Photo: Nyttend · Public domainHollins University is 13.7 miles from New Castle
No college sits inside New Castle’s boundary, but Hollins University’s campus in Roanoke, with 722 students on campus, is 13.7 miles from the center of town, and Virginia Western Community College is 19.2 miles away in Roanoke. About 13% of New Castle’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 New Castle. Colleges are described, not graded.
What stands out about college from New Castle
Facts about the town and its distance to campus; each college’s own figures follow.
Colleges within 15 miles of New Castle
Three private colleges within 14.7 miles. The nearest public four-year college, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, 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 $75–110k, where New Castle’s median household income ($77,083) 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 New Castle
Is New Castle a college town?
No. About 13 of every 100 New Castle residents are enrolled in college (Census, 2020–24), about the same as Virginia (7). The nearest campus, Hollins University, is 13.7 miles away in Roanoke.
What colleges are near New Castle?
Within 15 miles: Hollins University (13.7 miles, 722 students on campus), Roanoke College (14.6 miles, 1,835) and American National University (14.7 miles, 194).
What is the closest community college to New Castle, and what does it cost?
Virginia Western Community College in Roanoke, 19.2 miles away. Tuition and fees are $5,400 a year for Virginia residents; the federal net price, $4,966, counts housing and food at full cost.
How much does Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University cost if we live in Virginia?
Tuition and fees are $15,948 a year in-state and $37,764 from out of state. After grants, families on federal aid paid an average of $11,689 (under $30,000 income) to $34,201 (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 New Castle. 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 →