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Holbrook-Palmer Estate, "Elmwood"Holbrook-Palmer Estate, "Elmwood" · Photo: LPS.1 · CC0
Colleges in and near Atherton

Stanford University is 2.6 miles from Atherton

Menlo College (840 students on campus) is inside the town, and Stanford University (18,233) is 2.6 miles from the center, in Stanford. About 14% of Atherton’s residents are enrolled in college, above California (8%).

Stanford UniversityCanada College

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 Atherton. Colleges are described, not graded.

Within 15 miles
17
69,134 students on campus
Nearest college
0.6 mi
Menlo College
Residents in college
14%
Above CA (8%)
Nearest community college
3.5 mi
Canada College · $1,332 tuition
Nearest public university
7.7 mi
Foothill College · $1,565 in-state
Median household income
$250K
prices below start here

What stands out about college in Atherton

Facts about the town and its distance to campus; each college’s own figures follow.

Two colleges within 3.5 milesStanford University admits 4% of applicants. Together they have 23,869 students on campus.A community college 3.5 miles awayCanada College in Redwood City: tuition and fees $1,332 a year for California residents.In-state price at Foothill CollegeLiving in California, Foothill College charges $1,565 in tuition and fees; from out of state, $12,590. State residency rules decide which a new arrival pays.Students are 14% of residentsAbove California (8%). The Census counts anyone enrolled, including part-time and online students.
Every college

Colleges within 15 miles of Atherton

11 private colleges within 14.6 miles, and six community colleges.

5 mi10 mi15 miStanford UniversityDe Anza CollegeChabot CollegeAtherton
University or collegeCommunity college
Menlo CollegeUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 840 on campus · In Atherton68%admitted$31knet price54%graduate$76kearningsStanford UniversityUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 18,233 on campus · 2.6 mi · Stanford4%admitted$14knet price92%graduate$124kearningsAlder Graduate School of EducationUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 453 on campus · 2.9 mi · Redwood CityGraduate students only; the Scorecard reports no undergraduate figures.Canada CollegeCommunity college · Public · 5,636 on campus · 3.5 mi · Redwood City$0knet price47%graduate$50kearningsTuition and fees: $1,332 a year. The net price counts housing and food at full cost.Palo Alto UniversityUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 664 on campus · 5.2 mi · Palo Alto$83kearningsSofia UniversityUniversity or college · For-profit · 995 on campus · 5.4 mi · Palo AltoNotre Dame de Namur UniversityUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 205 on campus · 6.2 mi · Belmont7%graduate$75kearningsFoothill CollegeCommunity college · Public · 7,500 on campus · 7.7 mi · Los Altos Hills$8knet price56%graduate$57kearningsTuition and fees: $1,565 a year. The net price counts housing and food at full cost.College of San MateoCommunity college · Public · 6,728 on campus · 9.1 mi · San Mateo$1knet price61%graduate$54kearningsTuition and fees: $1,332 a year. The net price counts housing and food at full cost.University of East-West MedicineUniversity or college · For-profit · 110 on campus · 12.2 mi · SunnyvaleGraduate students only; the Scorecard reports no undergraduate figures.De Anza CollegeCommunity college · Public · 10,013 on campus · 12.7 mi · Cupertino$7knet price68%graduate$57kearningsTuition and fees: $1,571 a year. The net price counts housing and food at full cost.Mission CollegeCommunity college · Public · 4,407 on campus · 12.9 mi · Santa Clara$5knet price39%graduate$51kearningsTuition and fees: $1,438 a year. The net price counts housing and food at full cost.Life Chiropractic College WestUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 613 on campus · 13.4 mi · HaywardGraduate students only; the Scorecard reports no undergraduate figures.Unitek CollegeUniversity or college · For-profit · 4,254 on campus · 13.6 mi · Fremont$25knet price73%graduate$80kearningsChabot CollegeCommunity college · Public · 7,625 on campus · 13.9 mi · Hayward$9knet price47%graduate$48kearningsTuition and fees: $1,150 a year. The net price counts housing and food at full cost.Institute for Business and TechnologyUniversity or college · For-profit · 609 on campus · 14.5 mi · San Jose$27knet price84%graduate$38kearningsEarnings are reported for all 3 campuses that file with it.University of Silicon ValleyUniversity or college · For-profit · 249 on campus · 14.6 mi · San Jose51%admitted$28knet price29%graduate$51kearnings

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 it costs

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.

