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José Serrano AdobePhoto: Eli Pousson · CC BY-SA 2.0
Colleges in and near Lake Forest

Irvine Valley College is 6 miles from Lake Forest

No college sits inside Lake Forest’s boundary, but Irvine Valley College’s campus in Irvine, with 7,416 students on campus, is 6 miles from the center of town. About 8% of Lake Forest’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 Lake Forest. Colleges are described, not graded.

Within 15 miles
17
117,804 students on campus
Nearest college
6 mi
Irvine Valley College
Residents in college
8%
About the same as CA (8%)
Nearest community college
6 mi
Irvine Valley College · $1,156 tuition
Nearest public university
9.5 mi
University of California-Irvine · $15,722 in-state
Median household income
$135K
prices below start here

What stands out about college from Lake Forest

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

A community college 6 miles awayIrvine Valley College has 7,416 students on campus in Irvine, 57% of whom graduate within three years.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 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 Lake Forest

11 private colleges within 14.6 miles, one public college within 9.5 miles, and five community colleges.

5 mi10 mi15 miSanta Ana CollegeOrange Coast CollegeLake Forest
University or collegeCommunity college
Irvine Valley CollegeCommunity college · Public · 7,416 on campus · 6 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 · 7 mi · Mission Viejo$4knet price48%graduate$51kearningsTuition and fees: $1,156 a year. The net price counts housing and food at full cost.Soka University of AmericaUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 476 on campus · 7.7 mi · Aliso Viejo43%admitted$18knet price92%graduate$55kearningsConcordia University-IrvineUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 1,999 on campus · 7.8 mi · Irvine66%admitted$28knet price58%graduate$65kearningsLaguna College of Art and DesignUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 807 on campus · 8.5 mi · Laguna Beach94%admitted$43knet price52%graduate$48kearningsUniversity of California-IrvineUniversity or college · Public · 35,954 on campus · 9.5 mi · Irvine29%admitted$14knet price87%graduate$81kearningsWestcliff UniversityUniversity or college · For-profit · 4,526 on campus · 10.1 mi · Irvine73%admitted$35knet price62%graduateStanbridge UniversityUniversity or college · For-profit · 2,637 on campus · 10.6 mi · Irvine10%admitted$45knet price62%graduate$62kearningsCareer Networks InstituteUniversity or college · For-profit · 971 on campus · 10.9 mi · Santa Ana$50knet price89%graduate$45kearningsSantiago Canyon CollegeCommunity college · Public · 7,854 on campus · 11 mi · Orange$2knet price48%graduate$45kearningsTuition and fees: $1,164 a year. The net price counts housing and food at full cost.Interior Designers InstituteUniversity or college · For-profit · 107 on campus · 11 mi · Newport Beach$55kearningsPacific CollegeUniversity or college · For-profit · 238 on campus · 11.5 mi · Costa Mesa56%admitted$29knet price62%graduate$70kearningsVanguard University of Southern CaliforniaUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 1,956 on campus · 13 mi · Costa Mesa62%admitted$21knet price57%graduate$60kearningsOrange Coast CollegeCommunity college · Public · 14,830 on campus · 13.4 mi · Costa Mesa$7knet price48%graduate$47kearningsTuition and fees: $1,392 a year. The net price counts housing and food at full cost.Chapman UniversityUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 9,961 on campus · 13.9 mi · Orange65%admitted$47knet price82%graduate$70kearningsSanta Ana CollegeCommunity college · Public · 18,643 on campus · 14.1 mi · Santa Ana$3knet price31%graduate$44kearningsTuition and fees: $1,180 a year. The net price counts housing and food at full cost.South Coast CollegeUniversity or college · For-profit · 241 on campus · 14.6 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 Over $110k, where Lake Forest’s median household income ($135,175) falls.

Irvine Valley College6 mi · Irvine · sticker $13,001 · tuition $1,156$9,432a year
Santa Ana College14.1 mi · Santa Ana · sticker $12,375 · tuition $1,180$10,160a year
Saddleback College7 mi · Mission Viejo · sticker $13,939 · tuition $1,156$10,603a year
Santiago Canyon College11 mi · Orange · sticker $13,818 · tuition $1,164$11,014a year
Orange Coast College13.4 mi · Costa Mesa · sticker $15,561 · tuition $1,392$13,862a year
South Coast College14.6 mi · Orange · sticker $18,982$18,982a year
Vanguard University of Southern California13 mi · Costa Mesa · sticker $52,665$27,684a year
University of California-Irvine9.5 mi · Irvine · sticker $38,632$30,546a year
Soka University of America7.7 mi · Aliso Viejo · sticker $55,064$30,940a year
Concordia University-Irvine7.8 mi · Irvine · sticker $58,682$31,967a year
Westcliff University10.1 mi · Irvine · sticker $44,210$40,799a year
Laguna College of Art and Design8.5 mi · Laguna Beach · sticker $57,989$46,889a year
Stanbridge University10.6 mi · Irvine · sticker $49,714$49,714a year
Career Networks Institute10.9 mi · Santa Ana · sticker $52,552$52,552a year
Chapman University13.9 mi · Orange · sticker $83,146$55,066a year
Pacific College11.5 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 Lake Forest: 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-IrvineSantiago Canyon CollegeOrange Coast CollegeChapman UniversitySanta Ana College
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 Lake Forest

Is Lake Forest a college town?

No. About 8 of every 100 Lake Forest residents are enrolled in college (Census, 2020–24), about the same as California (8). The nearest campus, Irvine Valley College, is 6 miles away in Irvine.

What colleges are near Lake Forest?

17 colleges are within 15 miles. The largest: the University of California-Irvine (9.5 miles, 35,954 students on campus), Santa Ana College (14.1 miles, 18,643) and Orange Coast College (13.4 miles, 14,830).

What is the closest community college to Lake Forest, and what does it cost?

Irvine Valley College in Irvine, 6 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 Lake Forest. 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 →