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Colleges in and near Lowes Island

Columbia College is 10.1 miles from Lowes Island

No college sits inside Lowes Island’s boundary, but Columbia College’s campus in Vienna, with 231 students on campus, is 10.1 miles from the center of town, and Northern Virginia Community College is 16.2 miles away in Annandale. About 7% of Lowes Island’s residents are enrolled in college, about the same as 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 Lowes Island. Colleges are described, not graded.

Within 15 miles
8
18,644 students on campus
Nearest college
10.1 mi
Columbia College
Residents in college
7%
About the same as VA (7%)
Nearest community college
16.2 mi
Northern Virginia · $5,891 tuition
Nearest public university
15.2 mi
George Mason University · $14,220 in-state
Median household income
$221K
prices below start here

What stands out about college from Lowes Island

Facts about the town and its distance to campus; each college’s own figures follow.

A college 10.1 miles awayColumbia College has 231 students on campus in Vienna, 80% of whom graduate within three years.In-state price at George Mason UniversityLiving in Virginia, George Mason University charges $14,220 in tuition and fees; from out of state, $38,688. State residency rules decide which a new arrival pays.A community college 16.2 miles awayNorthern Virginia Community College in Annandale: tuition and fees $5,891 a year for Virginia residents.Students are 7% of residentsAbout the same as Virginia (7%). The Census counts anyone enrolled, including part-time and online students.
Every college

Colleges within 15 miles of Lowes Island

Seven private colleges within 15 miles, and Montgomery College 11 miles away. The nearest public four-year college, George Mason University, is 15.2 miles away.

5 mi10 mi15 miMontgomery CollegeUniversity of the Potomac-VA CampusLowes Island
University or collegeCommunity college
Columbia CollegeUniversity or college · For-profit · 231 on campus · 10.1 mi · Vienna$10knet price80%graduate$22kearningsMontgomery CollegeCommunity college · Public · 15,953 on campus · 11 mi · Rockville, MD$8knet price32%graduate$50kearningsTuition and fees: $5,394 a year. The net price counts housing and food at full cost.Virginia University of Integrative MedicineUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 251 on campus · 11.9 mi · ViennaGraduate students only; the Scorecard reports no undergraduate figures.Chamberlain University-VirginiaUniversity or college · For-profit · 540 on campus · 12 mi · Vienna90%admitted$33knet price100%graduate$92kearningsEarnings are reported for all 15 campuses that file with it.University of the Potomac-VA CampusUniversity or college · For-profit · 547 on campus · 12.3 mi · FALLS CHURCH50%graduate$35kearningsEarnings are reported for all 2 campuses that file with it.Standard Healthcare Services-College of NursingUniversity or college · For-profit · 719 on campus · 12.6 mi · Falls Church28%admitted$36knet price66%graduateSANS Technology InstituteUniversity or college · For-profit · 119 on campus · 13.1 mi · North Bethesda, MD · mostly online93% of its students study only online; price, graduation and earnings count them too.Arizona College of Nursing-Falls ChurchUniversity or college · For-profit · 284 on campus · 15 mi · Falls Church100%admitted$39knet price$35kearningsEarnings are reported for all 20 campuses that file with it.

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 it costs

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.

Family income

Starts at Over $110k, where Lowes Island’s median household income ($220,833) falls.

Montgomery College11 mi · Rockville, MD · sticker $15,298 · tuition $5,394$14,146a year
George Mason University15.2 mi · Fairfax · sticker $28,604$25,894a year
Standard Healthcare Services-College of Nursing12.6 mi · Falls Church · sticker $41,939$41,243a year
Arizona College of Nursing-Falls Church15 mi · Falls Church · sticker $42,280$42,280a year
Columbia College10.1 mi · Vienna · sticker $13,440—a year
Chamberlain University-Virginia12 mi · Vienna · sticker $45,594—a year

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.

Outcomes

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.

$0$20k$40k$60k$80k$100k0%25%50%75%100%Graduate →Columbia CollegeMontgomery CollegeChamberlain University-VirginiaUniversity of the Potomac-VA CampusGeorge Mason University
George Mason University68% graduate$76k earnings$20k typical debt
Montgomery College32% graduate$50k earnings$10k typical debt
University of the Potomac-VA Campus50% graduate$35k earnings*$9k typical debt
Chamberlain University-Virginia100% graduate$92k earnings*$21k typical debt
Columbia College80% graduate$22k earnings$8k typical debt

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: Chamberlain University-Virginia (15); University of the Potomac-VA Campus (2).

Questions about college near Lowes Island

Is Lowes Island a college town?

No. About 7 of every 100 Lowes Island residents are enrolled in college (Census, 2020–24), about the same as Virginia (7). The nearest campus, Columbia College, is 10.1 miles away in Vienna.

What colleges are near Lowes Island?

8 colleges are within 15 miles. The largest: Montgomery College (11 miles, 15,953 students on campus), Standard Healthcare Services-College of Nursing (12.6 miles, 719) and the University of the Potomac-VA Campus (12.3 miles, 547).

What is the closest community college to Lowes Island, and what does it cost?

Northern Virginia Community College in Annandale, 16.2 miles away. Tuition and fees are $5,891 a year for Virginia residents; the federal net price, $9,919, counts housing and food at full cost.

How much does George Mason University cost if we live in Virginia?

Tuition and fees are $14,220 a year in-state and $38,688 from out of state. After grants, families on federal aid paid an average of $11,942 (under $30,000 income) to $25,894 (over $110,000), housing and food included.

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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 Lowes Island. 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 →