Guest, Sign inJoin

Post to La Palma

We’ll email a one-tap link to publish your post. No password, and nothing is public until you click it.
Already a member? Sign in
LaPalmaCityHallPhoto: Mike Greene · CC BY-SA 2.0
Colleges in and near La Palma

Cerritos College is 4.2 miles from La Palma

No college sits inside La Palma’s boundary, but Cerritos College’s campus in Norwalk, with 13,757 students on campus, is 4.2 miles from the center of town, and Cypress College is 1.7 miles away in Cypress. About 8% of La Palma’s residents are enrolled in college, about the same as California (8%).

Cypress CollegeAmerican Career College-AnaheimBiola UniversityCerritos 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 La Palma. Colleges are described, not graded.

Within 15 miles
44
253,665 students on campus
Nearest college
1.7 mi
Cypress College
Residents in college
8%
About the same as CA (8%)
Nearest community college
1.7 mi
Cypress College · $1,150 tuition
Nearest public university
1.7 mi
Cypress College · $1,150 in-state
Median household income
$118K
prices below start here

What stands out about college from La Palma

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

Four colleges within 4.2 milesBiola University admits 74% of applicants. Together they have 30,182 students on campus.A community college 1.7 miles awayCypress College in Cypress: tuition and fees $1,150 a year for California residents.In-state price at Cypress CollegeLiving in California, Cypress College charges $1,150 in tuition and fees; from out of state, $12,379. 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 La Palma

29 private colleges within 14.5 miles, three public colleges within 12.5 miles, and 12 community colleges.

