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Post office Gardena Boulevard California 1939 New Deal Treasury Art Deco Section of Fine Arts 08Photo: Jengod · CC BY-SA 4.0
Colleges in and near Gardena

El Camino Community College District is 1.4 miles from Gardena

No college sits inside Gardena’s boundary, but El Camino Community College District’s campus in Torrance, with 15,562 students on campus, is 1.4 miles from the center of town. About 8% of Gardena’s residents are enrolled in college, about the same as California (8%).

UEI College-GardenaEl Camino Community College DistrictCalifornia State University-Dominguez Hills

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 Gardena. Colleges are described, not graded.

Within 15 miles
49
299,282 students on campus
Nearest college
1.2 mi
UEI College-Gardena
Residents in college
8%
About the same as CA (8%)
Nearest community college
1.4 mi
El Camino Community College District · $1,144 tuition
Nearest public university
3.6 mi
California State University-Dominguez Hills · $7,449 in-state
Median household income
$85K
prices below start here

What stands out about college from Gardena

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

Three colleges within 3.6 milesCalifornia State University-Dominguez Hills admits 93% of applicants. Together they have 29,844 students on campus.A community college 1.4 miles awayEl Camino Community College District in Torrance: tuition and fees $1,144 a year for California residents.In-state price at California State University-Dominguez HillsLiving in California, California State University-Dominguez Hills charges $7,449 in tuition and fees; from out of state, $20,049. 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 Gardena

33 private colleges within 14.7 miles, four public colleges within 14.5 miles, and 14 community colleges.

