West Virginia State University is 4.1 miles from Cross Lanes
West Virginia Junior College-Charleston (183 students on campus) is inside the town, and West Virginia State University (2,991) is 4.1 miles from the center, in Institute. About 4% of Cross Lanes’ 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 Cross Lanes. Colleges are described, not graded.
What stands out about college in Cross Lanes
Facts about the town and its distance to campus; each college’s own figures follow.
Colleges within 15 miles of Cross Lanes
Two private colleges within 11.3 miles, one public college within 4.1 miles, and BridgeValley Community & Technical College 7.2 miles away.
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 Cross Lanes’ median household income ($63,537) 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 Cross Lanes: 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: West Virginia Junior College-Charleston (2).
What students study in Cross Lanes
Share of bachelor’s and associate degrees by field at West Virginia Junior College-Charleston, weighted by undergraduates; then the biggest programs.
College Scorecard: degree shares (PCIP; each college’s six largest fields are kept, the rest count as everything else) and the field-of-study file, median earnings 4 years after graduating.
Questions about college in Cross Lanes
Is Cross Lanes a college town?
No. About 4 of every 100 Cross Lanes residents are enrolled in college (Census, 2020–24), about the same as West Virginia (5). The largest campus in the town, West Virginia Junior College-Charleston, has 183 students on campus.
What colleges are in Cross Lanes?
West Virginia Junior College-Charleston is inside the town. West Virginia State University is 4.1 miles from the center, in Institute, and BridgeValley Community & Technical College is 7.2 miles away in South Charleston.
What is the closest community college to Cross Lanes, and what does it cost?
BridgeValley Community & Technical College in South Charleston, 7.2 miles away. Tuition and fees are $5,800 a year for West Virginia residents; the federal net price, $4,565, counts housing and food at full cost.
How much does West Virginia State University cost if we live in West Virginia?
Tuition and fees are $9,570 a year in-state and $14,990 from out of state. After grants, families on federal aid paid an average of $9,457 (under $30,000 income) to $17,355 (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 Cross Lanes. 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 →