Five Towns College

With just 662 undergraduates (fall 2023), Five Towns College offers an intimate, almost conservatory-like atmosphere. The campus buzzes with performances, film screenings, and industry workshops, per its Instagram feed. Residence halls host a mix of 'diverse religious, ethnic, and social backgrounds,' and the Long Island location provides easy access to NYC’s arts scene. Student life revolves around creative collaboration—think jam sessions in practice rooms or editing suites—rather than Greek life or D1 sports.

Graduation rates are a mixed bag: 49% overall (bottom 35% nationally), with a 70% freshman retention rate that suggests students who stay past year one tend to persist. Alumni median earnings one year post-graduation are $36,427, slightly below the national average. However, the college shines in niche fields—its 2026 commencement honored 125 grads in programs like Court Reporting and Music Performance, fields where networking and portfolio matter more than raw salary data.

Tuition sits at $30,250 (U.S. News), but the college aggressively discounts: 95% of qualified students receive aid, with an average package of $14,093 (BigFuture). Net price?Net priceWhat a family actually pays after grants and scholarships are subtracted from the sticker price — usually far less than the published cost. averages $18,765 after grants, though some reports peg it higher ($23,005). The school administers $5M annually in private scholarships, targeting arts students who might otherwise balk at the $50K+ total cost of attendance?Cost of attendanceThe full estimated yearly cost of a college: tuition, fees, housing, food, books, and other expenses, before any financial aid..

Five Towns College is not for everyone—its low graduation rates and niche focus demand self-motivated students. But for aspiring musicians, filmmakers, and court reporters, it offers rare advantages:

• Hyper-specialized programs like Court Reporting and Interactive Media Arts
• Direct faculty mentorship in small classes
• Proximity to NYC’s arts scene without Manhattan prices
• Heavy financial aid for creatives (95% coverage)

It’s a no-frills incubator for those who know exactly what they want to do—and just need the tools to do it.