Photo: Brian M. Powell (user Bitmapped on en.wikipedia) · CC BY-SA 3.0Appalachian Bible College is 9.9 miles from Thurmond
No college sits inside Thurmond’s boundary, but Appalachian Bible College’s campus in Mount Hope, with 204 students on campus, is 9.9 miles from the center of town, and New River Community and Technical College is 13.7 miles away in Beaver. About 0% of Thurmond’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 Thurmond. Colleges are described, not graded.
What stands out about college from Thurmond
Facts about the town and its distance to campus; each college’s own figures follow.
Colleges within 15 miles of Thurmond
Two private colleges within 13.3 miles, one public college within 14 miles, and New River Community and Technical College 13.7 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 Under $30k; the Census has no median household income for Thurmond.
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 Thurmond: 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 University Institute of Technology (3).
Questions about college near Thurmond
Is Thurmond a college town?
No. About 0 of every 100 Thurmond residents are enrolled in college (Census, 2020–24), about the same as West Virginia (5). The nearest campus, Appalachian Bible College, is 9.9 miles away in Mount Hope.
What colleges are near Thurmond?
Within 15 miles: Appalachian Bible College (9.9 miles, 204 students on campus), Valley College-Beckley (13.3 miles, 181), New River Community and Technical College (13.7 miles, 706) and West Virginia University Institute of Technology (14 miles, 969).
What is the closest community college to Thurmond, and what does it cost?
New River Community and Technical College in Beaver, 13.7 miles away. Tuition and fees are $5,156 a year for West Virginia residents; the federal net price, $3,599, counts housing and food at full cost.
How much does West Virginia University Institute of Technology cost if we live in West Virginia?
Tuition and fees are $8,424 a year in-state and $21,072 from out of state. After grants, families on federal aid paid an average of $6,998 (under $30,000 income) to $14,797 (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 Thurmond. 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 →