South Mountain Community College is 12.7 miles from Santa Cruz
No college sits inside Santa Cruz’s boundary, but South Mountain Community College’s campus in Phoenix, with 2,926 students on campus, is 12.7 miles from the center of town. About —% of Santa Cruz’s residents are enrolled in college, about the same as Arizona (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 Santa Cruz. Colleges are described, not graded.
What stands out about college from Santa Cruz
Facts about the town and its distance to campus; each college’s own figures follow.
Colleges within 15 miles of Santa Cruz
Two private colleges within 15 miles, and South Mountain Community College 12.7 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 Santa Cruz.
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 Santa Cruz: 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 Santa Cruz
Is Santa Cruz a college town?
No. About — of every 100 Santa Cruz residents are enrolled in college (Census, 2020–24), about the same as Arizona (6). The nearest campus, South Mountain Community College, is 12.7 miles away in Phoenix.
What colleges are near Santa Cruz?
Within 15 miles: South Mountain Community College (12.7 miles, 2,926 students on campus), the University of Advancing Technology (14.6 miles, 370) and the University of Phoenix-Arizona (15 miles, 172).
What is the closest community college to Santa Cruz, and what does it cost?
South Mountain Community College in Phoenix, 12.7 miles away. Tuition and fees are $2,358 a year for Arizona residents; the federal net price, $12,780, counts housing and food at full cost.
How much does South Mountain Community College cost if we live in Arizona?
Tuition and fees are $2,358 a year in-state and $8,958 from out of state. After grants, families on federal aid paid an average of $11,902 (under $30,000 income) to $17,132 (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 Santa Cruz. 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 →