Photo: Nyttend · Public domainShepherd University is 8 miles from Bolivar
No college sits inside Bolivar’s boundary, but Shepherd University’s campus in Shepherdstown, with 2,867 students on campus, is 8 miles from the center of town, and Blue Ridge Community and Technical College is 15.4 miles away in Martinsburg. About 4% of Bolivar’s residents are enrolled in college, about the same as West Virginia (5%).
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 Bolivar. Colleges are described, not graded.
What stands out about college from Bolivar
Facts about the town and its distance to campus; each college’s own figures follow.
Colleges within 15 miles of Bolivar
One private college within 13.2 miles, and one public college within 8 miles.
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 Bolivar’s median household income ($83,068) 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 Bolivar: 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 Bolivar
Is Bolivar a college town?
No. About 4 of every 100 Bolivar residents are enrolled in college (Census, 2020–24), about the same as West Virginia (5). The nearest campus, Shepherd University, is 8 miles away in Shepherdstown.
What colleges are near Bolivar?
Within 15 miles: Shepherd University (8 miles, 2,867 students on campus) and Patrick Henry College (13.2 miles, 371).
What is the closest community college to Bolivar, and what does it cost?
Blue Ridge Community and Technical College in Martinsburg, 15.4 miles away. Tuition and fees are $4,752 a year for West Virginia residents; the federal net price, $4,641, counts housing and food at full cost.
How much does Shepherd University cost if we live in West Virginia?
Tuition and fees are $9,056 a year in-state and $19,082 from out of state. After grants, families on federal aid paid an average of $7,906 (under $30,000 income) to $15,866 (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 Bolivar. 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 →