5 mi10 mi15 miUniversity of California-Los AngelesUniversity of Southern CaliforniaCalifornia State University-Long BeachGardena
University or collegeCommunity college
UEI College-GardenaUniversity or college · For-profit · 1,115 on campus · 1.2 mi · Gardena$29knet price60%graduate$31kearningsEarnings are reported for all 5 campuses that file with it.El Camino Community College DistrictCommunity college · Public · 15,562 on campus · 1.4 mi · Torrance$6knet price42%graduate$42kearningsTuition and fees: $1,144 a year. The net price counts housing and food at full cost.Los Angeles Southwest CollegeCommunity college · Public · 1,754 on campus · 2.4 mi · Los Angeles · mostly online$6knet price34%graduate$32kearnings67% of its students study only online; price, graduation and earnings count them too.Tuition and fees: $1,238 a year. The net price counts housing and food at full cost.California State University-Dominguez HillsUniversity or college · Public · 13,167 on campus · 3.6 mi · Carson93%admitted$9knet price43%graduate$57kearningsCharles R Drew University of Medicine and ScienceUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 763 on campus · 4.3 mi · Los Angeles39%admitted$36knet price30%graduate$83kearningsUniversity of West Los AngelesUniversity or college · For-profit · 256 on campus · 5.1 mi · InglewoodCompton CollegeCommunity college · Public · 3,330 on campus · 5.7 mi · Compton$13knet price27%graduate$34kearningsTuition and fees: $1,142 a year. The net price counts housing and food at full cost.Spartan College of Aeronautics & TechnologyUniversity or college · For-profit · 319 on campus · 5.9 mi · Inglewood$33knet price64%graduate$62kearningsEarnings are reported for all 2 campuses that file with it.Homestead SchoolsUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 178 on campus · 6.4 mi · Torrance$16knet price93%graduate$59kearningsEarnings are reported for all 2 campuses that file with it.Los Angeles Harbor CollegeCommunity college · Public · 3,447 on campus · 7.6 mi · Wilmington · mostly online$13knet price36%graduate$41kearnings61% of its students study only online; price, graduation and earnings count them too.Tuition and fees: $1,238 a year. The net price counts housing and food at full cost.Otis College of Art and DesignUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 1,284 on campus · 7.6 mi · Los Angeles82%admitted$51knet price66%graduate$58kearningsAntioch University-Los AngelesUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 888 on campus · 7.9 mi · Culver City$52kearningsEarnings are reported for all 5 campuses that file with it.Loyola Marymount UniversityUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 9,533 on campus · 8.1 mi · Los Angeles45%admitted$48knet price79%graduate$78kearningsUniversity of Southern CaliforniaUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 41,282 on campus · 8.9 mi · Los Angeles10%admitted$33knet price92%graduate$92kearningsWest Los Angeles CollegeCommunity college · Public · 2,805 on campus · 8.9 mi · Culver City · mostly online$10knet price28%graduate$39kearnings70% of its students study only online; price, graduation and earnings count them too.Tuition and fees: $1,238 a year. The net price counts housing and food at full cost.Healthcare Career CollegeUniversity or college · For-profit · 381 on campus · 9.1 mi · Paramount$14knet price71%graduate$33kearningsLos Angeles Trade Technical CollegeCommunity college · Public · 8,945 on campus · 9.7 mi · Los Angeles$12knet price35%graduate$35kearningsTuition and fees: $1,238 a year. The net price counts housing and food at full cost.National Polytechnic CollegeUniversity or college · For-profit · 299 on campus · 9.7 mi · Lakewood$31knet price47%graduate$31kearningsAmerican University of Health SciencesUniversity or college · For-profit · 523 on campus · 10.3 mi · Signal Hill50%admitted50%graduate$94kearningsYo San University of Traditional Chinese MedicineUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 124 on campus · 10.3 mi · Los AngelesGraduate students only; the Scorecard reports no undergraduate figures.Universal Technical Institute-Southern CaliforniaUniversity or college · For-profit · 1,447 on campus · 10.4 mi · Long Beach$28knet price63%graduate$53kearningsEarnings are reported for all 6 campuses that file with it.California College of ASUUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 136 on campus · 10.4 mi · Los AngelesLong Beach City CollegeCommunity college · Public · 17,484 on campus · 10.7 mi · Long Beach$6knet price30%graduate$39kearningsTuition and fees: $1,556 a year. The net price counts housing and food at full cost.FIDM-Fashion Institute of Design & MerchandisingUniversity or college · For-profit · 1,348 on campus · 10.7 mi · Los AngelesThe Chicago School at Los AngelesUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 616 on campus · 11.1 mi · Los Angeles · mostly online46%admitted0%graduate$57kearnings82% of its students study only online; price, graduation and earnings count them too.Earnings are reported for all 8 campuses that file with it.North-West College-Long BeachUniversity or college · For-profit · 576 on campus · 11.1 mi · Long Beach$34knet price58%graduate$40kearningsEarnings are reported for all 4 campuses that file with it.Southern California Institute of ArchitectureUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 457 on campus · 11.2 mi · Los Angeles77%admitted$44knet price71%graduate$72kearningsSmith Chason CollegeUniversity or college · For-profit · 2,221 on campus · 11.5 mi · Los Angeles$34knet price72%graduate$58kearningsAngeles CollegeUniversity or college · For-profit · 493 on campus · 11.5 mi · Los Angeles$29knet price93%graduate$49kearningsSouthwestern Law SchoolUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 950 on campus · 11.6 mi · Los AngelesGraduate students only; the Scorecard reports no undergraduate figures.CBD CollegeCommunity college · Private nonprofit · 824 on campus · 11.6 mi · Los Angeles$23knet price82%graduate$37kearningsPCI CollegeUniversity or college · For-profit · 163 on campus · 12 mi · Cerritos$27knet price68%graduate$36kearningsCerritos CollegeCommunity college · Public · 13,757 on campus · 12.1 mi · Norwalk$2knet price31%graduate$41kearningsTuition and fees: $1,364 a year. The net price counts housing and food at full cost.Santa Monica CollegeCommunity college · Public · 14,294 on campus · 12.6 mi · Santa Monica$3knet price36%graduate$42kearningsTuition and fees: $1,156 a year. The net price counts housing and food at full cost.American Career College-Los AngelesUniversity or college · For-profit · 2,066 on campus · 12.8 mi · Los Angeles$32knet price75%graduate$38kearningsEarnings are reported for all 2 campuses that file with it.Los Angeles County College of Nursing and Allied HealthCommunity college · Public · 220 on campus · 12.9 mi · Los Angeles$115kearningsWest Coast University-Center for Graduate StudiesUniversity or college · For-profit · 527 on campus · 13 mi · Los Angeles$103kearningsEarnings are reported for all 6 campuses that file with it.Graduate students only; the Scorecard reports no undergraduate figures.RAND School of Public PolicyUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 126 on campus · 13.2 mi · Santa MonicaGraduate students only; the Scorecard reports no undergraduate figures.Los Angeles City CollegeCommunity college · Public · 6,569 on campus · 13.4 mi · Los Angeles · mostly online$10knet price29%graduate$36kearnings53% of its students study only online; price, graduation and earnings count them too.Tuition and fees: $1,238 a year. The net price counts housing and food at full cost.Yeshiva Ohr Elchonon Chabad West Coast Talmudical SeminaryUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 157 on campus · 13.4 mi · Los Angeles58%admitted$15knet price12%graduate$48kearningsCalifornia State University-Long BeachUniversity or college · Public · 38,193 on campus · 13.6 mi · Long Beach46%admitted$10knet price69%graduate$64kearningsEast Los Angeles CollegeCommunity college · Public · 17,853 on campus · 13.6 mi · Monterey Park$11knet price37%graduate$42kearningsTuition and fees: $1,238 a year. The net price counts housing and food at full cost.Emperor's College of Traditional Oriental MedicineUniversity or college · For-profit · 181 on campus · 13.9 mi · Santa MonicaGraduate students only; the Scorecard reports no undergraduate figures.American Academy of Dramatic Arts-Los AngelesCommunity college · Private nonprofit · 169 on campus · 14 mi · Los AngelesLos Angeles Film SchoolUniversity or college · For-profit · 1,566 on campus · 14.1 mi · Hollywood · mostly online$31knet price41%graduate$32kearnings73% of its students study only online; price, graduation and earnings count them too.California State University-Los AngelesUniversity or college · Public · 23,850 on campus · 14.3 mi · Los Angeles91%admitted$4knet price53%graduate$59kearningsMusicians InstituteUniversity or college · For-profit · 666 on campus · 14.4 mi · Hollywood78%admitted$47knet price53%graduate$33kearningsUniversity of California-Los AngelesUniversity or college · Public · 46,029 on campus · 14.5 mi · Los Angeles9%admitted$13knet price93%graduate$83kearningsAmerican Film Institute ConservatoryUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 389 on campus · 14.7 mi · Los AngelesGraduate students only; the Scorecard reports no undergraduate figures.

