South Seattle College is 5 miles from Burien
No college sits inside Burien’s boundary, but South Seattle College’s campus in Seattle, with 4,519 students on campus, is 5 miles from the center of town. About 4% of Burien’s residents are enrolled in college, below Washington (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 Burien. Colleges are described, not graded.
What stands out about college from Burien
Facts about the town and its distance to campus; each college’s own figures follow.
Colleges within 15 miles of Burien
Nine private colleges within 14.5 miles, three public colleges within 13.7 miles, and four 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 $75–110k, where Burien’s median household income ($91,318) 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 Burien: 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: Pima Medical Institute-Renton (13); University of Washington-Seattle Campus (3); Northwest University-Center for Online and Extended Education (2); Northwest University (2).
Questions about college near Burien
Is Burien a college town?
No. About 4 of every 100 Burien residents are enrolled in college (Census, 2020–24), below Washington (6). The nearest campus, South Seattle College, is 5 miles away in Seattle.
What colleges are near Burien?
16 colleges are within 15 miles. The largest: the University of Washington-Seattle Campus (12.6 miles, 54,144 students on campus), Bellevue College (11.8 miles, 6,973) and Seattle University (9.3 miles, 6,757).
What is the closest community college to Burien, and what does it cost?
South Seattle College in Seattle, 5 miles away. Tuition and fees are $5,238 a year for Washington residents; the federal net price, $6,004, counts housing and food at full cost.
How much does South Seattle College cost if we live in Washington?
Tuition and fees are $5,238 a year in-state and $5,796 from out of state. After grants, families on federal aid paid an average of $5,744 (under $30,000 income) to $10,615 (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 Burien. 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 →