Photo: Andrew Bain · CC BY-SA 3.0Sweet Briar College is 2.4 miles from Amherst
No college sits inside Amherst’s boundary, but Sweet Briar College’s campus in Sweet Briar, with 464 students on campus, is 2.4 miles from the center of town, and Central Virginia Community College is 17 miles away in Lynchburg. About 3% of Amherst’s residents are enrolled in college, below Virginia (7%).
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 Amherst. Colleges are described, not graded.
What stands out about college from Amherst
Facts about the town and its distance to campus; each college’s own figures follow.
Colleges within 15 miles of Amherst
Five private colleges within 14.5 miles. The nearest public four-year college, Virginia Military Institute, is 25.5 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 $48–75k, where Amherst’s median household income ($70,841) 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.
Questions about college near Amherst
Is Amherst a college town?
No. About 3 of every 100 Amherst residents are enrolled in college (Census, 2020–24), below Virginia (7). The nearest campus, Sweet Briar College, is 2.4 miles away in Sweet Briar.
What colleges are near Amherst?
Within 15 miles: Sweet Briar College (2.4 miles, 464 students on campus), Randolph College (12 miles, 612), Centra College (13.9 miles, 199), Virginia University of Lynchburg (14 miles, 144) and the University of Lynchburg (14.5 miles, 2,155).
What is the closest community college to Amherst, and what does it cost?
Central Virginia Community College in Lynchburg, 17 miles away. Tuition and fees are $5,157 a year for Virginia residents; the federal net price, $6,928, counts housing and food at full cost.
How much does Virginia Military Institute cost if we live in Virginia?
Tuition and fees are $21,046 a year in-state and $52,638 from out of state. After grants, families on federal aid paid an average of $12,697 (under $30,000 income) to $23,434 (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 Amherst. 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 →