Photo: US gov · Public domainSouthern Careers Institute-San Antonio is 5 miles from Lackland AFB
No college sits inside Lackland AFB’s boundary, but Southern Careers Institute-San Antonio’s campus in San Antonio, with 939 students on campus, is 5 miles from the center of town, and Palo Alto College is 6.3 miles away in San Antonio. About 11% of Lackland AFB’s residents are enrolled in college, above 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 Lackland AFB. Colleges are described, not graded.
What stands out about college from Lackland AFB
Facts about the town and its distance to campus; each college’s own figures follow.
Colleges within 15 miles of Lackland AFB
15 private colleges within 10.7 miles, three public colleges within 13.6 miles, and four 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 $48–75k, where Lackland AFB’s median household income ($73,646) 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 Lackland AFB: 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-San Antonio (8); The College of Health Care Professions-South San Antonio (7); Lamson Institute (3); The College of Health Care Professions-San Antonio (7); Concorde Career College-San Antonio (3); Southern Careers Institute-San Antonio (8); Pima Medical Institute-San Antonio (13); Galen College of Nursing-San Antonio (20).
Questions about college near Lackland AFB
Is Lackland AFB a college town?
No. About 11 of every 100 Lackland AFB residents are enrolled in college (Census, 2020–24), above Texas (6). The nearest campus, Southern Careers Institute-San Antonio, is 5 miles away in San Antonio.
What colleges are near Lackland AFB?
22 colleges are within 15 miles. The largest: The University of Texas at San Antonio (13.6 miles, 30,042 students on campus), Northwest Vista College (7.9 miles, 13,041) and San Antonio College (8.3 miles, 11,515).
What is the closest community college to Lackland AFB, and what does it cost?
Palo Alto College in San Antonio, 6.3 miles away. Tuition and fees are $3,412 a year for Texas residents; the federal net price, $4,463, counts housing and food at full cost.
How much does Palo Alto College cost if we live in Texas?
Tuition and fees are $3,412 a year in-state and $9,952 from out of state. After grants, families on federal aid paid an average of $3,680 (under $30,000 income) to $5,201 (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 Lackland AFB. 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 →