South Texas College is 11.8 miles from Penitas
No college sits inside Penitas’ boundary, but South Texas College’s campus in McAllen, with 20,017 students on campus, is 11.8 miles from the center of town. About 4% of Penitas’ 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 Penitas. Colleges are described, not graded.
What stands out about college from Penitas
Facts about the town and its distance to campus; each college’s own figures follow.
Colleges within 15 miles of Penitas
One private college within 12.7 miles, and South Texas College 11.8 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. Pick your family’s income.
Starts at $48–75k, where Penitas’ median household income ($48,993) 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 Penitas: 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: The College of Health Care Professions-McAllen Campus (7).
Questions about college near Penitas
Is Penitas a college town?
No. About 4 of every 100 Penitas residents are enrolled in college (Census, 2020–24), about the same as Texas (6). The nearest campus, South Texas College, is 11.8 miles away in McAllen.
What colleges are near Penitas?
Within 15 miles: South Texas College (11.8 miles, 20,017 students on campus) and The College of Health Care Professions-McAllen Campus (12.7 miles, 728).
What is the closest community college to Penitas, and what does it cost?
South Texas College in McAllen, 11.8 miles away. Tuition and fees are $4,920 a year for Texas residents; the federal net price, $1,751, counts housing and food at full cost.
How much does South Texas College cost if we live in Texas?
Tuition and fees are $4,920 a year in-state and $7,620 from out of state.
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 Penitas. 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 →