Photo: Chevy111 · CC BY-SA 4.0San Joaquin Valley College-Lancaster is 10.7 miles from Acton
No college sits inside Acton’s boundary, but San Joaquin Valley College-Lancaster’s campus in Lancaster, with 239 students on campus, is 10.7 miles from the center of town, and Antelope Valley Community College District is 12.4 miles away in Lancaster. About 3% of Acton’s residents are enrolled in college, below California (8%).
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 Acton. Colleges are described, not graded.
What stands out about college from Acton
Facts about the town and its distance to campus; each college’s own figures follow.
Colleges within 15 miles of Acton
Three private colleges within 12.7 miles, and Antelope Valley Community College District 12.4 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 Over $110k, where Acton’s median household income ($113,000) 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 Acton: 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: San Joaquin Valley College-Lancaster (14).
Questions about college near Acton
Is Acton a college town?
No. About 3 of every 100 Acton residents are enrolled in college (Census, 2020–24), below California (8). The nearest campus, San Joaquin Valley College-Lancaster, is 10.7 miles away in Lancaster.
What colleges are near Acton?
Within 15 miles: San Joaquin Valley College-Lancaster (10.7 miles, 239 students on campus), Antelope Valley Community College District (12.4 miles, 9,781), High Desert Medical College (12.6 miles, 1,788) and Career Care Institute (12.7 miles, 649).
What is the closest community college to Acton, and what does it cost?
Antelope Valley Community College District in Lancaster, 12.4 miles away. Tuition and fees are $1,124 a year for California residents; the federal net price, $3,860, counts housing and food at full cost.
How much does Antelope Valley Community College District cost if we live in California?
Tuition and fees are $1,124 a year in-state and $9,548 from out of state. After grants, families on federal aid paid an average of $3,012 (under $30,000 income) to $8,678 (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 Acton. 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 →