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Colleges in and near Hillsborough

College of San Mateo is 2 miles from Hillsborough

No college sits inside Hillsborough’s boundary, but College of San Mateo’s campus in San Mateo, with 6,728 students on campus, is 2 miles from the center of town. About 6% of Hillsborough’s residents are enrolled in college, about the same as California (8%).

College of San Mateo

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 Hillsborough. Colleges are described, not graded.

Within 15 miles
12
83,076 students on campus
Nearest college
2 mi
College of San Mateo
Residents in college
6%
About the same as CA (8%)
Nearest community college
2 mi
College of San Mateo · $1,332 tuition
Nearest public university
7.8 mi
Skyline College · $1,272 in-state
Median household income
$250K
prices below start here

What stands out about college from Hillsborough

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

A community college 2 miles awayCollege of San Mateo has 6,728 students on campus in San Mateo, 61% of whom graduate within three years.In-state price at Skyline CollegeLiving in California, Skyline College charges $1,272 in tuition and fees; from out of state, $9,956. State residency rules decide which a new arrival pays.Students are 6% 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 Hillsborough

Six private colleges within 14.7 miles, one public college within 13 miles, and five community colleges.

5 mi10 mi15 miSan Francisco StateStanford UniversityCity College of San FranciscoHillsborough
University or collegeCommunity college
College of San MateoCommunity college · Public · 6,728 on campus · 2 mi · San Mateo$1knet price61%graduate$54kearningsTuition and fees: $1,332 a year. The net price counts housing and food at full cost.Notre Dame de Namur UniversityUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 205 on campus · 4.9 mi · Belmont7%graduate$75kearningsSkyline CollegeCommunity college · Public · 5,706 on campus · 7.8 mi · San Bruno$2knet price44%graduate$56kearningsTuition and fees: $1,272 a year. The net price counts housing and food at full cost.Alder Graduate School of EducationUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 453 on campus · 8.2 mi · Redwood CityGraduate students only; the Scorecard reports no undergraduate figures.Canada CollegeCommunity college · Public · 5,636 on campus · 9.1 mi · Redwood City$0knet price47%graduate$50kearningsTuition and fees: $1,332 a year. The net price counts housing and food at full cost.Menlo CollegeUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 840 on campus · 11.7 mi · Atherton68%admitted$31knet price54%graduate$76kearningsCity College of San FranciscoCommunity college · Public · 13,762 on campus · 12.7 mi · San Francisco$7knet price40%graduate$46kearningsTuition and fees: $1,696 a year. The net price counts housing and food at full cost.San Francisco State UniversityUniversity or college · Public · 21,943 on campus · 13 mi · San Francisco96%admitted$12knet price50%graduate$68kearningsStanford UniversityUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 18,233 on campus · 13.7 mi · Stanford4%admitted$14knet price92%graduate$124kearningsLife Chiropractic College WestUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 613 on campus · 14.3 mi · HaywardGraduate students only; the Scorecard reports no undergraduate figures.California College of the ArtsUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 1,332 on campus · 14.7 mi · San Francisco91%admitted$54knet price61%graduate$49kearningsChabot CollegeCommunity college · Public · 7,625 on campus · 15 mi · Hayward$9knet price47%graduate$48kearningsTuition and fees: $1,150 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 Over $110k, where Hillsborough’s median household income ($250,001) falls.

Skyline College7.8 mi · San Bruno · sticker $11,880 · tuition $1,272$5,974a year
Chabot College15 mi · Hayward · sticker $17,456 · tuition $1,150$6,370a year
City College of San Francisco12.7 mi · San Francisco · sticker $16,870 · tuition $1,696$13,974a year
San Francisco State University13 mi · San Francisco · sticker $26,488$22,523a year
Menlo College11.7 mi · Atherton · sticker $72,020$37,298a year
Stanford University13.7 mi · Stanford · sticker $87,833$53,882a year
California College of the Arts14.7 mi · San Francisco · sticker $79,776$56,394a year
College of San Mateo2 mi · San Mateo · sticker $10,837 · tuition $1,332—a year
Canada College9.1 mi · Redwood City · sticker $9,087 · tuition $1,332—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 Hillsborough: across is the share who graduate, up is what they earn ten years after starting.

$0$20k$40k$60k$80k$100k$120k$140k0%25%50%75%100%Graduate →College of San MateoCity College of San FranciscoSan Francisco StateStanford UniversityChabot College
San Francisco State University50% graduate$68k earnings$15k typical debt
Stanford University92% graduate$124k earnings$12k typical debt
City College of San Francisco40% graduate$46k earnings$8k typical debt
Chabot College47% graduate$48k earnings$10k typical debt
College of San Mateo61% graduate$54k earnings$15k typical debt
Skyline College44% graduate$56k earnings
Canada College47% graduate$50k earnings
California College of the Arts61% graduate$49k earnings$27k typical debt
Menlo College54% graduate$76k earnings$22k typical debt
Notre Dame de Namur University7% graduate$75k earnings$25k 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.

Questions about college near Hillsborough

Is Hillsborough a college town?

No. About 6 of every 100 Hillsborough residents are enrolled in college (Census, 2020–24), about the same as California (8). The nearest campus, College of San Mateo, is 2 miles away in San Mateo.

What colleges are near Hillsborough?

12 colleges are within 15 miles. The largest: San Francisco State University (13 miles, 21,943 students on campus), Stanford University (13.7 miles, 18,233) and City College of San Francisco (12.7 miles, 13,762).

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

College of San Mateo in San Mateo, 2 miles away. Tuition and fees are $1,332 a year for California residents; the federal net price, $536, counts housing and food at full cost.

How much does Skyline College cost if we live in California?

Tuition and fees are $1,272 a year in-state and $9,956 from out of state. After grants, families on federal aid paid an average of $842 (under $30,000 income) to $5,974 (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 Hillsborough. 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 →