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Lakewood-City-Hall-2014Photo: Proarte · CC BY-SA 4.0
Colleges in and near Lakewood

California State University-Long Beach is 4.5 miles from Lakewood

National Polytechnic College (299 students on campus) is inside the city, and California State University-Long Beach (38,193) is 4.5 miles from the center, just over the line in Long Beach. About 8% of Lakewood’s residents are enrolled in college, about the same as California (8%).

Long Beach City CollegeUniversal Technical Institute-Southern CaliforniaCerritos CollegeCalifornia State University-Long Beach

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 Lakewood. Colleges are described, not graded.

Within 15 miles
45
245,854 students on campus
Nearest college
1.2 mi
Long Beach City College
Residents in college
8%
About the same as CA (8%)
Nearest community college
1.2 mi
Long Beach City College · $1,556 tuition
Nearest public university
4.5 mi
California State University-Long Beach · $7,350 in-state
Median household income
$119K
prices below start here

What stands out about college in Lakewood

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

Four colleges within 4.5 milesCalifornia State University-Long Beach admits 46% of applicants. Together they have 70,881 students on campus.A community college 1.2 miles awayLong Beach City College in Long Beach: tuition and fees $1,556 a year for California residents.In-state price at California State University-Long BeachLiving in California, California State University-Long Beach charges $7,350 in tuition and fees; from out of state, $19,950. 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 Lakewood

29 private colleges within 15 miles, three public colleges within 13.8 miles, and 13 community colleges.

