Guest, Sign inJoin

Post to El Cerrito

We’ll email a one-tap link to publish your post. No password, and nothing is public until you click it.
Already a member? Sign in
Colleges in and near El Cerrito

American College of Healthcare and Technology is 4.7 miles from El Cerrito

No college sits inside El Cerrito’s boundary, but American College of Healthcare and Technology’s campus in Riverside, with 321 students on campus, is 4.7 miles from the center of town, and Norco College is 6.1 miles away in Norco. About 7% of El Cerrito’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 El Cerrito. Colleges are described, not graded.

Within 15 miles
9
65,158 students on campus
Nearest college
4.7 mi
American College of Healthcare and Technology
Residents in college
7%
About the same as CA (8%)
Nearest community college
6.1 mi
Norco College · $1,428 tuition
Nearest public university
14.5 mi
University of California-Riverside · $15,606 in-state
Median household income
$109K
prices below start here

What stands out about college from El Cerrito

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

A college 4.7 miles awayAmerican College of Healthcare and Technology has 321 students on campus in Riverside, 65% of whom graduate within three years.A community college 6.1 miles awayNorco College in Norco: tuition and fees $1,428 a year for California residents.In-state price at University of California-RiversideLiving in California, the University of California-Riverside charges $15,606 in tuition and fees; from out of state, $49,806. 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 El Cerrito

Five private colleges within 14.4 miles, one public college within 14.5 miles, and three community colleges.

5 mi10 mi15 miUniversity of California-RiversideRiverside City CollegeCalifornia Baptist UniversityEl Cerrito
University or collegeCommunity college
American College of Healthcare and TechnologyUniversity or college · For-profit · 321 on campus · 4.7 mi · Riverside$20knet price65%graduate$31kearningsEarnings are reported for all 3 campuses that file with it.La Sierra UniversityUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 1,611 on campus · 5.2 mi · Riverside92%admitted$46knet price60%graduate$62kearningsNorth-West College-RiversideUniversity or college · For-profit · 680 on campus · 5.7 mi · Riverside$33knet price72%graduate$40kearningsEarnings are reported for all 4 campuses that file with it.Norco CollegeCommunity college · Public · 5,967 on campus · 6.1 mi · Norco$5knet price42%graduate$51kearningsTuition and fees: $1,428 a year. The net price counts housing and food at full cost.California Baptist UniversityUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 8,683 on campus · 8.4 mi · Riverside85%admitted$26knet price62%graduate$62kearningsRiverside City CollegeCommunity college · Public · 13,488 on campus · 12.1 mi · Riverside$8knet price37%graduate$41kearningsTuition and fees: $1,428 a year. The net price counts housing and food at full cost.Santiago Canyon CollegeCommunity college · Public · 7,854 on campus · 14.3 mi · Orange$2knet price48%graduate$45kearningsTuition and fees: $1,164 a year. The net price counts housing and food at full cost.Platt College-RiversideUniversity or college · For-profit · 416 on campus · 14.4 mi · Riverside$22knet price57%graduate$41kearningsEarnings are reported for all 4 campuses that file with it.University of California-RiversideUniversity or college · Public · 26,138 on campus · 14.5 mi · Riverside76%admitted$14knet price76%graduate$68kearnings

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 $75–110k, where El Cerrito’s median household income ($108,882) falls.

Santiago Canyon College14.3 mi · Orange · sticker $13,818 · tuition $1,164$9,373a year
Norco College6.1 mi · Norco · sticker $14,075 · tuition $1,428$9,984a year
Riverside City College12.1 mi · Riverside · sticker $16,911 · tuition $1,428$12,755a year
University of California-Riverside14.5 mi · Riverside · sticker $38,942$16,571a year
Platt College-Riverside14.4 mi · Riverside · sticker $28,676$19,332a year
American College of Healthcare and Technology4.7 mi · Riverside · sticker $25,460$22,829a year
California Baptist University8.4 mi · Riverside · sticker $54,038$26,179a year
North-West College-Riverside5.7 mi · Riverside · sticker $36,572$35,126a year
La Sierra University5.2 mi · Riverside · sticker $51,459$47,266a 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 El Cerrito: across is the share who graduate, up is what they earn ten years after starting.

$0$20k$40k$60k$80k0%25%50%75%100%Graduate →La Sierra UniversityNorco CollegeCalifornia Baptist UniversityRiverside City CollegeSantiago Canyon CollegeUniversity of California-Riverside
University of California-Riverside76% graduate$68k earnings$18k typical debt
Riverside City College37% graduate$41k earnings$8k typical debt
California Baptist University62% graduate$62k earnings$26k typical debt
Santiago Canyon College48% graduate$45k earnings$5k typical debt
Norco College42% graduate$51k earnings
La Sierra University60% graduate$62k earnings$27k typical debt
North-West College-Riverside72% graduate$40k earnings*$10k typical debt
Platt College-Riverside57% graduate$41k earnings*$19k typical debt
American College of Healthcare and Technology65% graduate$31k earnings*$10k 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: American College of Healthcare and Technology (3); North-West College-Riverside (4); Platt College-Riverside (4).

Questions about college near El Cerrito

Is El Cerrito a college town?

No. About 7 of every 100 El Cerrito residents are enrolled in college (Census, 2020–24), about the same as California (8). The nearest campus, American College of Healthcare and Technology, is 4.7 miles away in Riverside.

What colleges are near El Cerrito?

9 colleges are within 15 miles. The largest: the University of California-Riverside (14.5 miles, 26,138 students on campus), Riverside City College (12.1 miles, 13,488) and California Baptist University (8.4 miles, 8,683).

What is the closest community college to El Cerrito, and what does it cost?

Norco College in Norco, 6.1 miles away. Tuition and fees are $1,428 a year for California residents; the federal net price, $5,169, counts housing and food at full cost.

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

Tuition and fees are $15,606 a year in-state and $49,806 from out of state. After grants, families on federal aid paid an average of $8,852 (under $30,000 income) to $30,393 (over $110,000), housing and food included.

Neighbors talk college

Students, parents, alumni and the neighbors next door.

Town Square →
Start the conversation

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 El Cerrito. 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 →