Photo: Orange Suede Sofa · CC BY-SA 3.0Heritage University is 4.9 miles from Wapato
No college sits inside Wapato’s boundary, but Heritage University’s campus in Toppenish, with 761 students on campus, is 4.9 miles from the center of town, and Perry Technical Institute is 10.4 miles away in Yakima. About 3% of Wapato’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 Wapato. Colleges are described, not graded.
What stands out about college from Wapato
Facts about the town and its distance to campus; each college’s own figures follow.
Colleges within 15 miles of Wapato
Three private colleges within 11.1 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 $48–75k, where Wapato’s median household income ($52,019) 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 Wapato: 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 Wapato
Is Wapato a college town?
No. About 3 of every 100 Wapato residents are enrolled in college (Census, 2020–24), below Washington (6). The nearest campus, Heritage University, is 4.9 miles away in Toppenish.
What colleges are near Wapato?
Within 15 miles: Heritage University (4.9 miles, 761 students on campus), Perry Technical Institute (10.4 miles, 973), Yakima Valley College (11.1 miles, 2,527) and Pacific Northwest University of Health Sciences (11.1 miles, 649).
What is the closest community college to Wapato, and what does it cost?
Perry Technical Institute in Yakima, 10.4 miles away.
How much does Yakima Valley College cost if we live in Washington?
Tuition and fees are $5,312 a year in-state and $5,873 from out of state. After grants, families on federal aid paid an average of $10,543 (under $30,000 income) to $20,259 (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 Wapato. 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 →