Photo: John Pilge · Public domainThe University of California-Santa Cruz is 8.1 miles from Brookdale
No college sits inside Brookdale’s boundary, but the University of California-Santa Cruz’s campus in Santa Cruz, with 19,574 students on campus, is 8.1 miles from the center of town, and West Valley College is 12.3 miles away in Saratoga. About 12% of Brookdale’s residents are enrolled in college, about the same as 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 Brookdale. Colleges are described, not graded.
What stands out about college from Brookdale
Facts about the town and its distance to campus; each college’s own figures follow.
Colleges within 15 miles of Brookdale
One private college within 11.6 miles, one public college within 8.1 miles, and two community colleges.
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 $75–110k, where Brookdale’s median household income ($87,358) 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 Brookdale: 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 Brookdale
Is Brookdale a college town?
No. About 12 of every 100 Brookdale residents are enrolled in college (Census, 2020–24), about the same as California (8). The nearest campus, the University of California-Santa Cruz, is 8.1 miles away in Santa Cruz.
What colleges are near Brookdale?
Within 15 miles: the University of California-Santa Cruz (8.1 miles, 19,574 students on campus), Five Branches University (11.6 miles, 262), West Valley College (12.3 miles, 4,444) and Cabrillo College (13 miles, 7,207).
What is the closest community college to Brookdale, and what does it cost?
West Valley College in Saratoga, 12.3 miles away.
How much does the University of California-Santa Cruz cost if we live in California?
Tuition and fees are $16,005 a year in-state and $50,205 from out of state. After grants, families on federal aid paid an average of $8,717 (under $30,000 income) to $33,323 (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 Brookdale. 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 →