5 mi10 mi15 miCalifornia State University-FullertonCalifornia State University-Long BeachSanta Ana CollegeLakewood
University or collegeCommunity college
Long Beach City CollegeCommunity college · Public · 17,484 on campus · 1.2 mi · Long Beach$6knet price30%graduate$39kearningsTuition and fees: $1,556 a year. The net price counts housing and food at full cost.National Polytechnic CollegeUniversity or college · For-profit · 299 on campus · In Lakewood$31knet price47%graduate$31kearningsUniversal Technical Institute-Southern CaliforniaUniversity or college · For-profit · 1,447 on campus · 2 mi · Long Beach$28knet price63%graduate$53kearningsEarnings are reported for all 6 campuses that file with it.PCI CollegeUniversity or college · For-profit · 163 on campus · 2.3 mi · Cerritos$27knet price68%graduate$36kearningsCerritos CollegeCommunity college · Public · 13,757 on campus · 3.1 mi · Norwalk$2knet price31%graduate$41kearningsTuition and fees: $1,364 a year. The net price counts housing and food at full cost.Healthcare Career CollegeUniversity or college · For-profit · 381 on campus · 3.3 mi · Paramount$14knet price71%graduate$33kearningsNorth-West College-Long BeachUniversity or college · For-profit · 576 on campus · 3.5 mi · Long Beach$34knet price58%graduate$40kearningsEarnings are reported for all 4 campuses that file with it.California State University-Long BeachUniversity or college · Public · 38,193 on campus · 4.5 mi · Long Beach46%admitted$10knet price69%graduate$64kearningsAmerican University of Health SciencesUniversity or college · For-profit · 523 on campus · 4.5 mi · Signal Hill50%admitted50%graduate$94kearningsCompton CollegeCommunity college · Public · 3,330 on campus · 5.5 mi · Compton$13knet price27%graduate$34kearningsTuition and fees: $1,142 a year. The net price counts housing and food at full cost.Cypress CollegeCommunity college · Public · 10,494 on campus · 5.7 mi · Cypress$5knet price37%graduate$44kearningsTuition and fees: $1,150 a year. The net price counts housing and food at full cost.Biola UniversityUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 4,288 on campus · 7.4 mi · La Mirada74%admitted$31knet price68%graduate$57kearningsCalifornia State University-Dominguez HillsUniversity or college · Public · 13,167 on campus · 7.8 mi · Carson93%admitted$9knet price43%graduate$57kearningsAmerican Career College-AnaheimUniversity or college · For-profit · 1,643 on campus · 8.4 mi · Anaheim$31knet price70%graduate$38kearningsEarnings are reported for all 2 campuses that file with it.Charles R Drew University of Medicine and ScienceUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 763 on campus · 8.8 mi · Los Angeles39%admitted$36knet price30%graduate$83kearningsNorth-West College-AnaheimUniversity or college · For-profit · 455 on campus · 9.3 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 · 9.4 mi · AnaheimGraduate students only; the Scorecard reports no undergraduate figures.Southern California University of Health SciencesUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 957 on campus · 9.5 mi · Whittier · mostly online$46knet price50%graduate$71kearnings52% of its students study only online; price, graduation and earnings count them too.Grace Mission UniversityUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 121 on campus · 9.5 mi · Fullerton100%graduateATI College-WhittierUniversity or college · For-profit · 125 on campus · 9.7 mi · Whitter$20knet price72%graduate$39kearningsSouthern California Institute of TechnologyUniversity or college · For-profit · 536 on campus · 9.8 mi · Anaheim74%admitted$33knet price74%graduate$54kearningsUEI College-GardenaUniversity or college · For-profit · 1,115 on campus · 10 mi · Gardena$29knet price60%graduate$31kearningsEarnings are reported for all 5 campuses that file with it.Los Angeles Harbor CollegeCommunity college · Public · 3,447 on campus · 10.2 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.Whittier CollegeUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 859 on campus · 10.4 mi · Whittier81%admitted$26knet price60%graduate$59kearningsBethesda UniversityUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 248 on campus · 10.4 mi · Anaheim$11knet price11%graduateGolden West CollegeCommunity college · Public · 6,281 on campus · 10.5 mi · Huntington Beach$5knet price49%graduate$43kearningsTuition and fees: $1,380 a year. The net price counts housing and food at full cost.Concorde Career College-Garden GroveUniversity or college · For-profit · 202 on campus · 11.7 mi · Garden Grove97%admitted$25knet price84%graduate$46kearningsFullerton CollegeCommunity college · Public · 12,859 on campus · 11.8 mi · Fullerton$6knet price34%graduate$43kearningsTuition and fees: $1,150 a year. The net price counts housing and food at full cost.Los Angeles Southwest CollegeCommunity college · Public · 1,754 on campus · 11.9 mi · Los Angeles · mostly online$6knet price34%graduate$32kearnings67% 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.El Camino Community College DistrictCommunity college · Public · 15,562 on campus · 12.2 mi · Torrance$6knet price42%graduate$42kearningsTuition and fees: $1,144 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 · 12.3 mi · Anaheim$33knet price60%graduate$103kearningsEarnings are reported for all 6 campuses that file with it.Rio Hondo CollegeCommunity college · Public · 12,523 on campus · 13 mi · Whittier$14knet price25%graduate$45kearningsTuition and fees: $1,388 a year. The net price counts housing and food at full cost.Homestead SchoolsUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 178 on campus · 13.4 mi · Torrance$16knet price93%graduate$59kearningsEarnings are reported for all 2 campuses that file with it.East Los Angeles CollegeCommunity college · Public · 17,853 on campus · 13.5 mi · Monterey Park$11knet price37%graduate$42kearningsTuition and fees: $1,238 a year. The net price counts housing and food at full cost.California Career InstituteUniversity or college · For-profit · 517 on campus · 13.6 mi · AnaheimHope International UniversityUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 656 on campus · 13.7 mi · Fullerton33%admitted$29knet price49%graduate$50kearningsCalifornia State University-FullertonUniversity or college · Public · 38,210 on campus · 13.8 mi · Fullerton91%admitted$7knet price70%graduate$63kearningsMarshall B Ketchum UniversityUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 679 on campus · 13.8 mi · FullertonGraduate students only; the Scorecard reports no undergraduate figures.University of the WestUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 145 on campus · 13.9 mi · Rosemead100%admitted$7knet price38%graduateThe Chicago School at AnaheimUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 483 on campus · 14.1 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 · 14.2 mi · Anaheim$23knet price64%graduate$41kearningsEarnings are reported for all 4 campuses that file with it.Coastline Community CollegeCommunity college · Public · 728 on campus · 14.3 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.Santa Ana CollegeCommunity college · Public · 18,643 on campus · 14.8 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 · 14.8 mi · Orange$17knet price17%graduate$45kearningsSouthern California Institute of ArchitectureUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 457 on campus · 15 mi · Los Angeles77%admitted$44knet price71%graduate$72kearnings

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 Lakewood’s median household income ($119,177) falls.

