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Brea-downtown restaurant artPhoto: Jonnyboyca at English Wikipedia · Public domain
Colleges in and near Brea

California State University-Fullerton is 3.2 miles from Brea

No college sits inside Brea’s boundary, but California State University-Fullerton’s campus in Fullerton, with 38,210 students on campus, is 3.2 miles from the center of town, and Fullerton College is 4.6 miles away in Fullerton. About 7% of Brea’s residents are enrolled in college, about the same as California (8%).

California State University-FullertonFullerton 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 Brea. Colleges are described, not graded.

Within 15 miles
43
214,181 students on campus
Nearest college
2.8 mi
Marshall B Ketchum University
Residents in college
7%
About the same as CA (8%)
Nearest community college
4.6 mi
Fullerton College · $1,150 tuition
Nearest public university
3.2 mi
California State University-Fullerton · $7,470 in-state
Median household income
$131K
prices below start here

What stands out about college from Brea

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

Two colleges within 4.6 milesCalifornia State University-Fullerton admits 91% of applicants. Together they have 51,069 students on campus.In-state price at California State University-FullertonLiving in California, California State University-Fullerton charges $7,470 in tuition and fees; from out of state, $20,070. State residency rules decide which a new arrival pays.A community college 4.6 miles awayFullerton College in Fullerton: tuition and fees $1,150 a year for California residents.Students are 7% of residentsAbout the same as California (8%). The Census counts anyone enrolled, including part-time and online students.
Every college

Colleges within 15 miles of Brea

32 private colleges within 15 miles, two public colleges within 9.5 miles, and nine community colleges.

