Southern Careers Institute-Harlingen is 9.5 miles from Palmer
No college sits inside Palmer’s boundary, but Southern Careers Institute-Harlingen’s campus in Harlingen, with 437 students on campus, is 9.5 miles from the center of town, and Texas Southmost College is 14.8 miles away in Brownsville. About 5% of Palmer’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 Palmer. Colleges are described, not graded.
What stands out about college from Palmer
Facts about the town and its distance to campus; each college’s own figures follow.
Colleges within 15 miles of Palmer
Two private colleges within 12.4 miles, and Texas Southmost College 14.8 miles away. The nearest public four-year college, The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley, is 37.2 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 Under $30k, where Palmer’s median household income ($18,675) 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-Harlingen (8); Southern Careers Institute-Brownsville (8).
Questions about college near Palmer
Is Palmer a college town?
No. About 5 of every 100 Palmer residents are enrolled in college (Census, 2020–24), about the same as Texas (6). The nearest campus, Southern Careers Institute-Harlingen, is 9.5 miles away in Harlingen.
What colleges are near Palmer?
Within 15 miles: Southern Careers Institute-Harlingen (9.5 miles, 437 students on campus), Southern Careers Institute-Brownsville (12.4 miles, 637) and Texas Southmost College (14.8 miles, 7,111).
What is the closest community college to Palmer, and what does it cost?
Texas Southmost College in Brownsville, 14.8 miles away. Tuition and fees are $3,148 a year for Texas residents; the federal net price, $3,085, 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 Palmer. 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 →