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Diego Sepúlveda Adobe 2013-11-02 17-26-03Photo: pelle68 · CC BY-SA 3.0
Colleges in and near Costa Mesa

Costa Mesa is home to three colleges, with about 17,000 students on campus

Orange Coast College (14,830 students on campus) and Vanguard University of Southern California (1,956) are inside the city, and the University of California-Irvine (35,954) is 4.3 miles from the center, just over the line in Irvine. About 8% of Costa Mesa’s residents are enrolled in college, about the same as California (8%).

Orange Coast CollegeVanguard University of Southern CaliforniaStanbridge UniversityWestcliff UniversityUniversity of California-Irvine

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 Costa Mesa. Colleges are described, not graded.

Within 15 miles
34
223,754 students on campus
Nearest college
0.3 mi
Orange Coast College
Residents in college
8%
About the same as CA (8%)
Nearest community college
0.3 mi
Orange Coast College · $1,392 tuition
Nearest public university
4.3 mi
University of California-Irvine · $15,722 in-state
Median household income
$112K
prices below start here

What stands out about college in Costa Mesa

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

Five colleges within 4.3 milesVanguard University of Southern California admits 62% of applicants; Stanbridge University admits 10%; Westcliff University admits 73%. Together they have 59,903 students on campus.A community college 0.3 miles awayOrange Coast College in Costa Mesa: tuition and fees $1,392 a year for California residents.In-state price at University of California-IrvineLiving in California, the University of California-Irvine charges $15,722 in tuition and fees; from out of state, $49,922. State residency rules decide which a new arrival pays.Students are 8% 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 Costa Mesa

23 private colleges within 14.6 miles, three public colleges within 15 miles, and eight community colleges.

