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Colleges in and near Los Angeles

Los Angeles is home to 38 colleges, with about 218,000 students on campus

The University of California-Los Angeles (46,029 students on campus) and the University of Southern California (41,282) are inside the city, and Santa Monica College (14,294) is 3.4 miles from the center, just over the line in Santa Monica. About 8% of Los Angeles’ residents are enrolled in college, about the same as California (8%).

Santa Monica CollegeLoyola Marymount UniversityUniversity of California-Los AngelesOtis College of Art and DesignMount Saint Mary's UniversitySmith Chason CollegeUniversity of Southern CaliforniaAmerican Career College-Los AngelesLos Angeles Trade Technical CollegeFIDM-Fashion Institute of Design & MerchandisingUEI College-GardenaWest Coast University-Los AngelesOccidental CollegeCalifornia State University-Los AngelesLos Angeles Pierce CollegeCalifornia State University-Northridge

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 Los Angeles. Colleges are described, not graded.

Within 15 miles
51
236,568 students on campus
Nearest college
1.7 mi
West Los Angeles College
Residents in college
8%
About the same as CA (8%)
Nearest community college
1.7 mi
West Los Angeles College · $1,238 tuition
Nearest public university
3.4 mi
Santa Monica College · $1,156 in-state
Median household income
$82K
prices below start here

What stands out about college in Los Angeles

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

16 colleges within 16.7 milesLoyola Marymount University admits 45% of applicants; University of California-Los Angeles admits 9%; Otis College of Art and Design admits 82%. Together they have 202,455 students on campus.A community college 1.7 miles awayWest Los Angeles College in Culver City: tuition and fees $1,238 a year for California residents.In-state price at Santa Monica CollegeLiving in California, Santa Monica College charges $1,156 in tuition and fees; from out of state, $10,708. 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 Los Angeles

38 private colleges within 14.9 miles, three public colleges within 14.2 miles, and 13 community colleges.