Family income

Starts at Over $110k, where Atherton’s median household income ($250,001) falls.

Chabot College13.9 mi · Hayward · sticker $17,456 · tuition $1,150$6,370a year
De Anza College12.7 mi · Cupertino · sticker $14,975 · tuition $1,571$11,825a year
Foothill College7.7 mi · Los Altos Hills · sticker $16,361 · tuition $1,565$14,237a year
Unitek College13.6 mi · Fremont · sticker $27,775$27,775a year
Institute for Business and Technology14.5 mi · San Jose · sticker $30,501$30,072a year
University of Silicon Valley14.6 mi · San Jose · sticker $35,722$34,379a year
Menlo CollegeIn Atherton · sticker $72,020$37,298a year
Stanford University2.6 mi · Stanford · sticker $87,833$53,882a year
Canada College3.5 mi · Redwood City · sticker $9,087 · tuition $1,332—a year
College of San Mateo9.1 mi · San Mateo · sticker $10,837 · tuition $1,332—a year
Mission College12.9 mi · Santa Clara · sticker $13,744 · tuition $1,438—a year

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.

Outcomes

Do students finish, and does it pay?

Each dot is a college within 15 miles of Atherton: across is the share who graduate, up is what they earn ten years after starting.

$0$20k$40k$60k$80k$100k$120k$140k0%25%50%75%100%Graduate →Stanford UniversityCanada CollegeFoothill CollegeCollege of San MateoDe Anza CollegeChabot College
Stanford University92% graduate$124k earnings$12k typical debt
De Anza College68% graduate$57k earnings$6k typical debt
Chabot College47% graduate$48k earnings$10k typical debt
Foothill College56% graduate$57k earnings$10k typical debt
College of San Mateo61% graduate$54k earnings$15k typical debt
Canada College47% graduate$50k earnings
Mission College39% graduate$51k earnings
Unitek College73% graduate$80k earnings$11k typical debt
Menlo College54% graduate$76k earnings$22k typical debt
Institute for Business and Technology84% graduate$38k earnings*$8k typical debt
University of Silicon Valley29% graduate$51k earnings$31k typical debt
Notre Dame de Namur University7% graduate$75k earnings$25k typical debt

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: Institute for Business and Technology (3).

Majors

What students study in Atherton

Share of bachelor’s and associate degrees by field at Menlo College, weighted by undergraduates; then the biggest programs.

Business 68%Psychology 14%Parks & recreation 9%Interdisciplinary 9%Everything else -0%

Biggest programs

Marketing46 graduates a year
$75k4 yrs out
Psychology, General29 graduates a year
$53k4 yrs out
Finance and Financial Management Services26 graduates a year
$104k4 yrs out
Business Administration, Management and Operations25 graduates a year
$82k4 yrs out
Accounting and Related Services24 graduates a year
$94k4 yrs out

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 Atherton

Is Atherton a college town?

No. About 14 of every 100 Atherton residents are enrolled in college (Census, 2020–24), above California (8). The largest campus in the town, Menlo College, has 840 students on campus.

What colleges are in Atherton?

Menlo College is inside the town. Stanford University is 2.6 miles from the center, in Stanford, and Canada College is 3.5 miles from the center, in Redwood City.

What is the closest community college to Atherton, and what does it cost?

Canada College in Redwood City, 3.5 miles away. Tuition and fees are $1,332 a year for California residents; the federal net price, $32, counts housing and food at full cost.

How much does Foothill College cost if we live in California?

Tuition and fees are $1,565 a year in-state and $12,590 from out of state. After grants, families on federal aid paid an average of $6,571 (under $30,000 income) to $14,237 (over $110,000), housing and food included.

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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 Atherton. 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 →