Guest, Sign inJoin

Post to Fair Oaks

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
Fair Oaks Bridge, Old,Fair Oaks Bridge, Old, · Photo: LPS.1 · CC BY-SA 3.0
Colleges in and near Fair Oaks

Chamberlain University-California is 4 miles from Fair Oaks

No college sits inside Fair Oaks’ boundary, but Chamberlain University-California’s campus in Rancho Cordova, with 654 students on campus, is 4 miles from the center of town, and American River College is 5.3 miles away in Sacramento. About 6% of Fair Oaks’ 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 Fair Oaks. Colleges are described, not graded.

Within 15 miles
13
74,315 students on campus
Nearest college
4 mi
Chamberlain University-California
Residents in college
6%
Below CA (8%)
Nearest community college
5.3 mi
American River College · $1,288 tuition
Nearest public university
11.2 mi
California State University-Sacramento · $8,018 in-state
Median household income
$117K
prices below start here

What stands out about college from Fair Oaks

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

A university 4 miles awayChamberlain University-California has 654 students on campus in Rancho Cordova.A community college 5.3 miles awayAmerican River College in Sacramento: tuition and fees $1,288 a year for California residents.In-state price at California State University-SacramentoLiving in California, California State University-Sacramento charges $8,018 in tuition and fees; from out of state, $20,618. State residency rules decide which a new arrival pays.Students are 6% of residentsBelow California (8%). The Census counts anyone enrolled, including part-time and online students.
Every college

Colleges within 15 miles of Fair Oaks

Eight private colleges within 15 miles, one public college within 11.2 miles, and four community colleges.

5 mi10 mi15 miCalifornia State University-SacramentoAmerican River CollegeSierra CollegeFair Oaks
University or collegeCommunity college
Chamberlain University-CaliforniaUniversity or college · For-profit · 654 on campus · 4 mi · Rancho Cordova80%admitted$37knet price$92kearningsEarnings are reported for all 15 campuses that file with it.San Joaquin Valley College-Rancho CordovaUniversity or college · For-profit · 226 on campus · 4.1 mi · Rancho Cordova$30knet price76%graduate$38kearningsEarnings are reported for all 14 campuses that file with it.MTI CollegeUniversity or college · For-profit · 571 on campus · 5 mi · Sacramento63%admitted$22knet price77%graduate$45kearningsAmerican River CollegeCommunity college · Public · 16,940 on campus · 5.3 mi · Sacramento$8knet price37%graduate$40kearningsTuition and fees: $1,288 a year. The net price counts housing and food at full cost.Folsom Lake CollegeCommunity college · Public · 4,187 on campus · 6.7 mi · Folsom · mostly online$6knet price44%graduate$43kearnings59% of its students study only online; price, graduation and earnings count them too.Tuition and fees: $1,288 a year. The net price counts housing and food at full cost.Carrington College-SacramentoUniversity or college · For-profit · 991 on campus · 9.2 mi · Sacramento · mostly online$41knet price51%graduate$40kearnings57% of its students study only online; price, graduation and earnings count them too.Earnings are reported for all 5 campuses that file with it.Sierra CollegeCommunity college · Public · 10,681 on campus · 9.9 mi · Rocklin$7knet price42%graduate$45kearningsTuition and fees: $1,446 a year. The net price counts housing and food at full cost.Asher CollegeUniversity or college · For-profit · 589 on campus · 9.9 mi · Sacramento$35knet price56%graduate$45kearningsSacramento Ultrasound InstituteUniversity or college · For-profit · 104 on campus · 10.1 mi · Sacramento71%admitted$29knet price98%graduateCalifornia State University-SacramentoUniversity or college · Public · 29,083 on campus · 11.2 mi · Sacramento94%admitted$9knet price56%graduate$65kearningsWilliam Jessup UniversityUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 1,181 on campus · 11.9 mi · Rocklin93%admitted$28knet price56%graduate$56kearningsSacramento City CollegeCommunity college · Public · 8,001 on campus · 15 mi · Sacramento · mostly online$7knet price33%graduate$42kearnings58% of its students study only online; price, graduation and earnings count them too.Tuition and fees: $1,288 a year. The net price counts housing and food at full cost.Universal Technical Institute of Northern California IncUniversity or college · For-profit · 1,107 on campus · 15 mi · Sacramento$29knet price64%graduate$48kearningsEarnings are reported for all 3 campuses that file with it.