5 mi10 mi15 miUniversity of California-Los AngelesUniversity of Southern CaliforniaCalifornia State University-Los AngelesLos Angeles
University or collegeCommunity college
West Los Angeles CollegeCommunity college · Public · 2,805 on campus · 1.7 mi · Culver City · mostly online$10knet price28%graduate$39kearnings70% 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.Antioch University-Los AngelesUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 888 on campus · 2.6 mi · Culver City$52kearningsEarnings are reported for all 5 campuses that file with it.Yo San University of Traditional Chinese MedicineUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 124 on campus · In Los AngelesGraduate students only; the Scorecard reports no undergraduate figures.Santa Monica CollegeCommunity college · Public · 14,294 on campus · 3.4 mi · Santa Monica$3knet price36%graduate$42kearningsTuition and fees: $1,156 a year. The net price counts housing and food at full cost.Loyola Marymount UniversityUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 9,533 on campus · In Los Angeles45%admitted$48knet price79%graduate$78kearningsUniversity of California-Los AngelesUniversity or college · Public · 46,029 on campus · In Los Angeles9%admitted$13knet price93%graduate$83kearningsEmperor's College of Traditional Oriental MedicineUniversity or college · For-profit · 181 on campus · 4.3 mi · Santa MonicaGraduate students only; the Scorecard reports no undergraduate figures.Otis College of Art and DesignUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 1,284 on campus · In Los Angeles82%admitted$51knet price66%graduate$58kearningsRAND School of Public PolicyUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 126 on campus · 4.6 mi · Santa MonicaGraduate students only; the Scorecard reports no undergraduate figures.Spartan College of Aeronautics & TechnologyUniversity or college · For-profit · 319 on campus · 4.8 mi · Inglewood$33knet price64%graduate$62kearningsEarnings are reported for all 2 campuses that file with it.University of West Los AngelesUniversity or college · For-profit · 256 on campus · 5.5 mi · InglewoodYeshiva Ohr Elchonon Chabad West Coast Talmudical SeminaryUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 157 on campus · In Los Angeles58%admitted$15knet price12%graduate$48kearningsMount Saint Mary's UniversityUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 2,219 on campus · In Los Angeles73%admitted$21knet price53%graduate$72kearningsAmerican Academy of Dramatic Arts-Los AngelesCommunity college · Private nonprofit · 169 on campus · In Los AngelesCBD CollegeCommunity college · Private nonprofit · 824 on campus · In Los Angeles$23knet price82%graduate$37kearningsSmith Chason CollegeUniversity or college · For-profit · 2,221 on campus · In Los Angeles$34knet price72%graduate$58kearningsMusicians InstituteUniversity or college · For-profit · 666 on campus · In Los Angeles78%admitted$47knet price53%graduate$33kearningsAngeles CollegeUniversity or college · For-profit · 493 on campus · In Los Angeles$29knet price93%graduate$49kearningsLos Angeles Film SchoolUniversity or college · For-profit · 1,566 on campus · In Los Angeles · mostly online$31knet price41%graduate$32kearnings73% of its students study only online; price, graduation and earnings count them too.University of Southern CaliforniaUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 41,282 on campus · In Los Angeles10%admitted$33knet price92%graduate$92kearningsSouthwestern Law SchoolUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 950 on campus · In Los AngelesGraduate students only; the Scorecard reports no undergraduate figures.American Career College-Los AngelesUniversity or college · For-profit · 2,066 on campus · In Los Angeles$32knet price75%graduate$38kearningsEarnings are reported for all 2 campuses that file with it.Los Angeles Trade Technical CollegeCommunity college · Public · 8,945 on campus · In Los Angeles$12knet price35%graduate$35kearningsTuition and fees: $1,238 a year. The net price counts housing and food at full cost.West Coast University-Center for Graduate StudiesUniversity or college · For-profit · 527 on campus · In Los Angeles$103kearningsEarnings are reported for all 6 campuses that file with it.Graduate students only; the Scorecard reports no undergraduate figures.Los Angeles City CollegeCommunity college · Public · 6,569 on campus · In Los Angeles · mostly online$10knet price29%graduate$36kearnings53% 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.American Film Institute ConservatoryUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 389 on campus · In Los AngelesGraduate students only; the Scorecard reports no undergraduate figures.Los Angeles Southwest CollegeCommunity college · Public · 1,754 on campus · 8.7 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.FIDM-Fashion Institute of Design & MerchandisingUniversity or college · For-profit · 1,348 on campus · In Los AngelesCalifornia College of ASUUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 136 on campus · In Los AngelesThe Chicago School at Los AngelesUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 616 on campus · In Los Angeles · mostly online46%admitted0%graduate$57kearnings82% of its students study only online; price, graduation and earnings count them too.Earnings are reported for all 8 campuses that file with it.Casa Loma College-Los AngelesCommunity college · Private nonprofit · 571 on campus · In Los Angeles43%admitted$28knet price73%graduate$50kearningsNew York Film AcademyUniversity or college · For-profit · 1,238 on campus · 10.1 mi · Burbank$39knet price68%graduate$30kearningsSouthern California Institute of ArchitectureUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 457 on campus · In Los Angeles77%admitted$44knet price71%graduate$72kearningsEl Camino Community College DistrictCommunity college · Public · 15,562 on campus · 10.4 mi · Torrance$6knet price42%graduate$42kearningsTuition and fees: $1,144 a year. The net price counts housing and food at full cost.Los Angeles Valley CollegeCommunity college · Public · 6,750 on campus · In Los Angeles · mostly online$12knet price32%graduate$43kearnings57% 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.UEI College-GardenaUniversity or college · For-profit · 1,115 on campus · In Los Angeles$29knet price60%graduate$31kearningsEarnings are reported for all 5 campuses that file with it.GnomonUniversity or college · For-profit · 426 on campus · In Los Angeles42%admitted$52knet price100%graduate$115kearningsConcorde Career College-North HollywoodUniversity or college · For-profit · 143 on campus · In Los Angeles100%admitted$24knet price78%graduate$51kearningsWest Coast University-Los AngelesUniversity or college · For-profit · 2,640 on campus · In Los Angeles$53knet price31%graduate$103kearningsEarnings are reported for all 6 campuses that file with it.Charles R Drew University of Medicine and ScienceUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 763 on campus · 11.6 mi · Los Angeles39%admitted$36knet price30%graduate$83kearningsLos Angeles County College of Nursing and Allied HealthCommunity college · Public · 220 on campus · In Los Angeles$115kearningsAmerican Medical Sciences CenterUniversity or college · For-profit · 200 on campus · 12.5 mi · Glendale$22knet price75%graduate$30kearningsGlendale Career CollegeUniversity or college · For-profit · 854 on campus · 12.7 mi · Glendale$49knet price63%graduate$41kearningsEarnings are reported for all 5 campuses that file with it.Occidental CollegeUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 1,854 on campus · In Los Angeles44%admitted$38knet price81%graduate$76kearningsWoodbury UniversityUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 895 on campus · 13.6 mi · Burbank82%admitted$34knet price60%graduate$66kearningsCalifornia State University-Dominguez HillsUniversity or college · Public · 13,167 on campus · 13.9 mi · Carson93%admitted$9knet price43%graduate$57kearningsCalifornia State University-Los AngelesUniversity or college · Public · 23,850 on campus · In Los Angeles91%admitted$4knet price53%graduate$59kearningsNational Career CollegeUniversity or college · For-profit · 360 on campus · In Los Angeles$28knet price74%graduate$19kearningsGlendale Community CollegeCommunity college · Public · 7,661 on campus · 14.6 mi · Glendale$8knet price37%graduate$42kearningsTuition and fees: $1,191 a year. The net price counts housing and food at full cost.Los Angeles Pierce CollegeCommunity college · Public · 8,928 on campus · In Los Angeles$13knet price46%graduate$45kearningsTuition and fees: $1,238 a year. The net price counts housing and food at full cost.Homestead SchoolsUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 178 on campus · 14.9 mi · Torrance$16knet price93%graduate$59kearningsEarnings are reported for all 2 campuses that file with it.