5 mi10 mi15 miCalifornia State University-FullertonCalifornia State Polytechnic University-PomonaMt San Antonio CollegeBrea
University or collegeCommunity college
Marshall B Ketchum UniversityUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 679 on campus · 2.8 mi · FullertonGraduate students only; the Scorecard reports no undergraduate figures.California State University-FullertonUniversity or college · Public · 38,210 on campus · 3.2 mi · Fullerton91%admitted$7knet price70%graduate$63kearningsHope International UniversityUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 656 on campus · 3.6 mi · Fullerton33%admitted$29knet price49%graduate$50kearningsFullerton CollegeCommunity college · Public · 12,859 on campus · 4.6 mi · Fullerton$6knet price34%graduate$43kearningsTuition and fees: $1,150 a year. The net price counts housing and food at full cost.Grace Mission UniversityUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 121 on campus · 6.7 mi · Fullerton100%graduateSouthern California University of Health SciencesUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 957 on campus · 6.8 mi · Whittier · mostly online$46knet price50%graduate$71kearnings52% of its students study only online; price, graduation and earnings count them too.Bethesda UniversityUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 248 on campus · 7.2 mi · Anaheim$11knet price11%graduateSouth Baylo UniversityUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 234 on campus · 7.5 mi · AnaheimGraduate students only; the Scorecard reports no undergraduate figures.California Career InstituteUniversity or college · For-profit · 517 on campus · 7.6 mi · AnaheimSouthern California Institute of TechnologyUniversity or college · For-profit · 536 on campus · 7.8 mi · Anaheim74%admitted$33knet price74%graduate$54kearningsNorth-West College-AnaheimUniversity or college · For-profit · 455 on campus · 8 mi · Anaheim$29knet price60%graduate$40kearningsEarnings are reported for all 4 campuses that file with it.Platt College-AnaheimUniversity or college · For-profit · 405 on campus · 8 mi · Anaheim$23knet price64%graduate$41kearningsEarnings are reported for all 4 campuses that file with it.ATI College-WhittierUniversity or college · For-profit · 125 on campus · 8.1 mi · Whitter$20knet price72%graduate$39kearningsAmerican Career College-AnaheimUniversity or college · For-profit · 1,643 on campus · 8.2 mi · Anaheim$31knet price70%graduate$38kearningsEarnings are reported for all 2 campuses that file with it.West Coast University-Orange CountyUniversity or college · For-profit · 2,873 on campus · 8.3 mi · Anaheim$33knet price60%graduate$103kearningsEarnings are reported for all 6 campuses that file with it.The Chicago School at AnaheimUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 483 on campus · 8.4 mi · Anaheim$57kearningsEarnings are reported for all 8 campuses that file with it.Graduate students only; the Scorecard reports no undergraduate figures.Mt San Antonio CollegeCommunity college · Public · 21,946 on campus · 8.5 mi · Walnut$6knet price45%graduate$46kearningsTuition and fees: $1,364 a year. The net price counts housing and food at full cost.Biola UniversityUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 4,288 on campus · 8.7 mi · La Mirada74%admitted$31knet price68%graduate$57kearningsChapman UniversityUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 9,961 on campus · 9.2 mi · Orange65%admitted$47knet price82%graduate$70kearningsCalifornia State Polytechnic University-PomonaUniversity or college · Public · 25,991 on campus · 9.5 mi · Pomona75%admitted$12knet price68%graduate$72kearningsSouth Coast CollegeUniversity or college · For-profit · 241 on campus · 9.5 mi · Orange$17knet price17%graduate$45kearningsWhittier CollegeUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 859 on campus · 10.3 mi · Whittier81%admitted$26knet price60%graduate$59kearningsInterCoast Colleges-West CovinaUniversity or college · For-profit · 118 on campus · 10.4 mi · West Covina · mostly online$28knet price97%graduate$36kearnings77% of its students study only online; price, graduation and earnings count them too.Earnings are reported for all 4 campuses that file with it.Santiago Canyon CollegeCommunity college · Public · 7,854 on campus · 10.6 mi · Orange$2knet price48%graduate$45kearningsTuition and fees: $1,164 a year. The net price counts housing and food at full cost.North-West College-West CovinaUniversity or college · For-profit · 635 on campus · 11.2 mi · West Covina$30knet price68%graduate$38kearningsEarnings are reported for all 2 campuses that file with it.Glendale Career College-North-West College-MFSONUniversity or college · For-profit · 218 on campus · 11.2 mi · West Covina$45knet price$41kearningsEarnings are reported for all 5 campuses that file with it.Concorde Career College-Garden GroveUniversity or college · For-profit · 202 on campus · 11.2 mi · Garden Grove97%admitted$25knet price84%graduate$46kearningsCypress CollegeCommunity college · Public · 10,494 on campus · 11.4 mi · Cypress$5knet price37%graduate$44kearningsTuition and fees: $1,150 a year. The net price counts housing and food at full cost.Western University of Health SciencesUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 3,621 on campus · 11.4 mi · PomonaGraduate students only; the Scorecard reports no undergraduate figures.Santa Ana CollegeCommunity college · Public · 18,643 on campus · 11.5 mi · Santa Ana$3knet price31%graduate$44kearningsTuition and fees: $1,180 a year. The net price counts housing and food at full cost.Rio Hondo CollegeCommunity college · Public · 12,523 on campus · 11.7 mi · Whittier$14knet price25%graduate$45kearningsTuition and fees: $1,388 a year. The net price counts housing and food at full cost.Life Pacific UniversityUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 359 on campus · 12.2 mi · San Dimas96%admitted$21knet price40%graduate$43kearningsPremiere Career CollegeUniversity or college · For-profit · 106 on campus · 12.9 mi · Irwindale$25knet price52%graduate$41kearningsUniversity of La VerneUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 4,321 on campus · 13.2 mi · La Verne71%admitted$20knet price63%graduate$65kearningsCerritos CollegeCommunity college · Public · 13,757 on campus · 13.6 mi · Norwalk$2knet price31%graduate$41kearningsTuition and fees: $1,364 a year. The net price counts housing and food at full cost.PCI CollegeUniversity or college · For-profit · 163 on campus · 13.9 mi · Cerritos$27knet price68%graduate$36kearningsCareer Networks InstituteUniversity or college · For-profit · 971 on campus · 14.1 mi · Santa Ana$50knet price89%graduate$45kearningsAzusa Pacific UniversityUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 5,836 on campus · 14.2 mi · Azusa88%admitted$22knet price62%graduate$67kearningsKeck Graduate InstituteUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 541 on campus · 14.2 mi · ClaremontGraduate students only; the Scorecard reports no undergraduate figures.Citrus CollegeCommunity college · Public · 6,995 on campus · 14.6 mi · Glendora$4knet price41%graduate$42kearningsTuition and fees: $1,204 a year. The net price counts housing and food at full cost.Pomona CollegeUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 1,664 on campus · 14.8 mi · Claremont7%admitted$19knet price93%graduate$78kearningsCoastline Community CollegeCommunity college · Public · 728 on campus · 14.9 mi · Fountain Valley · mostly online$16knet price34%graduate$44kearnings92% of its students study only online; price, graduation and earnings count them too.Tuition and fees: $1,364 a year. The net price counts housing and food at full cost.University of the WestUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 145 on campus · 15 mi · Rosemead100%admitted$7knet price38%graduate

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 Brea’s median household income ($131,129) falls.