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 Fair Oaks’ median household income ($116,975) falls.

Sacramento City College15 mi · Sacramento · mostly online · sticker $15,767 · tuition $1,288$9,906a year
Folsom Lake College6.7 mi · Folsom · mostly online · sticker $13,901 · tuition $1,288$10,400a year
Sierra College9.9 mi · Rocklin · sticker $17,002 · tuition $1,446$13,386a year
American River College5.3 mi · Sacramento · sticker $16,384 · tuition $1,288$13,845a year
California State University-Sacramento11.2 mi · Sacramento · sticker $22,945$18,861a year
San Joaquin Valley College-Rancho Cordova4.1 mi · Rancho Cordova · sticker $33,088$33,088a year
Universal Technical Institute of Northern California Inc15 mi · Sacramento · sticker $34,337$34,206a year
William Jessup University11.9 mi · Rocklin · sticker $53,703$34,753a year
Chamberlain University-California4 mi · Rancho Cordova · sticker $37,232$37,232a year
Carrington College-Sacramento9.2 mi · Sacramento · mostly online · sticker $45,593$45,593a year
MTI College5 mi · Sacramento · sticker $25,251—a year
Asher College9.9 mi · Sacramento · sticker $35,499—a year
Sacramento Ultrasound Institute10.1 mi · Sacramento · sticker $41,256—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 Fair Oaks: 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 →American River CollegeSierra CollegeCalifornia State University-SacramentoWilliam Jessup UniversitySacramento City College
California State University-Sacramento56% graduate$65k earnings$15k typical debt
American River College37% graduate$40k earnings$10k typical debt
Sierra College42% graduate$45k earnings$10k typical debt
Sacramento City College33% graduate$42k earnings$10k typical debt
Folsom Lake College44% graduate$43k earnings
William Jessup University56% graduate$56k earnings$24k typical debt
Universal Technical Institute of Northern California Inc64% graduate$48k earnings*$13k typical debt
Carrington College-Sacramento51% graduate$40k earnings*$12k typical debt
Asher College56% graduate$45k earnings$14k typical debt
MTI College77% graduate$45k earnings$9k typical debt
San Joaquin Valley College-Rancho Cordova76% graduate$38k earnings*$11k 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: San Joaquin Valley College-Rancho Cordova (14); Carrington College-Sacramento (5); Universal Technical Institute of Northern California Inc (3).

Questions about college near Fair Oaks

Is Fair Oaks a college town?

No. About 6 of every 100 Fair Oaks residents are enrolled in college (Census, 2020–24), below California (8). The nearest campus, Chamberlain University-California, is 4 miles away in Rancho Cordova.

What colleges are near Fair Oaks?

13 colleges are within 15 miles. The largest: California State University-Sacramento (11.2 miles, 29,083 students on campus), American River College (5.3 miles, 16,940) and Sierra College (9.9 miles, 10,681).

What is the closest community college to Fair Oaks, and what does it cost?

American River College in Sacramento, 5.3 miles away. Tuition and fees are $1,288 a year for California residents; the federal net price, $7,999, counts housing and food at full cost.

How much does California State University-Sacramento cost if we live in California?

Tuition and fees are $8,018 a year in-state and $20,618 from out of state. After grants, families on federal aid paid an average of $6,501 (under $30,000 income) to $18,861 (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 Fair Oaks. 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 →