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 $75–110k, where Los Angeles’ median household income ($81,939) falls.

Santa Monica College3.4 mi · Santa Monica · sticker $11,162 · tuition $1,156$7,087a year
California State University-Los AngelesIn Los Angeles · sticker $18,403$7,355a year
Los Angeles Southwest College8.7 mi · Los Angeles · mostly online · sticker $13,624 · tuition $1,238$7,420a year
El Camino Community College District10.4 mi · Torrance · sticker $15,246 · tuition $1,144$11,546a year
California State University-Dominguez Hills13.9 mi · Carson · sticker $23,191$12,323a year
Glendale Community College14.6 mi · Glendale · sticker $17,501 · tuition $1,191$13,944a year
West Los Angeles College1.7 mi · Culver City · mostly online · sticker $17,336 · tuition $1,238$14,028a year
University of California-Los AngelesIn Los Angeles · sticker $38,614$14,142a year
Los Angeles City CollegeIn Los Angeles · mostly online · sticker $18,924 · tuition $1,238$14,784a year
Los Angeles Trade Technical CollegeIn Los Angeles · sticker $20,457 · tuition $1,238$16,399a year
Yeshiva Ohr Elchonon Chabad West Coast Talmudical SeminaryIn Los Angeles · sticker $31,300$16,940a year
Los Angeles Valley CollegeIn Los Angeles · mostly online · sticker $20,546 · tuition $1,238$17,117a year
Los Angeles Pierce CollegeIn Los Angeles · sticker $21,400 · tuition $1,238$17,337a year
University of Southern CaliforniaIn Los Angeles · sticker $90,300$24,976a year
American Medical Sciences Center12.5 mi · Glendale · sticker $27,293$25,745a year
Concorde Career College-North HollywoodIn Los Angeles · sticker $28,621$25,891a year
Occidental CollegeIn Los Angeles · sticker $84,800$28,033a year
Mount Saint Mary's UniversityIn Los Angeles · sticker $66,726$30,247a year
Angeles CollegeIn Los Angeles · sticker $33,854$31,390a year
Los Angeles Film SchoolIn Los Angeles · mostly online · sticker $38,291$31,598a year
National Career CollegeIn Los Angeles · sticker $34,495$32,167a year
Woodbury University13.6 mi · Burbank · sticker $58,010$32,773a year
Charles R Drew University of Medicine and Science11.6 mi · Los Angeles · sticker $39,834$33,075a year
American Career College-Los AngelesIn Los Angeles · sticker $37,270$34,343a year
Smith Chason CollegeIn Los Angeles · sticker $39,461$36,953a year
Spartan College of Aeronautics & Technology4.8 mi · Inglewood · sticker $39,104$39,104a year
Loyola Marymount UniversityIn Los Angeles · sticker $83,943$40,557a year
New York Film Academy10.1 mi · Burbank · sticker $62,210$42,667a year
Musicians InstituteIn Los Angeles · sticker $52,369$49,296a year
Glendale Career College12.7 mi · Glendale · sticker $51,802$50,013a year
GnomonIn Los Angeles · sticker $54,947$50,947a year
Otis College of Art and DesignIn Los Angeles · sticker $75,861$52,495a year
CBD CollegeIn Los Angeles · sticker $28,569—a year
Casa Loma College-Los AngelesIn Los Angeles · sticker $32,018—a year
Southern California Institute of ArchitectureIn Los Angeles · sticker $71,612—a year
UEI College-GardenaIn Los Angeles · sticker $34,105—a year
West Coast University-Los AngelesIn Los Angeles · sticker $55,938—a year
Homestead Schools14.9 mi · Torrance · sticker $20,937—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 Los Angeles: 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 →Santa Monica CollegeUniversity of California-Los AngelesUniversity of Southern CaliforniaEl Camino Community College DistrictCalifornia State University-Dominguez HillsCalifornia State University-Los Angeles
University of California-Los Angeles93% graduate$83k earnings$14k typical debt
University of Southern California92% graduate$92k earnings$18k typical debt
California State University-Los Angeles53% graduate$59k earnings$13k typical debt
El Camino Community College District42% graduate$42k earnings
Santa Monica College36% graduate$42k earnings$6k typical debt
California State University-Dominguez Hills43% graduate$57k earnings$14k typical debt
Loyola Marymount University79% graduate$78k earnings$20k typical debt
Los Angeles Trade Technical College35% graduate$35k earnings$10k typical debt
Los Angeles Pierce College46% graduate$45k earnings$13k typical debt
Glendale Community College37% graduate$42k earnings$9k typical debt
Los Angeles Valley College32% graduate$43k earnings$10k typical debt
Los Angeles City College29% graduate$36k earnings$13k 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: Spartan College of Aeronautics & Technology (2); American Career College-Los Angeles (2); The Chicago School at Los Angeles (8); UEI College-Gardena (5); West Coast University-Los Angeles (6); Glendale Career College (5); Homestead Schools (2).