Cerritos College13.6 mi · Norwalk · sticker $10,236 · tuition $1,364$7,901a year
Cypress College11.4 mi · Cypress · sticker $14,290 · tuition $1,150$10,001a year
Santa Ana College11.5 mi · Santa Ana · sticker $12,375 · tuition $1,180$10,160a year
Mt San Antonio College8.5 mi · Walnut · sticker $15,701 · tuition $1,364$10,852a year
Santiago Canyon College10.6 mi · Orange · sticker $13,818 · tuition $1,164$11,014a year
Fullerton College4.6 mi · Fullerton · sticker $14,369 · tuition $1,150$11,574a year
Citrus College14.6 mi · Glendora · sticker $13,699 · tuition $1,204$12,665a year
Bethesda University7.2 mi · Anaheim · sticker $13,575$13,575a year
California State University-Fullerton3.2 mi · Fullerton · sticker $18,269$15,631a year
Rio Hondo College11.7 mi · Whittier · sticker $21,391 · tuition $1,388$17,355a year
South Coast College9.5 mi · Orange · sticker $18,982$18,982a year
California State Polytechnic University-Pomona9.5 mi · Pomona · sticker $23,955$20,716a year
Life Pacific University12.2 mi · San Dimas · sticker $35,062$25,877a year
Concorde Career College-Garden Grove11.2 mi · Garden Grove · sticker $29,040$26,760a year
Azusa Pacific University14.2 mi · Azusa · sticker $56,313$27,193a year
Platt College-Anaheim8 mi · Anaheim · sticker $28,170$28,170a year
Whittier College10.3 mi · Whittier · sticker $63,664$30,599a year
Premiere Career College12.9 mi · Irwindale · sticker $32,314$32,314a year
American Career College-Anaheim8.2 mi · Anaheim · sticker $35,751$33,914a year
Hope International University3.6 mi · Fullerton · sticker $51,784$34,049a year
West Coast University-Orange County8.3 mi · Anaheim · sticker $34,887$34,887a year
Biola University8.7 mi · La Mirada · sticker $62,757$37,314a year
Pomona College14.8 mi · Claremont · sticker $85,300$37,842a year
Southern California Institute of Technology7.8 mi · Anaheim · sticker $37,992$37,884a year
Career Networks Institute14.1 mi · Santa Ana · sticker $52,552$52,552a year
Chapman University9.2 mi · Orange · sticker $83,146$55,066a year
Southern California University of Health Sciences6.8 mi · Whittier · mostly online · sticker $57,740—a year
North-West College-Anaheim8 mi · Anaheim · sticker $31,922—a year
ATI College-Whittier8.1 mi · Whitter · sticker $29,726—a year
InterCoast Colleges-West Covina10.4 mi · West Covina · mostly online · sticker $35,442—a year
North-West College-West Covina11.2 mi · West Covina · sticker $34,193—a year
Glendale Career College-North-West College-MFSON11.2 mi · West Covina · sticker $49,247—a year
University of La Verne13.2 mi · La Verne · sticker $62,278—a year
PCI College13.9 mi · Cerritos · sticker $33,852—a year
Coastline Community College14.9 mi · Fountain Valley · mostly online · sticker $24,290 · tuition $1,364—a year
University of the West15 mi · Rosemead · sticker $21,278—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 Brea: across is the share who graduate, up is what they earn ten years after starting.

$0$20k$40k$60k$80k$100k$120k0%25%50%75%100%Graduate →California State University-FullertonFullerton CollegeMt San Antonio CollegeCalifornia State Polytechnic University-PomonaSanta Ana CollegeCerritos College
California State University-Fullerton70% graduate$63k earnings$14k typical debt
California State Polytechnic University-Pomona68% graduate$72k earnings$16k typical debt
Mt San Antonio College45% graduate$46k earnings$6k typical debt
Santa Ana College31% graduate$44k earnings$7k typical debt
Cerritos College31% graduate$41k earnings$8k typical debt
Fullerton College34% graduate$43k earnings$4k typical debt
Rio Hondo College25% graduate$45k earnings$6k typical debt
Cypress College37% graduate$44k earnings$10k typical debt
Chapman University82% graduate$70k earnings$20k typical debt
Santiago Canyon College48% graduate$45k earnings$5k typical debt
Citrus College41% graduate$42k earnings$8k typical debt
Azusa Pacific University62% graduate$67k earnings$23k 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: North-West College-Anaheim (4); Platt College-Anaheim (4); American Career College-Anaheim (2); West Coast University-Orange County (6); InterCoast Colleges-West Covina (4); North-West College-West Covina (2).

Questions about college near Brea

Is Brea a college town?

No. About 7 of every 100 Brea residents are enrolled in college (Census, 2020–24), about the same as California (8). The nearest campus, Marshall B Ketchum University, is 2.8 miles away in Fullerton.

What colleges are near Brea?

43 colleges are within 15 miles. The largest: California State University-Fullerton (3.2 miles, 38,210 students on campus), California State Polytechnic University-Pomona (9.5 miles, 25,991) and Mt San Antonio College (8.5 miles, 21,946).

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

Fullerton College in Fullerton, 4.6 miles away. Tuition and fees are $1,150 a year for California residents; the federal net price, $6,134, counts housing and food at full cost.

How much does California State University-Fullerton cost if we live in California?

Tuition and fees are $7,470 a year in-state and $20,070 from out of state. After grants, families on federal aid paid an average of $3,315 (under $30,000 income) to $15,631 (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 Brea. 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 →