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Laguna Woods Village Golf CoursePhoto: Dolly442 · CC BY-SA 4.0
Colleges in and near Laguna Woods

Soka University of America is 4 miles from Laguna Woods

No college sits inside Laguna Woods’ boundary, but Soka University of America’s campus in Aliso Viejo, with 476 students on campus, is 4 miles from the center of town, and Irvine Valley College is 5.2 miles away in Irvine. About 2% of Laguna Woods’ 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 Woods. Colleges are described, not graded.

Within 15 miles
18
118,532 students on campus
Nearest college
4 mi
Soka University of America
Residents in college
2%
Below CA (8%)
Nearest community college
5.2 mi
Irvine Valley College · $1,156 tuition
Nearest public university
6.9 mi
University of California-Irvine · $15,722 in-state
Median household income
$59K
prices below start here

What stands out about college from Laguna Woods

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

A university 4 miles awaySoka University of America has 476 students on campus in Aliso Viejo, 92% of whom graduate within six years.A community college 5.2 miles awayIrvine Valley College in Irvine: 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 2% of residentsBelow California (8%). The Census counts anyone enrolled, including part-time and online students.
Every college

Colleges within 15 miles of Laguna Woods

11 private colleges within 14.7 miles, one public college within 6.9 miles, and six community colleges.

5 mi10 mi15 miUniversity of California-IrvineSanta Ana CollegeOrange Coast CollegeLaguna Woods
University or collegeCommunity college
Soka University of AmericaUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 476 on campus · 4 mi · Aliso Viejo43%admitted$18knet price92%graduate$55kearningsLaguna College of Art and DesignUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 807 on campus · 4.3 mi · Laguna Beach94%admitted$43knet price52%graduate$48kearningsIrvine Valley CollegeCommunity college · Public · 7,416 on campus · 5.2 mi · Irvine$2knet price57%graduate$49kearningsTuition and fees: $1,156 a year. The net price counts housing and food at full cost.Saddleback CollegeCommunity college · Public · 9,188 on campus · 5.5 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 · 5.5 mi · Irvine66%admitted$28knet price58%graduate$65kearningsUniversity of California-IrvineUniversity or college · Public · 35,954 on campus · 6.9 mi · Irvine29%admitted$14knet price87%graduate$81kearningsInterior Designers InstituteUniversity or college · For-profit · 107 on campus · 8.1 mi · Newport Beach$55kearningsWestcliff UniversityUniversity or college · For-profit · 4,526 on campus · 8.5 mi · Irvine73%admitted$35knet price62%graduateStanbridge UniversityUniversity or college · For-profit · 2,637 on campus · 8.7 mi · Irvine10%admitted$45knet price62%graduate$62kearningsPacific CollegeUniversity or college · For-profit · 238 on campus · 9.5 mi · Costa Mesa56%admitted$29knet price62%graduate$70kearningsCareer Networks InstituteUniversity or college · For-profit · 971 on campus · 10.1 mi · Santa Ana$50knet price89%graduate$45kearningsVanguard University of Southern CaliforniaUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 1,956 on campus · 10.4 mi · Costa Mesa62%admitted$21knet price57%graduate$60kearningsOrange Coast CollegeCommunity college · Public · 14,830 on campus · 11 mi · Costa Mesa$7knet price48%graduate$47kearningsTuition and fees: $1,392 a year. The net price counts housing and food at full cost.Santiago Canyon CollegeCommunity college · Public · 7,854 on campus · 12.8 mi · Orange$2knet price48%graduate$45kearningsTuition and fees: $1,164 a year. The net price counts housing and food at full cost.Coastline Community CollegeCommunity college · Public · 728 on campus · 13.5 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.Santa Ana CollegeCommunity college · Public · 18,643 on campus · 13.6 mi · Santa Ana$3knet price31%graduate$44kearningsTuition and fees: $1,180 a year. The net price counts housing and food at full cost.Chapman UniversityUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 9,961 on campus · 14.3 mi · Orange65%admitted$47knet price82%graduate$70kearningsSouth Coast CollegeUniversity or college · For-profit · 241 on campus · 14.7 mi · Orange$17knet price17%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 $48–75k, where Laguna Woods’ median household income ($59,269) falls.

Irvine Valley College5.2 mi · Irvine · sticker $13,001 · tuition $1,156$3,941a year
Santiago Canyon College12.8 mi · Orange · sticker $13,818 · tuition $1,164$4,833a year
Santa Ana College13.6 mi · Santa Ana · sticker $12,375 · tuition $1,180$5,278a year
Saddleback College5.5 mi · Mission Viejo · sticker $13,939 · tuition $1,156$6,349a year
Orange Coast College11 mi · Costa Mesa · sticker $15,561 · tuition $1,392$9,216a year
University of California-Irvine6.9 mi · Irvine · sticker $38,632$11,642a year
Soka University of America4 mi · Aliso Viejo · sticker $55,064$12,049a year
Coastline Community College13.5 mi · Fountain Valley · mostly online · sticker $24,290 · tuition $1,364$15,207a year
Vanguard University of Southern California10.4 mi · Costa Mesa · sticker $52,665$18,976a year
South Coast College14.7 mi · Orange · sticker $18,982$18,982a year
Concordia University-Irvine5.5 mi · Irvine · sticker $58,682$22,202a year
Chapman University14.3 mi · Orange · sticker $83,146$33,709a year
Westcliff University8.5 mi · Irvine · sticker $44,210$35,913a year
Laguna College of Art and Design4.3 mi · Laguna Beach · sticker $57,989$40,258a year
Stanbridge University8.7 mi · Irvine · sticker $49,714$47,525a year
Career Networks Institute10.1 mi · Santa Ana · sticker $52,552$49,886a year
Pacific College9.5 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 Woods: 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-IrvineOrange Coast CollegeSantiago Canyon CollegeSanta Ana CollegeChapman University
University of California-Irvine87% graduate$81k earnings$15k typical debt
Santa Ana College31% graduate$44k earnings$7k typical debt
Orange Coast College48% graduate$47k earnings$10k typical debt
Chapman University82% graduate$70k earnings$20k typical debt
Saddleback College48% graduate$51k earnings$10k typical debt
Santiago Canyon College48% graduate$45k earnings$5k 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

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 Laguna Woods

Is Laguna Woods a college town?

No. About 2 of every 100 Laguna Woods residents are enrolled in college (Census, 2020–24), below California (8). The nearest campus, Soka University of America, is 4 miles away in Aliso Viejo.

What colleges are near Laguna Woods?

18 colleges are within 15 miles. The largest: the University of California-Irvine (6.9 miles, 35,954 students on campus), Santa Ana College (13.6 miles, 18,643) and Orange Coast College (11 miles, 14,830).

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

Irvine Valley College in Irvine, 5.2 miles away. Tuition and fees are $1,156 a year for California residents; the federal net price, $2,090, 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 Woods. 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 →