5 mi10 mi15 miCalifornia State University-FullertonCalifornia State University-Long BeachUniversity of California-IrvineCosta Mesa
University or collegeCommunity college
Orange Coast CollegeCommunity college · Public · 14,830 on campus · In Costa Mesa$7knet price48%graduate$47kearningsTuition and fees: $1,392 a year. The net price counts housing and food at full cost.Vanguard University of Southern CaliforniaUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 1,956 on campus · In Costa Mesa62%admitted$21knet price57%graduate$60kearningsPacific CollegeUniversity or college · For-profit · 238 on campus · In Costa Mesa56%admitted$29knet price62%graduate$70kearningsInterior Designers InstituteUniversity or college · For-profit · 107 on campus · 3.2 mi · Newport Beach$55kearningsStanbridge UniversityUniversity or college · For-profit · 2,637 on campus · 3.3 mi · Irvine10%admitted$45knet price62%graduate$62kearningsCoastline Community CollegeCommunity college · Public · 728 on campus · 3.6 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.Westcliff UniversityUniversity or college · For-profit · 4,526 on campus · 3.9 mi · Irvine73%admitted$35knet price62%graduateUniversity of California-IrvineUniversity or college · Public · 35,954 on campus · 4.3 mi · Irvine29%admitted$14knet price87%graduate$81kearningsCareer Networks InstituteUniversity or college · For-profit · 971 on campus · 5.3 mi · Santa Ana$50knet price89%graduate$45kearningsConcordia University-IrvineUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 1,999 on campus · 5.8 mi · Irvine66%admitted$28knet price58%graduate$65kearningsSanta Ana CollegeCommunity college · Public · 18,643 on campus · 6.6 mi · Santa Ana$3knet price31%graduate$44kearningsTuition and fees: $1,180 a year. The net price counts housing and food at full cost.Golden West CollegeCommunity college · Public · 6,281 on campus · 6.9 mi · Huntington Beach$5knet price49%graduate$43kearningsTuition and fees: $1,380 a year. The net price counts housing and food at full cost.Concorde Career College-Garden GroveUniversity or college · For-profit · 202 on campus · 7.7 mi · Garden Grove97%admitted$25knet price84%graduate$46kearningsIrvine Valley CollegeCommunity college · Public · 7,416 on campus · 7.8 mi · Irvine$2knet price57%graduate$49kearningsTuition and fees: $1,156 a year. The net price counts housing and food at full cost.South Coast CollegeUniversity or college · For-profit · 241 on campus · 8.7 mi · Orange$17knet price17%graduate$45kearningsChapman UniversityUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 9,961 on campus · 9.4 mi · Orange65%admitted$47knet price82%graduate$70kearningsThe Chicago School at AnaheimUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 483 on campus · 9.7 mi · Anaheim$57kearningsEarnings are reported for all 8 campuses that file with it.Graduate students only; the Scorecard reports no undergraduate figures.West Coast University-Orange CountyUniversity or college · For-profit · 2,873 on campus · 10 mi · Anaheim$33knet price60%graduate$103kearningsEarnings are reported for all 6 campuses that file with it.Platt College-AnaheimUniversity or college · For-profit · 405 on campus · 10.1 mi · Anaheim$23knet price64%graduate$41kearningsEarnings are reported for all 4 campuses that file with it.California Career InstituteUniversity or college · For-profit · 517 on campus · 10.5 mi · AnaheimLaguna College of Art and DesignUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 807 on campus · 10.8 mi · Laguna Beach94%admitted$43knet price52%graduate$48kearningsSouthern California Institute of TechnologyUniversity or college · For-profit · 536 on campus · 12.1 mi · Anaheim74%admitted$33knet price74%graduate$54kearningsSantiago Canyon CollegeCommunity college · Public · 7,854 on campus · 12.3 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-AnaheimUniversity or college · For-profit · 455 on campus · 12.3 mi · Anaheim$29knet price60%graduate$40kearningsEarnings are reported for all 4 campuses that file with it.Bethesda UniversityUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 248 on campus · 12.3 mi · Anaheim$11knet price11%graduateSoka University of AmericaUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 476 on campus · 12.8 mi · Aliso Viejo43%admitted$18knet price92%graduate$55kearningsSouth Baylo UniversityUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 234 on campus · 12.9 mi · AnaheimGraduate students only; the Scorecard reports no undergraduate figures.Cypress CollegeCommunity college · Public · 10,494 on campus · 13 mi · Cypress$5knet price37%graduate$44kearningsTuition and fees: $1,150 a year. The net price counts housing and food at full cost.American Career College-AnaheimUniversity or college · For-profit · 1,643 on campus · 13.2 mi · Anaheim$31knet price70%graduate$38kearningsEarnings are reported for all 2 campuses that file with it.California State University-Long BeachUniversity or college · Public · 38,193 on campus · 14 mi · Long Beach46%admitted$10knet price69%graduate$64kearningsGrace Mission UniversityUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 121 on campus · 14.2 mi · Fullerton100%graduateFullerton CollegeCommunity college · Public · 12,859 on campus · 14.5 mi · Fullerton$6knet price34%graduate$43kearningsTuition and fees: $1,150 a year. The net price counts housing and food at full cost.Hope International UniversityUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 656 on campus · 14.6 mi · Fullerton33%admitted$29knet price49%graduate$50kearningsCalifornia State University-FullertonUniversity or college · Public · 38,210 on campus · 15 mi · Fullerton91%admitted$7knet price70%graduate$63kearnings

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 Costa Mesa’s median household income ($111,505) falls.