Majors

What students study in Los Angeles

Share of bachelor’s and associate degrees by field across Los Angeles’ 25 colleges, weighted by undergraduates; then the biggest programs.

Health professions 12%Social sciences 11%Business 11%Psychology 7%Liberal arts 6%Visual & performing arts 5%Everything else 49%

Biggest programs

Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and HumanitiesLos Angeles Pierce College · 1,180 graduates a year
$48k4 yrs out
Business Administration, Management and OperationsCalifornia State University-Northridge · 1,100 graduates a year
$66k4 yrs out
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical NursingWest Coast University-Los Angeles · 981 graduates a year
$111k4 yrs out
Psychology, GeneralCalifornia State University-Northridge · 980 graduates a year
$50k4 yrs out
Business Administration, Management and OperationsCalifornia State University-Los Angeles · 896 graduates a year
$63k4 yrs out
Business Administration, Management and OperationsUniversity of Southern California · 832 graduates a year
$109k4 yrs out
EconomicsUniversity of California-Los Angeles · 830 graduates a year
$95k4 yrs out
Psychology, GeneralUniversity of California-Los Angeles · 685 graduates a year
$61k4 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. Left out: Los Angeles Film School, Los Angeles City College, The Chicago School at Los Angeles, Los Angeles Valley College, Los Angeles Harbor College, Los Angeles Mission College, where most students study only online.

Questions about college in Los Angeles

Is Los Angeles a college town?

No. About 8 of every 100 Los Angeles residents are enrolled in college (Census, 2020–24), about the same as California (8). The largest campus in the city, the University of California-Los Angeles, has 46,029 students on campus.

What colleges are in Los Angeles?

The University of California-Los Angeles, the University of Southern California, California State University-Northridge, California State University-Los Angeles and 34 more are inside the city. Santa Monica College is 3.4 miles from the center, in Santa Monica, and West Los Angeles College is 1.7 miles away in Culver City.

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

West Los Angeles College in Culver City, 1.7 miles away. Tuition and fees are $1,238 a year for California residents; the federal net price, $9,634, counts housing and food at full cost.

How much does Santa Monica College cost if we live in California?

Tuition and fees are $1,156 a year in-state and $10,708 from out of state. After grants, families on federal aid paid an average of $1,896 (under $30,000 income) to $8,395 (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 Los Angeles. 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 →