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Colleges in and near East Palo Alto

Stanford University is 3.3 miles from East Palo Alto

No college sits inside East Palo Alto’s boundary, but Stanford University’s campus in Stanford, with 18,233 students on campus, is 3.3 miles from the center of town, and Foothill College is 7.3 miles away in Los Altos Hills. About 8% of East Palo Alto’s residents are enrolled in college, about the same as California (8%).

Stanford University

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 East Palo Alto. Colleges are described, not graded.

Within 15 miles
22
95,254 students on campus
Nearest college
2.9 mi
Sofia University
Residents in college
8%
About the same as CA (8%)
Nearest community college
7.3 mi
Foothill College · $1,565 tuition
Nearest public university
7.3 mi
Foothill College · $1,565 in-state
Median household income
$113K
prices below start here

What stands out about college from East Palo Alto

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

A university 3.3 miles awayStanford University has 18,233 students on campus in Stanford, 92% of whom graduate within six years.A community college 7.3 miles awayFoothill College in Los Altos Hills: tuition and fees $1,565 a year for California residents.In-state price at Foothill CollegeLiving in California, Foothill College charges $1,565 in tuition and fees; from out of state, $12,590. 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 East Palo Alto

14 private colleges within 14 miles, one public college within 13.8 miles, and seven community colleges.

5 mi10 mi15 miStanford UniversityDe Anza CollegeEast Palo Alto
University or collegeCommunity college
Sofia UniversityUniversity or college · For-profit · 995 on campus · 2.9 mi · Palo AltoStanford UniversityUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 18,233 on campus · 3.3 mi · Stanford4%admitted$14knet price92%graduate$124kearningsMenlo CollegeUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 840 on campus · 3.3 mi · Atherton68%admitted$31knet price54%graduate$76kearningsAlder Graduate School of EducationUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 453 on campus · 6 mi · Redwood CityGraduate students only; the Scorecard reports no undergraduate figures.Palo Alto UniversityUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 664 on campus · 6.6 mi · Palo Alto$83kearningsFoothill CollegeCommunity college · Public · 7,500 on campus · 7.3 mi · Los Altos Hills$8knet price56%graduate$57kearningsTuition and fees: $1,565 a year. The net price counts housing and food at full cost.Canada CollegeCommunity college · Public · 5,636 on campus · 7.4 mi · Redwood City$0knet price47%graduate$50kearningsTuition and fees: $1,332 a year. The net price counts housing and food at full cost.Notre Dame de Namur UniversityUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 205 on campus · 9 mi · Belmont7%graduate$75kearningsUniversity of East-West MedicineUniversity or college · For-profit · 110 on campus · 9.3 mi · SunnyvaleGraduate students only; the Scorecard reports no undergraduate figures.Mission CollegeCommunity college · Public · 4,407 on campus · 9.8 mi · Santa Clara$5knet price39%graduate$51kearningsTuition and fees: $1,438 a year. The net price counts housing and food at full cost.Unitek CollegeUniversity or college · For-profit · 4,254 on campus · 9.8 mi · Fremont$25knet price73%graduate$80kearningsInstitute for Business and TechnologyUniversity or college · For-profit · 609 on campus · 11.1 mi · San Jose$27knet price84%graduate$38kearningsEarnings are reported for all 3 campuses that file with it.University of Silicon ValleyUniversity or college · For-profit · 249 on campus · 11.2 mi · San Jose51%admitted$28knet price29%graduate$51kearningsDe Anza CollegeCommunity college · Public · 10,013 on campus · 11.3 mi · Cupertino$7knet price68%graduate$57kearningsTuition and fees: $1,571 a year. The net price counts housing and food at full cost.San Francisco Bay UniversityUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 328 on campus · 11.3 mi · Fremont96%admittedLife Chiropractic College WestUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 613 on campus · 11.8 mi · HaywardGraduate students only; the Scorecard reports no undergraduate figures.College of San MateoCommunity college · Public · 6,728 on campus · 12 mi · San Mateo$1knet price61%graduate$54kearningsTuition and fees: $1,332 a year. The net price counts housing and food at full cost.Chabot CollegeCommunity college · Public · 7,625 on campus · 12.2 mi · Hayward$9knet price47%graduate$48kearningsTuition and fees: $1,150 a year. The net price counts housing and food at full cost.Ohlone CollegeCommunity college · Public · 5,514 on campus · 12.8 mi · Fremont$11knet price52%graduate$54kearningsTuition and fees: $1,202 a year. The net price counts housing and food at full cost.Santa Clara UniversityUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 8,955 on campus · 13.5 mi · Santa Clara48%admitted$50knet price88%graduate$109kearningsCalifornia State University-East BayUniversity or college · Public · 8,951 on campus · 13.8 mi · Hayward97%admitted$9knet price48%graduate$71kearningsGurnick Academy of Medical ArtsUniversity or college · For-profit · 2,372 on campus · 14 mi · San Jose$32knet price64%graduate$67kearnings