Irvine Valley College7.8 mi · Irvine · sticker $13,001 · tuition $1,156$9,432a year
Cypress College13 mi · Cypress · sticker $14,290 · tuition $1,150$10,001a year
Santa Ana College6.6 mi · Santa Ana · sticker $12,375 · tuition $1,180$10,160a year
Santiago Canyon College12.3 mi · Orange · sticker $13,818 · tuition $1,164$11,014a year
Fullerton College14.5 mi · Fullerton · sticker $14,369 · tuition $1,150$11,574a year
Bethesda University12.3 mi · Anaheim · sticker $13,575$13,575a year
Orange Coast CollegeIn Costa Mesa · sticker $15,561 · tuition $1,392$13,862a year
California State University-Fullerton15 mi · Fullerton · sticker $18,269$15,631a year
South Coast College8.7 mi · Orange · sticker $18,982$18,982a year
California State University-Long Beach14 mi · Long Beach · sticker $22,679$19,750a year
Concorde Career College-Garden Grove7.7 mi · Garden Grove · sticker $29,040$26,760a year
Vanguard University of Southern CaliforniaIn Costa Mesa · sticker $52,665$27,684a year
Platt College-Anaheim10.1 mi · Anaheim · sticker $28,170$28,170a year
University of California-Irvine4.3 mi · Irvine · sticker $38,632$30,546a year
Soka University of America12.8 mi · Aliso Viejo · sticker $55,064$30,940a year
Concordia University-Irvine5.8 mi · Irvine · sticker $58,682$31,967a year
American Career College-Anaheim13.2 mi · Anaheim · sticker $35,751$33,914a year
Hope International University14.6 mi · Fullerton · sticker $51,784$34,049a year
West Coast University-Orange County10 mi · Anaheim · sticker $34,887$34,887a year
Southern California Institute of Technology12.1 mi · Anaheim · sticker $37,992$37,884a year
Westcliff University3.9 mi · Irvine · sticker $44,210$40,799a year
Laguna College of Art and Design10.8 mi · Laguna Beach · sticker $57,989$46,889a year
Stanbridge University3.3 mi · Irvine · sticker $49,714$49,714a year
Career Networks Institute5.3 mi · Santa Ana · sticker $52,552$52,552a year
Chapman University9.4 mi · Orange · sticker $83,146$55,066a year
Pacific CollegeIn Costa Mesa · sticker $30,789—a year
Coastline Community College3.6 mi · Fountain Valley · mostly online · sticker $24,290 · tuition $1,364—a year
Golden West College6.9 mi · Huntington Beach · sticker $14,618 · tuition $1,380—a year
North-West College-Anaheim12.3 mi · Anaheim · sticker $31,922—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 Costa Mesa: 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 →Orange Coast CollegeUniversity of California-IrvineSanta Ana CollegeCalifornia State University-Long BeachFullerton CollegeCalifornia State University-Fullerton
California State University-Fullerton70% graduate$63k earnings$14k typical debt
California State University-Long Beach69% graduate$64k earnings$14k typical debt
University of California-Irvine87% graduate$81k earnings$15k typical debt
Santa Ana College31% graduate$44k earnings$7k typical debt
Orange Coast College48% graduate$47k earnings$10k typical debt
Fullerton College34% graduate$43k earnings$4k 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
Irvine Valley College57% graduate$49k earnings$6k typical debt
Golden West College49% graduate$43k earnings$7k typical debt
West Coast University-Orange County60% graduate$103k earnings*$33k 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: West Coast University-Orange County (6); Platt College-Anaheim (4); North-West College-Anaheim (4); American Career College-Anaheim (2).

Majors

What students study in Costa Mesa

Share of bachelor’s and associate degrees by field across Costa Mesa’s 3 colleges, weighted by undergraduates; then the biggest programs.

Liberal arts 34%Business 11%Health professions 6%Computer science 5%Visual & performing arts 4%Family sciences 3%Everything else 35%

Biggest programs

Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and HumanitiesOrange Coast College · 400 graduates a year
$46k4 yrs out
Business Administration, Management and OperationsOrange Coast College · 320 graduates a year
$60k4 yrs out
Psychology, GeneralOrange Coast College · 190 graduates a year
$40k4 yrs out
Biological and Physical SciencesOrange Coast College · 148 graduates a year
$42k4 yrs out
Communication and Media StudiesOrange Coast College · 109 graduates a year
$54k4 yrs out
Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment ProfessionsOrange Coast College · 92 graduates a year
$92k4 yrs out
Psychology, GeneralVanguard University of Southern California · 74 graduates a year
$48k4 yrs out
Business Administration, Management and OperationsVanguard University of Southern California · 60 graduates a year
$63k4 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 Costa Mesa

Is Costa Mesa a college town?

No. About 8 of every 100 Costa Mesa residents are enrolled in college (Census, 2020–24), about the same as California (8). The largest campus in the city, Orange Coast College, has 14,830 students on campus.

What colleges are in Costa Mesa?

Orange Coast College, Vanguard University of Southern California and Pacific College are inside the city. the University of California-Irvine is 4.3 miles from the center, in Irvine, Westcliff University is 3.9 miles from the center, in Irvine, and Stanbridge University is 3.3 miles from the center, in Irvine.

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

Orange Coast College in Costa Mesa, 0.3 miles away. Tuition and fees are $1,392 a year for California residents; the federal net price, $7,203, counts housing and food at full cost.

How much does the University of California-Irvine cost if we live in California?

Tuition and fees are $15,722 a year in-state and $49,922 from out of state. After grants, families on federal aid paid an average of $8,123 (under $30,000 income) to $30,546 (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 Costa Mesa. 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 →