake is 8 miles from Friendswood
No college sits inside Friendswood’s boundary, but the University of Houston-Clear Lake’s campus in Houston, with 6,808 students on campus, is 8 miles from the center of town, and Alvin Community College is 8.1 miles away in Alvin. About 6% of Friendswood’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 Friendswood. Colleges are described, not graded.
What stands out about college from Friendswood
Facts about the town and its distance to campus; each college’s own figures follow.
Colleges within 15 miles of Friendswood
One private college within 11.2 miles, one public college within 8 miles, and three community colleges.
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 Over $110k, where Friendswood’s median household income ($126,508) 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 Friendswood: 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 Friendswood
Is Friendswood a college town?
No. About 6 of every 100 Friendswood residents are enrolled in college (Census, 2020–24), about the same as Texas (6). The nearest campus, the University of Houston-Clear Lake, is 8 miles away in Houston.
What colleges are near Friendswood?
Within 15 miles: the University of Houston-Clear Lake (8 miles, 6,808 students on campus), Alvin Community College (8.1 miles, 5,208), Texas Chiropractic College Foundation Inc (11.2 miles, 267), San Jacinto Community College (11.7 miles, 22,089) and College of the Mainland (14.4 miles, 4,279).
What is the closest community college to Friendswood, and what does it cost?
Alvin Community College in Alvin, 8.1 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.
How much does the University of Houston-Clear Lake cost if we live in Texas?
Tuition and fees are $7,770 a year in-state and $21,114 from out of state. After grants, families on federal aid paid an average of $7,330 (under $30,000 income) to $21,898 (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 Friendswood. 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 →