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 Gardena’s median household income ($84,803) falls.

Cerritos College12.1 mi · Norwalk · sticker $10,236 · tuition $1,364$6,599a year
Santa Monica College12.6 mi · Santa Monica · sticker $11,162 · tuition $1,156$7,087a year
California State University-Los Angeles14.3 mi · Los Angeles · sticker $18,403$7,355a year
Los Angeles Southwest College2.4 mi · Los Angeles · mostly online · sticker $13,624 · tuition $1,238$7,420a year
Long Beach City College10.7 mi · Long Beach · sticker $14,503 · tuition $1,556$10,042a year
El Camino Community College District1.4 mi · Torrance · sticker $15,246 · tuition $1,144$11,546a year
California State University-Dominguez Hills3.6 mi · Carson · sticker $23,191$12,323a year
California State University-Long Beach13.6 mi · Long Beach · sticker $22,679$12,630a year
West Los Angeles College8.9 mi · Culver City · mostly online · sticker $17,336 · tuition $1,238$14,028a year
Healthcare Career College9.1 mi · Paramount · sticker $18,873$14,135a year
University of California-Los Angeles14.5 mi · Los Angeles · sticker $38,614$14,142a year
Los Angeles City College13.4 mi · Los Angeles · mostly online · sticker $18,924 · tuition $1,238$14,784a year
East Los Angeles College13.6 mi · Monterey Park · sticker $19,193 · tuition $1,238$15,346a year
Los Angeles Trade Technical College9.7 mi · Los Angeles · sticker $20,457 · tuition $1,238$16,399a year
Compton College5.7 mi · Compton · sticker $20,447 · tuition $1,142$16,689a year
Yeshiva Ohr Elchonon Chabad West Coast Talmudical Seminary13.4 mi · Los Angeles · sticker $31,300$16,940a year
Los Angeles Harbor College7.6 mi · Wilmington · mostly online · sticker $21,772 · tuition $1,238$17,831a year
University of Southern California8.9 mi · Los Angeles · sticker $90,300$24,976a year
Angeles College11.5 mi · Los Angeles · sticker $33,854$31,390a year
Los Angeles Film School14.1 mi · Hollywood · mostly online · sticker $38,291$31,598a year
Universal Technical Institute-Southern California10.4 mi · Long Beach · sticker $33,041$32,469a year
Charles R Drew University of Medicine and Science4.3 mi · Los Angeles · sticker $39,834$33,075a year
American Career College-Los Angeles12.8 mi · Los Angeles · sticker $37,270$34,343a year
National Polytechnic College9.7 mi · Lakewood · sticker $34,762$34,762a year
North-West College-Long Beach11.1 mi · Long Beach · sticker $36,942$35,381a year
Smith Chason College11.5 mi · Los Angeles · sticker $39,461$36,953a year
Spartan College of Aeronautics & Technology5.9 mi · Inglewood · sticker $39,104$39,104a year
Loyola Marymount University8.1 mi · Los Angeles · sticker $83,943$40,557a year
Musicians Institute14.4 mi · Hollywood · sticker $52,369$49,296a year
Otis College of Art and Design7.6 mi · Los Angeles · sticker $75,861$52,495a year
UEI College-Gardena1.2 mi · Gardena · sticker $34,105—a year
Homestead Schools6.4 mi · Torrance · sticker $20,937—a year
Southern California Institute of Architecture11.2 mi · Los Angeles · sticker $71,612—a year
CBD College11.6 mi · Los Angeles · sticker $28,569—a year
PCI College12 mi · Cerritos · sticker $33,852—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 Gardena: across is the share who graduate, up is what they earn ten years after starting.

$0$20k$40k$60k$80k$100k0%25%50%75%100%Graduate →University of Southern CaliforniaLong Beach City CollegeCalifornia State University-Long BeachEast Los Angeles CollegeCalifornia State University-Los AngelesUniversity of California-Los Angeles
University of California-Los Angeles93% graduate$83k earnings$14k typical debt
University of Southern California92% graduate$92k earnings$18k typical debt
California State University-Long Beach69% graduate$64k earnings$14k typical debt
California State University-Los Angeles53% graduate$59k earnings$13k typical debt
East Los Angeles College37% graduate$42k earnings$10k typical debt
Long Beach City College30% graduate$39k earnings$10k typical debt
El Camino Community College District42% graduate$42k earnings
Santa Monica College36% graduate$42k earnings$6k typical debt
Cerritos College31% graduate$41k earnings$8k typical debt
California State University-Dominguez Hills43% graduate$57k earnings$14k typical debt
Loyola Marymount University79% graduate$78k earnings$20k typical debt
Los Angeles Trade Technical College35% graduate$35k 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: UEI College-Gardena (5); Spartan College of Aeronautics & Technology (2); Homestead Schools (2); Universal Technical Institute-Southern California (6); The Chicago School at Los Angeles (8); North-West College-Long Beach (4); American Career College-Los Angeles (2).

Questions about college near Gardena

Is Gardena a college town?

No. About 8 of every 100 Gardena residents are enrolled in college (Census, 2020–24), about the same as California (8). The nearest campus, UEI College-Gardena, is 1.2 miles away in Gardena.

What colleges are near Gardena?

49 colleges are within 15 miles. The largest: the University of California-Los Angeles (14.5 miles, 46,029 students on campus), the University of Southern California (8.9 miles, 41,282) and California State University-Long Beach (13.6 miles, 38,193).

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

El Camino Community College District in Torrance, 1.4 miles away. Tuition and fees are $1,144 a year for California residents; the federal net price, $5,968, counts housing and food at full cost.

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

Tuition and fees are $7,449 a year in-state and $20,049 from out of state. After grants, families on federal aid paid an average of $7,303 (under $30,000 income) to $18,947 (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 Gardena. 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 →