Photo: Renelibrary · CC BY-SA 4.0Southern Careers Institute-Waco is 9.9 miles from Lorena
No college sits inside Lorena’s boundary, but Southern Careers Institute-Waco’s campus in Waco, with 205 students on campus, is 9.9 miles from the center of town, and McLennan Community College is 14.4 miles away in Waco. About 6% of Lorena’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 Lorena. Colleges are described, not graded.
What stands out about college from Lorena
Facts about the town and its distance to campus; each college’s own figures follow.
Colleges within 15 miles of Lorena
Two private colleges within 12.5 miles, and McLennan Community College 14.4 miles away. The nearest public four-year college, Navarro College, is 63.6 miles away.
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 and the nearest public four-year college. Pick your family’s income.
Starts at $75–110k, where Lorena’s median household income ($88,250) 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: 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-Waco (8).
Questions about college near Lorena
Is Lorena a college town?
No. About 6 of every 100 Lorena residents are enrolled in college (Census, 2020–24), about the same as Texas (6). The nearest campus, Southern Careers Institute-Waco, is 9.9 miles away in Waco.
What colleges are near Lorena?
Within 15 miles: Southern Careers Institute-Waco (9.9 miles, 205 students on campus), Baylor University (12.5 miles, 17,651) and McLennan Community College (14.4 miles, 4,298).
What is the closest community college to Lorena, and what does it cost?
McLennan Community College in Waco, 14.4 miles away. Tuition and fees are $3,660 a year for Texas residents; the federal net price, $5,051, counts housing and food at full cost.
How much does Navarro College cost if we live in Texas?
Tuition and fees are $3,008 a year in-state and $6,578 from out of state. After grants, families on federal aid paid an average of $14,283 (under $30,000 income) to $18,257 (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 Lorena. 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 →