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Laguna Beach photo montagePhoto: Don Ramey Logan, Diosthenese, User:CactusWriter · CC BY 3.0
Colleges in and near Laguna Beach

Laguna Beach is home to Laguna College of Art and Design

Laguna College of Art and Design (807 students on campus) is inside the city. About 5% of Laguna Beach’s residents are enrolled in college, below 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 Laguna Beach. Colleges are described, not graded.

Within 15 miles
13
81,105 students on campus
Nearest college
1.4 mi
Laguna College of Art and Design
Residents in college
5%
Below CA (8%)
Nearest community college
5.6 mi
Saddleback College · $1,156 tuition
Nearest public university
8.6 mi
University of California-Irvine · $15,722 in-state
Median household income
$144K
prices below start here

What stands out about college in Laguna Beach

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

A college in Laguna BeachLaguna College of Art and Design has 807 students on campus in Laguna Beach, 52% of whom graduate within six years.A community college 5.6 miles awaySaddleback College in Mission Viejo: tuition and fees $1,156 a year for California residents.In-state price at University of California-IrvineLiving in California, the University of California-Irvine charges $15,722 in tuition and fees; from out of state, $49,922. State residency rules decide which a new arrival pays.Students are 5% of residentsBelow California (8%). The Census counts anyone enrolled, including part-time and online students.
Every college

Colleges within 15 miles of Laguna Beach

Nine private colleges within 13.2 miles, one public college within 8.6 miles, and three community colleges.

5 mi10 mi15 miUniversity of California-IrvineOrange Coast CollegeSaddleback CollegeLaguna Beach
University or collegeCommunity college
Laguna College of Art and DesignUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 807 on campus · In Laguna Beach94%admitted$43knet price52%graduate$48kearningsSoka University of AmericaUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 476 on campus · 1.7 mi · Aliso Viejo43%admitted$18knet price92%graduate$55kearningsSaddleback CollegeCommunity college · Public · 9,188 on campus · 5.6 mi · Mission Viejo$4knet price48%graduate$51kearningsTuition and fees: $1,156 a year. The net price counts housing and food at full cost.Concordia University-IrvineUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 1,999 on campus · 8.2 mi · Irvine66%admitted$28knet price58%graduate$65kearningsUniversity of California-IrvineUniversity or college · Public · 35,954 on campus · 8.6 mi · Irvine29%admitted$14knet price87%graduate$81kearningsInterior Designers InstituteUniversity or college · For-profit · 107 on campus · 9 mi · Newport Beach$55kearningsIrvine Valley CollegeCommunity college · Public · 7,416 on campus · 9.2 mi · Irvine$2knet price57%graduate$49kearningsTuition and fees: $1,156 a year. The net price counts housing and food at full cost.Stanbridge UniversityUniversity or college · For-profit · 2,637 on campus · 10.9 mi · Irvine10%admitted$45knet price62%graduate$62kearningsWestcliff UniversityUniversity or college · For-profit · 4,526 on campus · 11 mi · Irvine73%admitted$35knet price62%graduatePacific CollegeUniversity or college · For-profit · 238 on campus · 11.4 mi · Costa Mesa56%admitted$29knet price62%graduate$70kearningsVanguard University of Southern CaliforniaUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 1,956 on campus · 11.5 mi · Costa Mesa62%admitted$21knet price57%graduate$60kearningsOrange Coast CollegeCommunity college · Public · 14,830 on campus · 12.2 mi · Costa Mesa$7knet price48%graduate$47kearningsTuition and fees: $1,392 a year. The net price counts housing and food at full cost.Career Networks InstituteUniversity or college · For-profit · 971 on campus · 13.2 mi · Santa Ana$50knet price89%graduate$45kearnings

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 Laguna Beach’s median household income ($143,843) falls.

Irvine Valley College9.2 mi · Irvine · sticker $13,001 · tuition $1,156$9,432a year
Saddleback College5.6 mi · Mission Viejo · sticker $13,939 · tuition $1,156$10,603a year
Orange Coast College12.2 mi · Costa Mesa · sticker $15,561 · tuition $1,392$13,862a year
Vanguard University of Southern California11.5 mi · Costa Mesa · sticker $52,665$27,684a year
University of California-Irvine8.6 mi · Irvine · sticker $38,632$30,546a year
Soka University of America1.7 mi · Aliso Viejo · sticker $55,064$30,940a year
Concordia University-Irvine8.2 mi · Irvine · sticker $58,682$31,967a year
Westcliff University11 mi · Irvine · sticker $44,210$40,799a year
Laguna College of Art and DesignIn Laguna Beach · sticker $57,989$46,889a year
Stanbridge University10.9 mi · Irvine · sticker $49,714$49,714a year
Career Networks Institute13.2 mi · Santa Ana · sticker $52,552$52,552a year
Pacific College11.4 mi · Costa Mesa · sticker $30,789—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 Laguna Beach: 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 →Saddleback CollegeUniversity of California-IrvineIrvine Valley CollegeStanbridge UniversityOrange Coast College
University of California-Irvine87% graduate$81k earnings$15k typical debt
Orange Coast College48% graduate$47k earnings$10k typical debt
Saddleback College48% graduate$51k earnings$10k typical debt
Irvine Valley College57% graduate$49k earnings$6k typical debt
Stanbridge University62% graduate$62k earnings$20k typical debt
Concordia University-Irvine58% graduate$65k earnings$24k typical debt
Vanguard University of Southern California57% graduate$60k earnings$22k typical debt
Career Networks Institute89% graduate$45k earnings$26k typical debt
Laguna College of Art and Design52% graduate$48k earnings$27k typical debt
Soka University of America92% graduate$55k earnings$16k typical debt
Pacific College62% graduate$70k earnings$22k 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.

Majors

What students study in Laguna Beach

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

Visual & performing arts 73%Communications tech 27%Everything else 0%

Biggest programs

Design and Applied Arts94 graduates a year
$69k4 yrs out
Graphic Communications26 graduates a year
$39k4 yrs out
Fine and Studio Arts12 graduates a year
$28k4 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 Laguna Beach

Is Laguna Beach a college town?

No. About 5 of every 100 Laguna Beach residents are enrolled in college (Census, 2020–24), below California (8). The largest campus in the city, Laguna College of Art and Design, has 807 students on campus.

What colleges are in Laguna Beach?

Laguna College of Art and Design is inside the city. Saddleback College is 5.6 miles away in Mission Viejo.

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

Saddleback College in Mission Viejo, 5.6 miles away. Tuition and fees are $1,156 a year for California residents; the federal net price, $4,152, counts housing and food at full cost.

How much does the University of California-Irvine cost if we live in California?

Tuition and fees are $15,722 a year in-state and $49,922 from out of state. After grants, families on federal aid paid an average of $8,123 (under $30,000 income) to $30,546 (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 Laguna 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 →