Vestal's Gap Road and Lanesville Historic District · Photo: Cecouchman · CC BY-SA 3.0Columbia College is 9.9 miles from Sterling
No college sits inside Sterling’s boundary, but Columbia College’s campus in Vienna, with 231 students on campus, is 9.9 miles from the center of town, and Northern Virginia Community College is 14.9 miles away in Annandale. About 6% of Sterling’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 Sterling. Colleges are described, not graded.
What stands out about college from Sterling
Facts about the town and its distance to campus; each college’s own figures follow.
Colleges within 15 miles of Sterling
Six private colleges within 14.2 miles, one public college within 13.1 miles, and two community colleges.
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 Over $110k, where Sterling’s median household income ($123,303) 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 Sterling: 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: Chamberlain University-Virginia (15); University of the Potomac-VA Campus (2).
Questions about college near Sterling
Is Sterling a college town?
No. About 6 of every 100 Sterling residents are enrolled in college (Census, 2020–24), about the same as Virginia (7). The nearest campus, Columbia College, is 9.9 miles away in Vienna.
What colleges are near Sterling?
9 colleges are within 15 miles. The largest: Northern Virginia Community College (14.9 miles, 48,232 students on campus), George Mason University (13.1 miles, 32,320) and Montgomery College (14.7 miles, 15,953).
What is the closest community college to Sterling, and what does it cost?
Northern Virginia Community College in Annandale, 14.9 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.
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 Sterling. 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 →