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Manhattan PierPhoto: Evanthomas1 at English Wikipedia · Public domain
Colleges in and near Manhattan Beach

El Camino Community College District is 5 miles from Manhattan Beach

No college sits inside Manhattan Beach’s boundary, but El Camino Community College District’s campus in Torrance, with 15,562 students on campus, is 5 miles from the center of town. About 5% of Manhattan Beach’s residents are enrolled in college, below California (8%).

Otis College of Art and DesignEl Camino Community College District

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 Manhattan Beach. Colleges are described, not graded.

Within 15 miles
34
177,565 students on campus
Nearest college
4.4 mi
Otis College of Art and Design
Residents in college
5%
Below CA (8%)
Nearest community college
5 mi
El Camino Community College District · $1,144 tuition
Nearest public university
9.1 mi
Santa Monica College · $1,156 in-state
Median household income
$204K
prices below start here

What stands out about college from Manhattan Beach

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

Two colleges within 5 milesOtis College of Art and Design admits 82% of applicants. Together they have 16,846 students on campus.A community college 5 miles awayEl Camino Community College District in Torrance: tuition and fees $1,144 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 5% of residentsBelow California (8%). The Census counts anyone enrolled, including part-time and online students.
Every college

Colleges within 15 miles of Manhattan Beach

25 private colleges within 14.9 miles, two public colleges within 12.5 miles, and nine community colleges.

5 mi10 mi15 miUniversity of California-Los AngelesUniversity of Southern CaliforniaEl Camino Community College DistrictManhattan Beach
University or collegeCommunity college
Otis College of Art and DesignUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 1,284 on campus · 4.4 mi · Los Angeles82%admitted$51knet price66%graduate$58kearningsUniversity of West Los AngelesUniversity or college · For-profit · 256 on campus · 4.7 mi · InglewoodSpartan College of Aeronautics & TechnologyUniversity or college · For-profit · 319 on campus · 4.9 mi · Inglewood$33knet price64%graduate$62kearningsEarnings are reported for all 2 campuses that file with it.El Camino Community College DistrictCommunity college · Public · 15,562 on campus · 5 mi · Torrance$6knet price42%graduate$42kearningsTuition and fees: $1,144 a year. The net price counts housing and food at full cost.Loyola Marymount UniversityUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 9,533 on campus · 5.4 mi · Los Angeles45%admitted$48knet price79%graduate$78kearningsLos Angeles Southwest CollegeCommunity college · Public · 1,754 on campus · 6.9 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.Antioch University-Los AngelesUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 888 on campus · 6.9 mi · Culver City$52kearningsEarnings are reported for all 5 campuses that file with it.Homestead SchoolsUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 178 on campus · 6.9 mi · Torrance$16knet price93%graduate$59kearningsEarnings are reported for all 2 campuses that file with it.Yo San University of Traditional Chinese MedicineUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 124 on campus · 7.1 mi · Los AngelesGraduate students only; the Scorecard reports no undergraduate figures.UEI College-GardenaUniversity or college · For-profit · 1,115 on campus · 7.4 mi · Gardena$29knet price60%graduate$31kearningsEarnings are reported for all 5 campuses that file with it.West Los Angeles CollegeCommunity college · Public · 2,805 on campus · 7.9 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.Santa Monica CollegeCommunity college · Public · 14,294 on campus · 9.1 mi · Santa Monica$3knet price36%graduate$42kearningsTuition and fees: $1,156 a year. The net price counts housing and food at full cost.RAND School of Public PolicyUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 126 on campus · 9.2 mi · Santa MonicaGraduate students only; the Scorecard reports no undergraduate figures.California State University-Dominguez HillsUniversity or college · Public · 13,167 on campus · 9.4 mi · Carson93%admitted$9knet price43%graduate$57kearningsCharles R Drew University of Medicine and ScienceUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 763 on campus · 10.2 mi · Los Angeles39%admitted$36knet price30%graduate$83kearningsEmperor's College of Traditional Oriental MedicineUniversity or college · For-profit · 181 on campus · 10.3 mi · Santa MonicaGraduate students only; the Scorecard reports no undergraduate figures.Los Angeles Harbor CollegeCommunity college · Public · 3,447 on campus · 10.6 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.University of Southern CaliforniaUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 41,282 on campus · 11.7 mi · Los Angeles10%admitted$33knet price92%graduate$92kearningsCompton CollegeCommunity college · Public · 3,330 on campus · 11.9 mi · Compton$13knet price27%graduate$34kearningsTuition and fees: $1,142 a year. The net price counts housing and food at full cost.University of California-Los AngelesUniversity or college · Public · 46,029 on campus · 12.5 mi · Los Angeles9%admitted$13knet price93%graduate$83kearningsLos Angeles Trade Technical CollegeCommunity college · Public · 8,945 on campus · 12.8 mi · Los Angeles$12knet price35%graduate$35kearningsTuition and fees: $1,238 a year. The net price counts housing and food at full cost.CBD CollegeCommunity college · Private nonprofit · 824 on campus · 13.3 mi · Los Angeles$23knet price82%graduate$37kearningsSmith Chason CollegeUniversity or college · For-profit · 2,221 on campus · 13.4 mi · Los Angeles$34knet price72%graduate$58kearningsAngeles CollegeUniversity or college · For-profit · 493 on campus · 13.5 mi · Los Angeles$29knet price93%graduate$49kearningsCalifornia College of ASUUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 136 on campus · 13.6 mi · Los AngelesFIDM-Fashion Institute of Design & MerchandisingUniversity or college · For-profit · 1,348 on campus · 13.8 mi · Los AngelesSouthwestern Law SchoolUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 950 on campus · 13.8 mi · Los AngelesGraduate students only; the Scorecard reports no undergraduate figures.Mount Saint Mary's UniversityUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 2,219 on campus · 13.9 mi · Los Angeles73%admitted$21knet price53%graduate$72kearningsYeshiva Ohr Elchonon Chabad West Coast Talmudical SeminaryUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 157 on campus · 13.9 mi · Los Angeles58%admitted$15knet price12%graduate$48kearningsThe Chicago School at Los AngelesUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 616 on campus · 14.2 mi · 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.American Academy of Dramatic Arts-Los AngelesCommunity college · Private nonprofit · 169 on campus · 14.6 mi · Los AngelesAmerican Career College-Los AngelesUniversity or college · For-profit · 2,066 on campus · 14.7 mi · Los Angeles$32knet price75%graduate$38kearningsEarnings are reported for all 2 campuses that file with it.West Coast University-Center for Graduate StudiesUniversity or college · For-profit · 527 on campus · 14.9 mi · Los Angeles$103kearningsEarnings are reported for all 6 campuses that file with it.Graduate students only; the Scorecard reports no undergraduate figures.Southern California Institute of ArchitectureUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 457 on campus · 14.9 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 Manhattan Beach’s median household income ($204,306) falls.

