Photo: Calbear22 at English Wikipedia · Public domainCentral Coast College is 8.1 miles from Elkhorn
No college sits inside Elkhorn’s boundary, but Central Coast College’s campus in Salinas, with 565 students on campus, is 8.1 miles from the center of town, and Hartnell College is 9.8 miles away in Salinas. About 6% of Elkhorn’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 Elkhorn. Colleges are described, not graded.
What stands out about college from Elkhorn
Facts about the town and its distance to campus; each college’s own figures follow.
Colleges within 15 miles of Elkhorn
One private college within 8.1 miles, one public college within 11.7 miles, and two 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 Over $110k, where Elkhorn’s median household income ($126,964) falls.
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 Elkhorn: 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.
Questions about college near Elkhorn
Is Elkhorn a college town?
No. About 6 of every 100 Elkhorn residents are enrolled in college (Census, 2020–24), about the same as California (8). The nearest campus, Central Coast College, is 8.1 miles away in Salinas.
What colleges are near Elkhorn?
Within 15 miles: Central Coast College (8.1 miles, 565 students on campus), Hartnell College (9.8 miles, 6,904), California State University-Monterey Bay (11.7 miles, 6,204) and Gavilan College (13.9 miles, 3,730).
What is the closest community college to Elkhorn, and what does it cost?
Hartnell College in Salinas, 9.8 miles away. Tuition and fees are $1,404 a year for California residents; the federal net price, $2,039, counts housing and food at full cost.
How much does California State University-Monterey Bay cost if we live in California?
Tuition and fees are $7,779 a year in-state and $20,379 from out of state. After grants, families on federal aid paid an average of $9,970 (under $30,000 income) to $22,818 (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 Elkhorn. 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 →