California State University-San Marcos is 4.4 miles from Del Dios
No college sits inside Del Dios’ boundary, but California State University-San Marcos’s campus in San Marcos, with 14,549 students on campus, is 4.4 miles from the center of town, and Palomar College is 6.3 miles away in San Marcos. About 2% of Del Dios’ residents are enrolled in college, below 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 Del Dios. Colleges are described, not graded.
What stands out about college from Del Dios
Facts about the town and its distance to campus; each college’s own figures follow.
Colleges within 15 miles of Del Dios
Six private colleges within 13.7 miles, one public college within 4.4 miles, and three 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 Under $30k; the Census has no median household income for Del Dios.
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 Del Dios: 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. *Reported for all the campuses that file together: Pima Medical Institute-San Marcos (13).
Questions about college near Del Dios
Is Del Dios a college town?
No. About 2 of every 100 Del Dios residents are enrolled in college (Census, 2020–24), below California (8). The nearest campus, John Paul the Great Catholic University, is 3.8 miles away in Escondido.
What colleges are near Del Dios?
10 colleges are within 15 miles. The largest: California State University-San Marcos (4.4 miles, 14,549 students on campus), Palomar College (6.3 miles, 13,825) and San Diego Miramar College (11.5 miles, 8,368).
What is the closest community college to Del Dios, and what does it cost?
Palomar College in San Marcos, 6.3 miles away. Tuition and fees are $1,354 a year for California residents; the federal net price, $5,763, counts housing and food at full cost.
How much does California State University-San Marcos cost if we live in California?
Tuition and fees are $8,082 a year in-state and $20,682 from out of state. After grants, families on federal aid paid an average of $6,230 (under $30,000 income) to $18,734 (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 Del Dios. 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 →