Santa Monica College9.1 mi · Santa Monica · sticker $11,162 · tuition $1,156$8,395a year
Yeshiva Ohr Elchonon Chabad West Coast Talmudical Seminary13.9 mi · Los Angeles · sticker $31,300$10,300a year
El Camino Community College District5 mi · Torrance · sticker $15,246 · tuition $1,144$12,869a year
Los Angeles Trade Technical College12.8 mi · Los Angeles · sticker $20,457 · tuition $1,238$17,270a year
Homestead Schools6.9 mi · Torrance · sticker $20,937$17,870a year
Mount Saint Mary's University13.9 mi · Los Angeles · sticker $66,726$18,762a year
California State University-Dominguez Hills9.4 mi · Carson · sticker $23,191$18,947a year
Los Angeles Harbor College10.6 mi · Wilmington · mostly online · sticker $21,772 · tuition $1,238$19,227a year
University of California-Los Angeles12.5 mi · Los Angeles · sticker $38,614$29,682a year
UEI College-Gardena7.4 mi · Gardena · sticker $34,105$34,105a year
American Career College-Los Angeles14.7 mi · Los Angeles · sticker $37,270$37,270a year
Charles R Drew University of Medicine and Science10.2 mi · Los Angeles · sticker $39,834$37,834a year
Smith Chason College13.4 mi · Los Angeles · sticker $39,461$39,299a year
University of Southern California11.7 mi · Los Angeles · sticker $90,300$56,116a year
Loyola Marymount University5.4 mi · Los Angeles · sticker $83,943$58,371a year
Otis College of Art and Design4.4 mi · Los Angeles · sticker $75,861$60,718a year
Spartan College of Aeronautics & Technology4.9 mi · Inglewood · sticker $39,104—a year
Los Angeles Southwest College6.9 mi · Los Angeles · mostly online · sticker $13,624 · tuition $1,238—a year
West Los Angeles College7.9 mi · Culver City · mostly online · sticker $17,336 · tuition $1,238—a year
Compton College11.9 mi · Compton · sticker $20,447 · tuition $1,142—a year
CBD College13.3 mi · Los Angeles · sticker $28,569—a year
Angeles College13.5 mi · Los Angeles · sticker $33,854—a year
Southern California Institute of Architecture14.9 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 Manhattan 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 →El Camino Community College DistrictLoyola Marymount UniversitySanta Monica CollegeCalifornia State University-Dominguez HillsUniversity of Southern CaliforniaUniversity of California-Los Angeles
University of California-Los Angeles93% graduate$83k earnings$14k typical debt
University of Southern California92% graduate$92k earnings$18k 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 Harbor College36% graduate$41k earnings
Compton College27% graduate$34k earnings
West Los Angeles College28% graduate$39k earnings$14k typical debt
Smith Chason College72% graduate$58k earnings$21k typical debt
Mount Saint Mary's University53% graduate$72k earnings$26k 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); Homestead Schools (2); UEI College-Gardena (5); The Chicago School at Los Angeles (8); American Career College-Los Angeles (2).

Questions about college near Manhattan Beach

Is Manhattan Beach a college town?

No. About 5 of every 100 Manhattan Beach residents are enrolled in college (Census, 2020–24), below California (8). The nearest campus, Otis College of Art and Design, is 4.4 miles away in Los Angeles.

What colleges are near Manhattan Beach?

34 colleges are within 15 miles. The largest: the University of California-Los Angeles (12.5 miles, 46,029 students on campus), the University of Southern California (11.7 miles, 41,282) and El Camino Community College District (5 miles, 15,562).

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

El Camino Community College District in Torrance, 5 miles away. Tuition and fees are $1,144 a year for California residents; the federal net price, $5,968, 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 Manhattan 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 →