Photo: Stickpen · Public domainSan Diego State University is 3.2 miles from La Mesa
No college sits inside La Mesa’s boundary, but San Diego State University’s campus in San Diego, with 36,799 students on campus, is 3.2 miles from the center of town, and Grossmont College is 3.1 miles away in El Cajon. About 8% of La Mesa’s residents are enrolled in college, about the same as 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 La Mesa. Colleges are described, not graded.
What stands out about college from La Mesa
Facts about the town and its distance to campus; each college’s own figures follow.
Colleges within 15 miles of La Mesa
18 private colleges within 14.1 miles, two public colleges within 14.7 miles, and seven community colleges.
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 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.
Starts at $75–110k, where La Mesa’s median household income ($95,028) falls.
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.
Do students finish, and does it pay?
Each dot is a college within 15 miles of La Mesa: across is the share who graduate, up is what they earn ten years after starting.
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: Pacific College of Health and Science (3); Pima Medical Institute-Chula Vista (13).
Questions about college near La Mesa
Is La Mesa a college town?
No. About 8 of every 100 La Mesa residents are enrolled in college (Census, 2020–24), about the same as California (8). The nearest campus, North-West College-San Diego, is 3 miles away in San Diego.
What colleges are near La Mesa?
26 colleges are within 15 miles. The largest: the University of California-San Diego (14.7 miles, 42,066 students on campus), San Diego State University (3.2 miles, 36,799) and Southwestern College (9.1 miles, 13,521).
What is the closest community college to La Mesa, and what does it cost?
Grossmont College in El Cajon, 3.1 miles away. Tuition and fees are $1,332 a year for California residents; the federal net price, $5,311, counts housing and food at full cost.
How much does San Diego State University cost if we live in California?
Tuition and fees are $8,728 a year in-state and $21,328 from out of state. After grants, families on federal aid paid an average of $9,910 (under $30,000 income) to $23,821 (over $110,000), housing and food included.
Neighbors talk college
Students, parents, alumni and the neighbors next door.
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 La Mesa. 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 →