Cerritos College3.1 mi · Norwalk · sticker $10,236 · tuition $1,364$7,901a year
Cypress College5.7 mi · Cypress · sticker $14,290 · tuition $1,150$10,001a year
Long Beach City College1.2 mi · Long Beach · sticker $14,503 · tuition $1,556$10,089a year
Santa Ana College14.8 mi · Santa Ana · sticker $12,375 · tuition $1,180$10,160a year
Fullerton College11.8 mi · Fullerton · sticker $14,369 · tuition $1,150$11,574a year
El Camino Community College District12.2 mi · Torrance · sticker $15,246 · tuition $1,144$12,869a year
Bethesda University10.4 mi · Anaheim · sticker $13,575$13,575a year
California State University-Fullerton13.8 mi · Fullerton · sticker $18,269$15,631a year
East Los Angeles College13.5 mi · Monterey Park · sticker $19,193 · tuition $1,238$16,430a year
Rio Hondo College13 mi · Whittier · sticker $21,391 · tuition $1,388$17,355a year
Homestead Schools13.4 mi · Torrance · sticker $20,937$17,870a year
California State University-Dominguez Hills7.8 mi · Carson · sticker $23,191$18,947a year
South Coast College14.8 mi · Orange · sticker $18,982$18,982a year
Los Angeles Harbor College10.2 mi · Wilmington · mostly online · sticker $21,772 · tuition $1,238$19,227a year
California State University-Long Beach4.5 mi · Long Beach · sticker $22,679$19,750a year
Concorde Career College-Garden Grove11.7 mi · Garden Grove · sticker $29,040$26,760a year
Platt College-Anaheim14.2 mi · Anaheim · sticker $28,170$28,170a year
Whittier College10.4 mi · Whittier · sticker $63,664$30,599a year
Universal Technical Institute-Southern California2 mi · Long Beach · sticker $33,041$32,461a year
American Career College-Anaheim8.4 mi · Anaheim · sticker $35,751$33,914a year
Hope International University13.7 mi · Fullerton · sticker $51,784$34,049a year
UEI College-Gardena10 mi · Gardena · sticker $34,105$34,105a year
National Polytechnic CollegeIn Lakewood · sticker $34,762$34,762a year
West Coast University-Orange County12.3 mi · Anaheim · sticker $34,887$34,887a year
North-West College-Long Beach3.5 mi · Long Beach · sticker $36,942$36,184a year
Biola University7.4 mi · La Mirada · sticker $62,757$37,314a year
Charles R Drew University of Medicine and Science8.8 mi · Los Angeles · sticker $39,834$37,834a year
Southern California Institute of Technology9.8 mi · Anaheim · sticker $37,992$37,884a year
PCI College2.3 mi · Cerritos · sticker $33,852—a year
Healthcare Career College3.3 mi · Paramount · sticker $18,873—a year
Compton College5.5 mi · Compton · sticker $20,447 · tuition $1,142—a year
North-West College-Anaheim9.3 mi · Anaheim · sticker $31,922—a year
Southern California University of Health Sciences9.5 mi · Whittier · mostly online · sticker $57,740—a year
ATI College-Whittier9.7 mi · Whitter · sticker $29,726—a year
Golden West College10.5 mi · Huntington Beach · sticker $14,618 · tuition $1,380—a year
Los Angeles Southwest College11.9 mi · Los Angeles · mostly online · sticker $13,624 · tuition $1,238—a year
University of the West13.9 mi · Rosemead · sticker $21,278—a year
Coastline Community College14.3 mi · Fountain Valley · mostly online · sticker $24,290 · tuition $1,364—a year
Southern California Institute of Architecture15 mi · Los Angeles · sticker $71,612—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 Lakewood: 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 BeachEl Camino Community College DistrictEast Los Angeles CollegeCalifornia State University-FullertonSanta Ana 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
El Camino Community College District42% graduate$42k earnings
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
Golden West College49% graduate$43k earnings$7k 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: Universal Technical Institute-Southern California (6); North-West College-Long Beach (4); American Career College-Anaheim (2); North-West College-Anaheim (4); UEI College-Gardena (5); West Coast University-Orange County (6); Homestead Schools (2); Platt College-Anaheim (4).

Majors

What students study in Lakewood

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

Health professions 97%Mechanics & repair 3%Everything else 0%

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 Lakewood

Is Lakewood a college town?

No. About 8 of every 100 Lakewood residents are enrolled in college (Census, 2020–24), about the same as California (8). The largest campus in the city, National Polytechnic College, has 299 students on campus.

What colleges are in Lakewood?

National Polytechnic College is inside the city. California State University-Long Beach is 4.5 miles from the center, in Long Beach, Long Beach City College is 1.2 miles from the center, in Long Beach, and Cerritos College is 3.1 miles from the center, in Norwalk.

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

Long Beach City College in Long Beach, 1.2 miles away. Tuition and fees are $1,556 a year for California residents; the federal net price, $6,202, counts housing and food at full cost.

How much does California State University-Long Beach cost if we live in California?

Tuition and fees are $7,350 a year in-state and $19,950 from out of state. After grants, families on federal aid paid an average of $7,183 (under $30,000 income) to $19,750 (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 Lakewood. 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 →