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 East Palo Alto’s median household income ($113,493) falls.

Chabot College12.2 mi · Hayward · sticker $17,456 · tuition $1,150$6,370a year
De Anza College11.3 mi · Cupertino · sticker $14,975 · tuition $1,571$11,825a year
Foothill College7.3 mi · Los Altos Hills · sticker $16,361 · tuition $1,565$14,237a year
California State University-East Bay13.8 mi · Hayward · sticker $22,850$19,397a year
Ohlone College12.8 mi · Fremont · sticker $21,254 · tuition $1,202$20,133a year
Unitek College9.8 mi · Fremont · sticker $27,775$27,775a year
Institute for Business and Technology11.1 mi · San Jose · sticker $30,501$30,072a year
University of Silicon Valley11.2 mi · San Jose · sticker $35,722$34,379a year
Gurnick Academy of Medical Arts14 mi · San Jose · sticker $36,834$36,618a year
Menlo College3.3 mi · Atherton · sticker $72,020$37,298a year
Stanford University3.3 mi · Stanford · sticker $87,833$53,882a year
Santa Clara University13.5 mi · Santa Clara · sticker $82,026$60,678a year
Canada College7.4 mi · Redwood City · sticker $9,087 · tuition $1,332—a year
Mission College9.8 mi · Santa Clara · sticker $13,744 · tuition $1,438—a year
College of San Mateo12 mi · San Mateo · sticker $10,837 · tuition $1,332—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 East Palo Alto: across is the share who graduate, up is what they earn ten years after starting.

$0$20k$40k$60k$80k$100k$120k$140k0%25%50%75%100%Graduate →Stanford UniversityFoothill CollegeDe Anza CollegeChabot CollegeSanta Clara UniversityCalifornia State University-East Bay
Stanford University92% graduate$124k earnings$12k typical debt
De Anza College68% graduate$57k earnings$6k typical debt
Santa Clara University88% graduate$109k earnings$19k typical debt
California State University-East Bay48% graduate$71k earnings$17k typical debt
Chabot College47% graduate$48k earnings$10k typical debt
Foothill College56% graduate$57k earnings$10k typical debt
College of San Mateo61% graduate$54k earnings$15k typical debt
Canada College47% graduate$50k earnings
Ohlone College52% graduate$54k earnings
Mission College39% graduate$51k earnings
Unitek College73% graduate$80k earnings$11k typical debt
Gurnick Academy of Medical Arts64% graduate$67k earnings$17k 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: Institute for Business and Technology (3).

Questions about college near East Palo Alto

Is East Palo Alto a college town?

No. About 8 of every 100 East Palo Alto residents are enrolled in college (Census, 2020–24), about the same as California (8). The nearest campus, Sofia University, is 2.9 miles away in Palo Alto.

What colleges are near East Palo Alto?

22 colleges are within 15 miles. The largest: Stanford University (3.3 miles, 18,233 students on campus), De Anza College (11.3 miles, 10,013) and Santa Clara University (13.5 miles, 8,955).

What is the closest community college to East Palo Alto, and what does it cost?

Foothill College in Los Altos Hills, 7.3 miles away. Tuition and fees are $1,565 a year for California residents; the federal net price, $7,653, counts housing and food at full cost.

How much does Foothill College cost if we live in California?

Tuition and fees are $1,565 a year in-state and $12,590 from out of state. After grants, families on federal aid paid an average of $6,571 (under $30,000 income) to $14,237 (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 East Palo Alto. 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 →