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Huntington Beach CA USA (cropped)Photo: Toksave · CC BY-SA 3.0
Colleges in and near Huntington Beach

Huntington Beach is home to Golden West College

Golden West College (6,281 students on campus) is inside the city. About 8% of Huntington Beach’s residents are enrolled in college, about the same as California (8%).

Golden West College

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 Huntington Beach. Colleges are described, not graded.

Within 15 miles
40
253,833 students on campus
Nearest college
2.4 mi
Golden West College
Residents in college
8%
About the same as CA (8%)
Nearest community college
2.4 mi
Golden West College · $1,380 tuition
Nearest public university
7.9 mi
Santa Ana College · $1,180 in-state
Median household income
$121K
prices below start here

What stands out about college in Huntington Beach

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

A community college in Huntington BeachGolden West College has 6,281 students on campus in Huntington Beach, 49% of whom graduate within three years.In-state price at Santa Ana CollegeLiving in California, Santa Ana College charges $1,180 in tuition and fees; from out of state, $10,756. 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 Huntington Beach

28 private colleges within 14.8 miles, three public colleges within 14.4 miles, and nine community colleges.

5 mi10 mi15 miCalifornia State University-FullertonUniversity of California-IrvineHuntington Beach
University or collegeCommunity college
Golden West CollegeCommunity college · Public · 6,281 on campus · In Huntington Beach$5knet price49%graduate$43kearningsTuition and fees: $1,380 a year. The net price counts housing and food at full cost.Coastline Community CollegeCommunity college · Public · 728 on campus · 4.5 mi · Fountain Valley · mostly online$16knet price34%graduate$44kearnings92% of its students study only online; price, graduation and earnings count them too.Tuition and fees: $1,364 a year. The net price counts housing and food at full cost.Orange Coast CollegeCommunity college · Public · 14,830 on campus · 5.8 mi · Costa Mesa$7knet price48%graduate$47kearningsTuition and fees: $1,392 a year. The net price counts housing and food at full cost.Vanguard University of Southern CaliforniaUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 1,956 on campus · 6.4 mi · Costa Mesa62%admitted$21knet price57%graduate$60kearningsConcorde Career College-Garden GroveUniversity or college · For-profit · 202 on campus · 6.5 mi · Garden Grove97%admitted$25knet price84%graduate$46kearningsPacific CollegeUniversity or college · For-profit · 238 on campus · 7.6 mi · Costa Mesa56%admitted$29knet price62%graduate$70kearningsSanta Ana CollegeCommunity college · Public · 18,643 on campus · 7.9 mi · Santa Ana$3knet price31%graduate$44kearningsTuition and fees: $1,180 a year. The net price counts housing and food at full cost.California State University-Long BeachUniversity or college · Public · 38,193 on campus · 8.5 mi · Long Beach46%admitted$10knet price69%graduate$64kearningsStanbridge UniversityUniversity or college · For-profit · 2,637 on campus · 8.5 mi · Irvine10%admitted$45knet price62%graduate$62kearningsInterior Designers InstituteUniversity or college · For-profit · 107 on campus · 8.9 mi · Newport Beach$55kearningsWestcliff UniversityUniversity or college · For-profit · 4,526 on campus · 9 mi · Irvine73%admitted$35knet price62%graduateCypress CollegeCommunity college · Public · 10,494 on campus · 9.1 mi · Cypress$5knet price37%graduate$44kearningsTuition and fees: $1,150 a year. The net price counts housing and food at full cost.Career Networks InstituteUniversity or college · For-profit · 971 on campus · 9.1 mi · Santa Ana$50knet price89%graduate$45kearningsWest Coast University-Orange CountyUniversity or college · For-profit · 2,873 on campus · 9.4 mi · Anaheim$33knet price60%graduate$103kearningsEarnings are reported for all 6 campuses that file with it.South Coast CollegeUniversity or college · For-profit · 241 on campus · 9.7 mi · Orange$17knet price17%graduate$45kearningsUniversity of California-IrvineUniversity or college · Public · 35,954 on campus · 10 mi · Irvine29%admitted$14knet