Pacific Lutheran University is 8 miles from Elk Plain
No college sits inside Elk Plain’s boundary, but Pacific Lutheran University’s campus in Tacoma, with 2,685 students on campus, is 8 miles from the center of town, and Clover Park Technical College is 11.2 miles away in Lakewood. About 4% of Elk Plain’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 Elk Plain. Colleges are described, not graded.
What stands out about college from Elk Plain
Facts about the town and its distance to campus; each college’s own figures follow.
Colleges within 15 miles of Elk Plain
Two private colleges within 15 miles, one public college within 14.4 miles, and three 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 Elk Plain’s median household income ($107,313) 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 Elk Plain: 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: University of Washington-Tacoma Campus (3).
Questions about college near Elk Plain
Is Elk Plain a college town?
No. About 4 of every 100 Elk Plain residents are enrolled in college (Census, 2020–24), below Washington (6). The nearest campus, Pacific Lutheran University, is 8 miles away in Tacoma.
What colleges are near Elk Plain?
Within 15 miles: Pacific Lutheran University (8 miles, 2,685 students on campus), Clover Park Technical College (11.2 miles, 2,695), Pierce College District (13.2 miles, 3,940), the University of Washington-Tacoma Campus (14.4 miles, 4,497), Bates Technical College (15 miles, 3,299) and Northwest College of Art & Design (15 miles, 150).
What is the closest community college to Elk Plain, and what does it cost?
Clover Park Technical College in Lakewood, 11.2 miles away. Tuition and fees are $6,634 a year for Washington residents; the federal net price, $9,864, counts housing and food at full cost.
How much does Clover Park Technical College cost if we live in Washington?
Tuition and fees are $6,634 a year in-state and $6,634 from out of state. After grants, families on federal aid paid an average of $8,515 (under $30,000 income) to $16,160 (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 Elk Plain. 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 →