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Dana Point a city in southern Orange County CA Photo Don Ramey LoganPhoto: Don Ramey Logan · CC BY-SA 3.0
Colleges in and near Dana Point

Saddleback College is 5.6 miles from Dana Point

No college sits inside Dana Point’s boundary, but Saddleback College’s campus in Mission Viejo, with 9,188 students on campus, is 5.6 miles from the center of town. About 7% of Dana Point’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 Dana Point. Colleges are described, not graded.

Within 15 miles
6
55,840 students on campus
Nearest college
5.6 mi
Saddleback College
Residents in college
7%
About the same as CA (8%)
Nearest community college
5.6 mi
Saddleback College · $1,156 tuition
Nearest public university
14.7 mi
University of California-Irvine · $15,722 in-state
Median household income
$142K
prices below start here

What stands out about college from Dana Point

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

A community college 5.6 miles awaySaddleback College has 9,188 students on campus in Mission Viejo, 48% of whom graduate within three years.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 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 Dana Point

Three private colleges within 14.1 miles, one public college within 14.7 miles, and two community colleges.

5 mi10 mi15 miUniversity of California-IrvineSaddleback CollegeIrvine Valley CollegeDana Point
University or collegeCommunity college
Saddleback CollegeCommunity college · Public · 9,188 on campus · 5.6 mi · Mission Viejo$4knet price48%graduate$51kearningsTuition and fees: $1,156 a year. The net price counts housing and food at full cost.Soka University of AmericaUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 476 on campus · 6 mi · Aliso Viejo43%admitted$18knet price92%graduate$55kearningsLaguna College of Art and DesignUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 807 on campus · 7.5 mi · Laguna Beach94%admitted$43knet price52%graduate$48kearningsConcordia University-IrvineUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 1,999 on campus · 14.1 mi · Irvine66%admitted$28knet price58%graduate$65kearningsIrvine Valley CollegeCommunity college · Public · 7,416 on campus · 14.6 mi · Irvine$2knet price57%graduate$49kearningsTuition and fees: $1,156 a year. The net price counts housing and food at full cost.University of California-IrvineUniversity or college · Public · 35,954 on campus · 14.7 mi · Irvine29%admitted$14knet price87%graduate$81kearnings

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 Dana Point’s median household income ($141,520) falls.

Irvine Valley College14.6 mi · Irvine · sticker $13,001 · tuition $1,156$9,432a year
Saddleback College5.6 mi · Mission Viejo · sticker $13,939 · tuition $1,156$10,603a year
University of California-Irvine14.7 mi · Irvine · sticker $38,632$30,546a year
Soka University of America6 mi · Aliso Viejo · sticker $55,064$30,940a year
Concordia University-Irvine14.1 mi · Irvine · sticker $58,682$31,967a year
Laguna College of Art and Design7.5 mi · Laguna Beach · sticker $57,989$46,889a 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 Dana Point: across is the share who graduate, up is what they earn ten years after starting.

$0$20k$40k$60k$80k$100k0%25%50%75%100%Graduate →Saddleback CollegeLaguna College of Art and DesignConcordia University-IrvineIrvine Valley CollegeUniversity of California-Irvine
University of California-Irvine87% graduate$81k earnings$15k typical debt
Saddleback College48% graduate$51k earnings$10k typical debt
Irvine Valley College57% graduate$49k earnings$6k typical debt
Concordia University-Irvine58% graduate$65k earnings$24k typical debt
Laguna College of Art and Design52% graduate$48k earnings$27k typical debt
Soka University of America92% graduate$55k earnings$16k 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.

Questions about college near Dana Point

Is Dana Point a college town?

No. About 7 of every 100 Dana Point residents are enrolled in college (Census, 2020–24), about the same as California (8). The nearest campus, Saddleback College, is 5.6 miles away in Mission Viejo.

What colleges are near Dana Point?

Within 15 miles: Saddleback College (5.6 miles, 9,188 students on campus), Soka University of America (6 miles, 476), Laguna College of Art and Design (7.5 miles, 807), Concordia University-Irvine (14.1 miles, 1,999), Irvine Valley College (14.6 miles, 7,416) and the University of California-Irvine (14.7 miles, 35,954).

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

Saddleback College in Mission Viejo, 5.6 miles away. Tuition and fees are $1,156 a year for California residents; the federal net price, $4,152, 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 Dana Point. 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 →