Photo: Flimbone08 · CC BY-SA 4.0West Coast University-Texas is 6.7 miles from Murphy
No college sits inside Murphy’s boundary, but West Coast University-Texas’s campus in Richardson, with 1,011 students on campus, is 6.7 miles from the center of town, and Collin County Community College District is 10.2 miles away in McKinney. About 8% of Murphy’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 Murphy. Colleges are described, not graded.
What stands out about college from Murphy
Facts about the town and its distance to campus; each college’s own figures follow.
Colleges within 15 miles of Murphy
Seven private colleges within 13 miles, one public college within 8.5 miles, and two 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 Murphy’s median household income ($175,699) 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 Murphy: 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: Concorde Career College-Dallas (2).
Questions about college near Murphy
Is Murphy a college town?
No. About 8 of every 100 Murphy residents are enrolled in college (Census, 2020–24), above Texas (6). The nearest campus, West Coast University-Texas, is 6.7 miles away in Richardson.
What colleges are near Murphy?
9 colleges are within 15 miles. The largest: Collin County Community College District (10.2 miles, 30,279 students on campus), The University of Texas at Dallas (8.5 miles, 29,930) and West Coast University-Texas (6.7 miles, 1,011).
What is the closest community college to Murphy, and what does it cost?
Collin County Community College District in McKinney, 10.2 miles away. Tuition and fees are $2,014 a year for Texas residents; the federal net price, $8,969, counts housing and food at full cost.
How much does The University of Texas at Dallas cost if we live in Texas?
Tuition and fees are $14,644 a year in-state and $40,144 from out of state. After grants, families on federal aid paid an average of $12,814 (under $30,000 income) to $26,596 (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 Murphy. 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 →