Southern Careers Institute-Pharr is 10.9 miles from Scissors
No college sits inside Scissors’ boundary, but Southern Careers Institute-Pharr’s campus in Pharr, with 629 students on campus, is 10.9 miles from the center of town, and South Texas College is 14 miles away in McAllen. About 3% of Scissors’ residents are enrolled in college, below 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 Scissors. Colleges are described, not graded.
What stands out about college from Scissors
Facts about the town and its distance to campus; each college’s own figures follow.
Colleges within 15 miles of Scissors
Three private colleges within 13.8 miles, one public college within 14.3 miles, and South Texas College 14 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 $30–48k, where Scissors’ median household income ($40,938) 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 Scissors: 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-Pharr (8); The College of Health Care Professions-McAllen Campus (7).
Questions about college near Scissors
Is Scissors a college town?
No. About 3 of every 100 Scissors residents are enrolled in college (Census, 2020–24), below Texas (6). The nearest campus, Southern Careers Institute-Pharr, is 10.9 miles away in Pharr.
What colleges are near Scissors?
Within 15 miles: Southern Careers Institute-Pharr (10.9 miles, 629 students on campus), Rio Grande Valley College (11 miles, 883), The College of Health Care Professions-McAllen Campus (13.8 miles, 728), South Texas College (14 miles, 20,017) and The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (14.3 miles, 26,858).
What is the closest community college to Scissors, and what does it cost?
South Texas College in McAllen, 14 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 Scissors. 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 →