5 mi10 mi15 miCalifornia State University-FullertonCalifornia State University-Long BeachSanta Ana CollegeLa Palma
University or collegeCommunity college
Cypress CollegeCommunity college · Public · 10,494 on campus · 1.7 mi · Cypress$5knet price37%graduate$44kearningsTuition and fees: $1,150 a year. The net price counts housing and food at full cost.American Career College-AnaheimUniversity or college · For-profit · 1,643 on campus · 3.7 mi · Anaheim$31knet price70%graduate$38kearningsEarnings are reported for all 2 campuses that file with it.PCI CollegeUniversity or college · For-profit · 163 on campus · 3.9 mi · Cerritos$27knet price68%graduate$36kearningsBiola UniversityUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 4,288 on campus · 4.1 mi · La Mirada74%admitted$31knet price68%graduate$57kearningsCerritos CollegeCommunity college · Public · 13,757 on campus · 4.2 mi · Norwalk$2knet price31%graduate$41kearningsTuition and fees: $1,364 a year. The net price counts housing and food at full cost.North-West College-AnaheimUniversity or college · For-profit · 455 on campus · 4.6 mi · Anaheim$29knet price60%graduate$40kearningsEarnings are reported for all 4 campuses that file with it.South Baylo UniversityUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 234 on campus · 4.7 mi · AnaheimGraduate students only; the Scorecard reports no undergraduate figures.Grace Mission UniversityUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 121 on campus · 4.8 mi · Fullerton100%graduateSouthern California Institute of TechnologyUniversity or college · For-profit · 536 on campus · 5.2 mi · Anaheim74%admitted$33knet price74%graduate$54kearningsLong Beach City CollegeCommunity college · Public · 17,484 on campus · 5.6 mi · Long Beach$6knet price30%graduate$39kearningsTuition and fees: $1,556 a year. The net price counts housing and food at full cost.Bethesda UniversityUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 248 on campus · 5.7 mi · Anaheim$11knet price11%graduateSouthern California University of Health SciencesUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 957 on campus · 5.9 mi · Whittier · mostly online$46knet price50%graduate$71kearnings52% of its students study only online; price, graduation and earnings count them too.National Polytechnic CollegeUniversity or college · For-profit · 299 on campus · 6 mi · Lakewood$31knet price47%graduate$31kearningsCalifornia State University-Long BeachUniversity or college · Public · 38,193 on campus · 6.3 mi · Long Beach46%admitted$10knet price69%graduate$64kearningsUniversal Technical Institute-Southern CaliforniaUniversity or college · For-profit · 1,447 on campus · 6.3 mi · Long Beach$28knet price63%graduate$53kearningsEarnings are reported for all 6 campuses that file with it.Healthcare Career CollegeUniversity or college · For-profit · 381 on campus · 6.9 mi · Paramount$14knet price71%graduate$33kearningsNorth-West College-Long BeachUniversity or college · For-profit · 576 on campus · 7.1 mi · Long Beach$34knet price58%graduate$40kearningsEarnings are reported for all 4 campuses that file with it.ATI College-WhittierUniversity or college · For-profit · 125 on campus · 7.1 mi · Whitter$20knet price72%graduate$39kearningsFullerton CollegeCommunity college · Public · 12,859 on campus · 7.2 mi · Fullerton$6knet price34%graduate$43kearningsTuition and fees: $1,150 a year. The net price counts housing and food at full cost.West Coast University-Orange CountyUniversity or college · For-profit · 2,873 on campus · 7.8 mi · Anaheim$33knet price60%graduate$103kearningsEarnings are reported for all 6 campuses that file with it.Concorde Career College-Garden GroveUniversity or college · For-profit · 202 on campus · 7.8 mi · Garden Grove97%admitted$25knet price84%graduate$46kearningsGolden West CollegeCommunity college · Public · 6,281 on campus · 8.4 mi · Huntington Beach$5knet price49%graduate$43kearningsTuition and fees: $1,380 a year. The net price counts housing and food at full cost.American University of Health SciencesUniversity or college · For-profit · 523 on campus · 8.4 mi · Signal Hill50%admitted50%graduate$94kearningsWhittier CollegeUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 859 on campus · 8.9 mi · Whittier81%admitted$26knet price60%graduate$59kearningsHope International UniversityUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 656 on campus · 9 mi · Fullerton33%admitted$29knet price49%graduate$50kearningsCalifornia Career InstituteUniversity or college · For-profit · 517 on campus · 9 mi · AnaheimCalifornia State University-FullertonUniversity or college · Public · 38,210 on campus · 9.1 mi · Fullerton91%admitted$7knet price70%graduate$63kearningsMarshall B Ketchum UniversityUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 679 on campus · 9.2 mi · FullertonGraduate students only; the Scorecard reports no undergraduate figures.The Chicago School at AnaheimUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 483 on campus · 9.6 mi · Anaheim$57kearningsEarnings are reported for all 8 campuses that file with it.Graduate students only; the Scorecard reports no undergraduate figures.Platt College-AnaheimUniversity or college · For-profit · 405 on campus · 9.7 mi · Anaheim$23knet price64%graduate$41kearningsEarnings are reported for all 4 campuses that file with it.Compton CollegeCommunity college · Public · 3,330 on campus · 9.9 mi · Compton$13knet price27%graduate$34kearningsTuition and fees: $1,142 a year. The net price counts housing and food at full cost.South Coast CollegeUniversity or college · For-profit · 241 on campus · 10.4 mi · Orange$17knet price17%graduate$45kearningsSanta Ana CollegeCommunity college · Public · 18,643 on campus · 10.8 mi · Santa Ana$3knet price31%graduate$44kearningsTuition and fees: $1,180 a year. The net price counts housing and food at full cost.Coastline Community CollegeCommunity college · Public · 728 on campus · 11.3 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.Chapman UniversityUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 9,961 on campus · 11.5 mi · Orange65%admitted$47knet price82%graduate$70kearningsRio Hondo CollegeCommunity college · Public · 12,523 on campus · 11.7 mi · Whittier$14knet price25%graduate$45kearningsTuition and fees: $1,388 a year. The net price counts housing and food at full cost.California State University-Dominguez HillsUniversity or college · Public · 13,167 on campus · 12.5 mi · Carson93%admitted$9knet price43%graduate$57kearningsCharles R Drew University of Medicine and ScienceUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 763 on campus · 12.8 mi · Los Angeles39%admitted$36knet price30%graduate$83kearningsUniversity of the WestUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 145 on campus · 13.7 mi · Rosemead100%admitted$7knet price38%graduateCareer Networks InstituteUniversity or college · For-profit · 971 on campus · 14.2 mi · Santa Ana$50knet price89%graduate$45kearningsEast Los Angeles CollegeCommunity college · Public · 17,853 on campus · 14.5 mi · Monterey Park$11knet price37%graduate$42kearningsTuition and fees: $1,238 a year. The net price counts housing and food at full cost.UEI College-GardenaUniversity or college · For-profit · 1,115 on campus · 14.5 mi · Gardena$29knet price60%graduate$31kearningsEarnings are reported for all 5 campuses that file with it.Orange Coast CollegeCommunity college · Public · 14,830 on campus · 14.6 mi · Costa Mesa$7knet price48%graduate$47kearningsTuition and fees: $1,392 a year. The net price counts housing and food at full cost.Los Angeles Harbor CollegeCommunity college · Public · 3,447 on campus · 14.7 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.

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 La Palma’s median household income ($117,989) falls.