price87%graduate$81kearningsThe Chicago School at AnaheimUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 483 on campus · 10.1 mi · Anaheim$57kearningsEarnings are reported for all 8 campuses that file with it.Graduate students only; the Scorecard reports no undergraduate figures.North-West College-AnaheimUniversity or college · For-profit · 455 on campus · 10.1 mi · Anaheim$29knet price60%graduate$40kearningsEarnings are reported for all 4 campuses that file with it.Southern California Institute of TechnologyUniversity or college · For-profit · 536 on campus · 10.2 mi · Anaheim74%admitted$33knet price74%graduate$54kearningsAmerican Career College-AnaheimUniversity or college · For-profit · 1,643 on campus · 10.6 mi · Anaheim$31knet price70%graduate$38kearningsEarnings are reported for all 2 campuses that file with it.California Career InstituteUniversity or college · For-profit · 517 on campus · 10.6 mi · AnaheimPlatt College-AnaheimUniversity or college · For-profit · 405 on campus · 10.6 mi · Anaheim$23knet price64%graduate$41kearningsEarnings are reported for all 4 campuses that file with it.Bethesda UniversityUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 248 on campus · 10.6 mi · Anaheim$11knet price11%graduateSouth Baylo UniversityUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 234 on campus · 10.7 mi · AnaheimGraduate students only; the Scorecard reports no undergraduate figures.Chapman UniversityUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 9,961 on campus · 10.9 mi · Orange65%admitted$47knet price82%graduate$70kearningsNorth-West College-Long BeachUniversity or college · For-profit · 576 on campus · 11 mi · Long Beach$34knet price58%graduate$40kearningsEarnings are reported for all 4 campuses that file with it.Concordia University-IrvineUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 1,999 on campus · 11.4 mi · Irvine66%admitted$28knet price58%graduate$65kearningsAmerican University of Health SciencesUniversity or college · For-profit · 523 on campus · 11.8 mi · Signal Hill50%admitted50%graduate$94kearningsLong Beach City CollegeCommunity college · Public · 17,484 on campus · 12 mi · Long Beach$6knet price30%graduate$39kearningsTuition and fees: $1,556 a year. The net price counts housing and food at full cost.Universal Technical Institute-Southern CaliforniaUniversity or college · For-profit · 1,447 on campus · 12 mi · Long Beach$28knet price63%graduate$53kearningsEarnings are reported for all 6 campuses that file with it.Grace Mission UniversityUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 121 on campus · 12 mi · Fullerton100%graduateIrvine Valley CollegeCommunity college · Public · 7,416 on campus · 13.1 mi · Irvine$2knet price57%graduate$49kearningsTuition and fees: $1,156 a year. The net price counts housing and food at full cost.Fullerton CollegeCommunity college · Public · 12,859 on campus · 13.2 mi · Fullerton$6knet price34%graduate$43kearningsTuition and fees: $1,150 a year. The net price counts housing and food at full cost.PCI CollegeUniversity or college · For-profit · 163 on campus · 13.4 mi · Cerritos$27knet price68%graduate$36kearningsNational Polytechnic CollegeUniversity or college · For-profit · 299 on campus · 13.8 mi · Lakewood$31knet price47%graduate$31kearningsCerritos CollegeCommunity college · Public · 13,757 on campus · 14.1 mi · Norwalk$2knet price31%graduate$41kearningsTuition and fees: $1,364 a year. The net price counts housing and food at full cost.Hope International UniversityUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 656 on campus · 14.1 mi · Fullerton33%admitted$29knet price49%graduate$50kearningsCalifornia State University-FullertonUniversity or college · Public · 38,210 on campus · 14.4 mi · Fullerton91%admitted$7knet price70%graduate$63kearningsBiola UniversityUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 4,288 on campus · 14.4 mi · La Mirada74%admitted$31knet price68%graduate$57kearningsMarshall B Ketchum UniversityUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 679 on campus · 14.8 mi · FullertonGraduate 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 Over $110k, where Huntington Beach’s median household income ($120,919) falls.

