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Fresno Skyline (2)Photo: Etherealsmoke · CC BY-SA 4.0
Colleges in and near Fresno

Fresno is home to six colleges, with about 48,000 students on campus

California State University-Fresno (23,033 students on campus) and Fresno City College (17,356) are inside the city. About 8% of Fresno’s residents are enrolled in college, about the same as California (8%).

Fresno City CollegeCalifornia State University-FresnoFresno Pacific 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 Fresno. Colleges are described, not graded.

Within 15 miles
10
52,814 students on campus
Nearest college
1 mi
Fresno City College
Residents in college
8%
About the same as CA (8%)
Nearest community college
1 mi
Fresno City College · $1,334 tuition
Nearest public university
1 mi
Fresno City College · $1,334 in-state
Median household income
$71K
prices below start here

What stands out about college in Fresno

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

Three colleges within 5.1 milesCalifornia State University-Fresno admits 95% of applicants; Fresno Pacific University admits 64%. Together they have 42,736 students on campus.A community college 1 mile awayFresno City College in Fresno: tuition and fees $1,334 a year for California residents.In-state price at Fresno City CollegeLiving in California, Fresno City College charges $1,334 in tuition and fees; from out of state, $10,154. 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 Fresno

Six private colleges within 6.2 miles, one public college within 3.5 miles, and three community colleges.

5 mi10 mi15 miCalifornia State University-FresnoFresno City CollegeClovisFresno
University or collegeCommunity college
Fresno City CollegeCommunity college · Public · 17,356 on campus · In Fresno$8knet price24%graduate$37kearningsTuition and fees: $1,334 a year. The net price counts housing and food at full cost.San Joaquin Valley College-FresnoUniversity or college · For-profit · 481 on campus · In FresnoCalifornia State University-FresnoUniversity or college · Public · 23,033 on campus · In Fresno95%admitted$7knet price57%graduate$61kearningsSan Joaquin Valley College-Trades Education CenterUniversity or college · For-profit · 292 on campus · In Fresno$28knet price80%graduate$38kearningsEarnings are reported for all 14 campuses that file with it.Fresno Pacific UniversityUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 2,347 on campus · In Fresno64%admitted$14knet price50%graduate$59kearningsInstitute of TechnologyUniversity or college · For-profit · 1,376 on campus · 5.5 mi · Clovis$23knet price73%graduate$35kearningsCalifornia Health Sciences UniversityUniversity or college · For-profit · 527 on campus · 6.2 mi · ClovisGraduate students only; the Scorecard reports no undergraduate figures.San Joaquin College of LawUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 109 on campus · 6.2 mi · ClovisGraduate students only; the Scorecard reports no undergraduate figures.Clovis Community CollegeCommunity college · Public · 4,325 on campus · In Fresno · mostly online$5knet price45%graduate52% of its students study only online; price, graduation and earnings count them too.Tuition and fees: $1,378 a year. The net price counts housing and food at full cost.Madera Community CollegeCommunity college · Public · 2,968 on campus · 14.9 mi · Madera$4knet price35%graduateTuition and fees: $1,378 a year. The net price counts housing and food at full cost.

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 $48–75k, where Fresno’s median household income ($70,991) falls.

Madera Community College14.9 mi · Madera · sticker $15,639 · tuition $1,378$4,991a year
California State University-FresnoIn Fresno · sticker $20,095$7,196a year
Clovis Community CollegeIn Fresno · mostly online · sticker $14,897 · tuition $1,378$7,210a year
Fresno City CollegeIn Fresno · sticker $17,198 · tuition $1,334$10,285a year
Fresno Pacific UniversityIn Fresno · sticker $44,249$10,799a year
Institute of Technology5.5 mi · Clovis · sticker $29,228$21,729a year
San Joaquin Valley College-Trades Education CenterIn Fresno · sticker $32,406$27,785a 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 Fresno: 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 →Fresno City CollegeCalifornia State University-FresnoFresno Pacific UniversityInstitute of Technology
California State University-Fresno57% graduate$61k earnings$15k typical debt
Fresno City College24% graduate$37k earnings$4k typical debt
Fresno Pacific University50% graduate$59k earnings$23k typical debt
Institute of Technology73% graduate$35k earnings$10k typical debt
San Joaquin Valley College-Trades Education Center80% 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-Trades Education Center (14).

Majors

What students study in Fresno

Share of bachelor’s and associate degrees by field across Fresno’s 4 colleges, weighted by undergraduates; then the biggest programs.

Liberal arts 17%Health professions 13%Business 11%Psychology 6%Social sciences 6%Agriculture 3%Everything else 45%

Biggest programs

Business Administration, Management and OperationsCalifornia State University-Fresno · 598 graduates a year
$64k4 yrs out
Psychology, GeneralCalifornia State University-Fresno · 553 graduates a year
$52k4 yrs out
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and HumanitiesCalifornia State University-Fresno · 529 graduates a year
$58k4 yrs out
CriminologyCalifornia State University-Fresno · 352 graduates a year
$49k4 yrs out
Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/FitnessCalifornia State University-Fresno · 304 graduates a year
$55k4 yrs out
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical NursingFresno City College · 216 graduates a year
$107k4 yrs out
Business Administration, Management and OperationsFresno City College · 212 graduates a year
$48k4 yrs out
Psychology, GeneralFresno City College · 185 graduates a year
$38k4 yrs out

College Scorecard: degree shares (PCIP; each college’s six largest fields are kept, the rest count as everything else) and the field-of-study file, median earnings 4 years after graduating. Left out: Clovis Community College, where most students study only online.

Questions about college in Fresno

Is Fresno a college town?

No. About 8 of every 100 Fresno residents are enrolled in college (Census, 2020–24), about the same as California (8). The largest campus in the city, California State University-Fresno, has 23,033 students on campus.

What colleges are in Fresno?

California State University-Fresno, Fresno City College, Clovis Community College, Fresno Pacific University and 2 more are inside the city.

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

Fresno City College in Fresno, 1 mile away. Tuition and fees are $1,334 a year for California residents; the federal net price, $8,069, counts housing and food at full cost.

How much does Fresno City College cost if we live in California?

Tuition and fees are $1,334 a year in-state and $10,154 from out of state. After grants, families on federal aid paid an average of $7,450 (under $30,000 income) to $13,965 (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 Fresno. 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 →