Cerritos College4.2 mi · Norwalk · sticker $10,236 · tuition $1,364$7,901a year
Cypress College1.7 mi · Cypress · sticker $14,290 · tuition $1,150$10,001a year
Long Beach City College5.6 mi · Long Beach · sticker $14,503 · tuition $1,556$10,089a year
Santa Ana College10.8 mi · Santa Ana · sticker $12,375 · tuition $1,180$10,160a year
Fullerton College7.2 mi · Fullerton · sticker $14,369 · tuition $1,150$11,574a year
Bethesda University5.7 mi · Anaheim · sticker $13,575$13,575a year
Orange Coast College14.6 mi · Costa Mesa · sticker $15,561 · tuition $1,392$13,862a year
California State University-Fullerton9.1 mi · Fullerton · sticker $18,269$15,631a year
East Los Angeles College14.5 mi · Monterey Park · sticker $19,193 · tuition $1,238$16,430a year
Rio Hondo College11.7 mi · Whittier · sticker $21,391 · tuition $1,388$17,355a year
California State University-Dominguez Hills12.5 mi · Carson · sticker $23,191$18,947a year
South Coast College10.4 mi · Orange · sticker $18,982$18,982a year
Los Angeles Harbor College14.7 mi · Wilmington · mostly online · sticker $21,772 · tuition $1,238$19,227a year
California State University-Long Beach6.3 mi · Long Beach · sticker $22,679$19,750a year
Concorde Career College-Garden Grove7.8 mi · Garden Grove · sticker $29,040$26,760a year
Platt College-Anaheim9.7 mi · Anaheim · sticker $28,170$28,170a year
Whittier College8.9 mi · Whittier · sticker $63,664$30,599a year
Universal Technical Institute-Southern California6.3 mi · Long Beach · sticker $33,041$32,461a year
American Career College-Anaheim3.7 mi · Anaheim · sticker $35,751$33,914a year
Hope International University9 mi · Fullerton · sticker $51,784$34,049a year
UEI College-Gardena14.5 mi · Gardena · sticker $34,105$34,105a year
National Polytechnic College6 mi · Lakewood · sticker $34,762$34,762a year
West Coast University-Orange County7.8 mi · Anaheim · sticker $34,887$34,887a year
North-West College-Long Beach7.1 mi · Long Beach · sticker $36,942$36,184a year
Biola University4.1 mi · La Mirada · sticker $62,757$37,314a year
Charles R Drew University of Medicine and Science12.8 mi · Los Angeles · sticker $39,834$37,834a year
Southern California Institute of Technology5.2 mi · Anaheim · sticker $37,992$37,884a year
Career Networks Institute14.2 mi · Santa Ana · sticker $52,552$52,552a year
Chapman University11.5 mi · Orange · sticker $83,146$55,066a year
PCI College3.9 mi · Cerritos · sticker $33,852—a year
North-West College-Anaheim4.6 mi · Anaheim · sticker $31,922—a year
Southern California University of Health Sciences5.9 mi · Whittier · mostly online · sticker $57,740—a year
Healthcare Career College6.9 mi · Paramount · sticker $18,873—a year
ATI College-Whittier7.1 mi · Whitter · sticker $29,726—a year
Golden West College8.4 mi · Huntington Beach · sticker $14,618 · tuition $1,380—a year
Compton College9.9 mi · Compton · sticker $20,447 · tuition $1,142—a year
Coastline Community College11.3 mi · Fountain Valley · mostly online · sticker $24,290 · tuition $1,364—a year
University of the West13.7 mi · Rosemead · sticker $21,278—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 La Palma: 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 →Long Beach City CollegeCalifornia State University-Long BeachCalifornia State University-FullertonSanta Ana CollegeEast Los Angeles CollegeOrange Coast College
California State University-Fullerton70% graduate$63k earnings$14k typical debt
California State University-Long Beach69% graduate$64k earnings$14k typical debt
Santa Ana College31% graduate$44k earnings$7k typical debt
East Los Angeles College37% graduate$42k earnings$10k 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
California State University-Dominguez Hills43% graduate$57k earnings$14k typical debt
Fullerton College34% graduate$43k earnings$4k typical debt
Rio Hondo College25% graduate$45k earnings$6k typical debt
Cypress College37% graduate$44k earnings$10k typical debt
Chapman University82% graduate$70k earnings$20k 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: American Career College-Anaheim (2); North-West College-Anaheim (4); Universal Technical Institute-Southern California (6); North-West College-Long Beach (4); West Coast University-Orange County (6); Platt College-Anaheim (4); UEI College-Gardena (5).

Questions about college near La Palma

Is La Palma a college town?

No. About 8 of every 100 La Palma residents are enrolled in college (Census, 2020–24), about the same as California (8). The nearest campus, Cypress College, is 1.7 miles away in Cypress.

What colleges are near La Palma?

44 colleges are within 15 miles. The largest: California State University-Fullerton (9.1 miles, 38,210 students on campus), California State University-Long Beach (6.3 miles, 38,193) and Santa Ana College (10.8 miles, 18,643).

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

Cypress College in Cypress, 1.7 miles away. Tuition and fees are $1,150 a year for California residents; the federal net price, $4,606, counts housing and food at full cost.

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

Tuition and fees are $1,150 a year in-state and $12,379 from out of state. After grants, families on federal aid paid an average of $3,419 (under $30,000 income) to $10,001 (over $110,000), housing and food included.

Neighbors talk college

Students, parents, alumni and the neighbors next door.

Town Square →
Start the conversation

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 Palma. 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 →