Cerritos College14.1 mi · Norwalk · sticker $10,236 · tuition $1,364$7,901a year
Irvine Valley College13.1 mi · Irvine · sticker $13,001 · tuition $1,156$9,432a year
Cypress College9.1 mi · Cypress · sticker $14,290 · tuition $1,150$10,001a year
Long Beach City College12 mi · Long Beach · sticker $14,503 · tuition $1,556$10,089a year
Santa Ana College7.9 mi · Santa Ana · sticker $12,375 · tuition $1,180$10,160a year
Fullerton College13.2 mi · Fullerton · sticker $14,369 · tuition $1,150$11,574a year
Bethesda University10.6 mi · Anaheim · sticker $13,575$13,575a year
Orange Coast College5.8 mi · Costa Mesa · sticker $15,561 · tuition $1,392$13,862a year
California State University-Fullerton14.4 mi · Fullerton · sticker $18,269$15,631a year
South Coast College9.7 mi · Orange · sticker $18,982$18,982a year
California State University-Long Beach8.5 mi · Long Beach · sticker $22,679$19,750a year
Concorde Career College-Garden Grove6.5 mi · Garden Grove · sticker $29,040$26,760a year
Vanguard University of Southern California6.4 mi · Costa Mesa · sticker $52,665$27,684a year
Platt College-Anaheim10.6 mi · Anaheim · sticker $28,170$28,170a year
University of California-Irvine10 mi · Irvine · sticker $38,632$30,546a year
Concordia University-Irvine11.4 mi · Irvine · sticker $58,682$31,967a year
Universal Technical Institute-Southern California12 mi · Long Beach · sticker $33,041$32,461a year
American Career College-Anaheim10.6 mi · Anaheim · sticker $35,751$33,914a year
Hope International University14.1 mi · Fullerton · sticker $51,784$34,049a year
National Polytechnic College13.8 mi · Lakewood · sticker $34,762$34,762a year
West Coast University-Orange County9.4 mi · Anaheim · sticker $34,887$34,887a year
North-West College-Long Beach11 mi · Long Beach · sticker $36,942$36,184a year
Biola University14.4 mi · La Mirada · sticker $62,757$37,314a year
Southern California Institute of Technology10.2 mi · Anaheim · sticker $37,992$37,884a year
Westcliff University9 mi · Irvine · sticker $44,210$40,799a year
Stanbridge University8.5 mi · Irvine · sticker $49,714$49,714a year
Career Networks Institute9.1 mi · Santa Ana · sticker $52,552$52,552a year
Chapman University10.9 mi · Orange · sticker $83,146$55,066a year
Golden West CollegeIn Huntington Beach · sticker $14,618 · tuition $1,380—a year
Coastline Community College4.5 mi · Fountain Valley · mostly online · sticker $24,290 · tuition $1,364—a year
Pacific College7.6 mi · Costa Mesa · sticker $30,789—a year
North-West College-Anaheim10.1 mi · Anaheim · sticker $31,922—a year
PCI College13.4 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 Huntington Beach: across is the share who graduate, up is what they earn ten years after starting.

$0$20k$40k$60k$80k$100k$120k0%25%50%75%100%Graduate →Orange Coast CollegeSanta Ana CollegeCalifornia State University-Long BeachUniversity of California-IrvineLong Beach City CollegeCalifornia State University-Fullerton
California State University-Fullerton70% graduate$63k earnings$14k typical debt
California State University-Long Beach69% graduate$64k earnings$14k typical debt
University of California-Irvine87% graduate$81k earnings$15k typical debt
Santa Ana College31% graduate$44k earnings$7k typical debt
Long Beach City College30% graduate$39k earnings$10k typical debt
Orange Coast College48% graduate$47k earnings$10k typical debt
Cerritos College31% graduate$41k earnings$8k typical debt
Fullerton College34% graduate$43k earnings$4k typical debt
Cypress College37% graduate$44k earnings$10k typical debt
Chapman University82% graduate$70k earnings$20k typical debt
Irvine Valley College57% graduate$49k earnings$6k typical debt
Golden West College49% graduate$43k earnings$7k 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: West Coast University-Orange County (6); North-West College-Anaheim (4); American Career College-Anaheim (2); Platt College-Anaheim (4); North-West College-Long Beach (4); Universal Technical Institute-Southern California (6).

Majors

What students study in Huntington Beach

Share of bachelor’s and associate degrees by field at Golden West College, weighted by undergraduates; then the biggest programs.

Liberal arts 61%Interdisciplinary 7%Business 5%Social sciences 4%Public safety 3%Personal & culinary services 3%Everything else 17%

Biggest programs

Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities1,733 graduates a year
$36k4 yrs out
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing85 graduates a year
$105k4 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.

Questions about college in Huntington Beach

Is Huntington Beach a college town?

No. About 8 of every 100 Huntington Beach residents are enrolled in college (Census, 2020–24), about the same as California (8). The largest campus in the city, Golden West College, has 6,281 students on campus.

What colleges are in Huntington Beach?

Golden West College is inside the city.

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

Golden West College in Huntington Beach, 2.4 miles away. Tuition and fees are $1,380 a year for California residents; the federal net price, $4,824, counts housing and food at full cost.

How much does Santa Ana College cost if we live in California?

Tuition and fees are $1,180 a year in-state and $10,756 from out of state. After grants, families on federal aid paid an average of $1,970 (under $30,000 income) to $10,160 (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 Huntington Beach. 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 →