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Moraga CaliforniaPhoto: en:User:JD Lisa · Public domain
Colleges in and near Moraga

Moraga is a college town: 16 of every 100 residents are students

Saint Mary's College of California (2,642 students on campus) is inside the town. Across California, 8 of every 100 residents are enrolled in college.

College town16% of residents are studentsSaint Mary's College of California

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 Moraga. Colleges are described, not graded.

Within 15 miles
21
95,792 students on campus
Nearest college
0.8 mi
Saint Mary's College of California
Residents in college
16%
Above CA (8%)
Nearest community college
4.6 mi
Merritt College · $1,258 tuition
Nearest public university
7.7 mi
University of California-Berkeley · $16,347 in-state
Students on campus in Moraga
2,642
next to 16,322 residents

What stands out about college in Moraga

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

A college town16 of every 100 Moraga residents are enrolled in college, against 8 across California.A college in MoragaSaint Mary's College of California has 2,642 students on campus in Moraga, 70% of whom graduate within six years.A community college 4.6 miles awayMerritt College in Oakland: tuition and fees $1,258 a year for California residents.In-state price at University of California-BerkeleyLiving in California, the University of California-Berkeley charges $16,347 in tuition and fees; from out of state, $50,547. State residency rules decide which a new arrival pays.
Town & gown

What it’s like to live in Moraga

How much the colleges shape the town, from the Census Bureau’s survey of residents.

16 of every 100 Moraga residents are in college (CA: 8).

2,642students on campus at Saint Mary's College of California, next to 16,322 residents (dorm students count as residents)
1,186college students live in Moraga households rather than dorms
40.1median age · CA 37.9
17%of homes rented · CA 44%
$2,895median rent · 42% above the state
MoragaMoraga, CA
Cost of living$2,895/mo median rentD−SafetyCrime reported to the FBIA−HealthCDC estimatesA+Jobs & incomeIncome, jobs, getting aroundA−HandbookTrash day, parking, who to call

How students change Moraga’s other numbers

Read the town’s other grades with this in mind. How TownRatings handles college towns →

Jobs & income A−

Students who live off campus count in the Census poverty figures: 7.5% of Moraga residents are below the poverty line, 4.3% when college students are left out (that estimate could be off by 6 points either way). 44% of the students themselves are below the line. In college towns, the Jobs & income grade uses the rate without students and leaves unemployment out.

Cost of living D−

The Cost grade counts the share of renters paying 30% or more of income on rent, leaving it out only where students are a quarter of residents or more. Here they are 16%, so student incomes still weigh on that figure.

Health A+

CDC’s estimates follow each place’s age mix, and Moraga’s median age is 40.1 (California 37.9), so the adult figures describe a young population.

Safety A−

Crime is counted per resident, and students who live here count as residents. A college with its own police department reports its incidents under that department, not the city.

Every college

Colleges within 15 miles of Moraga

12 private colleges within 14.3 miles, two public colleges within 13.5 miles, and seven community colleges.

5 mi10 mi15 miUniversity of California-BerkeleyDiablo Valley CollegeCalifornia State University-East BayMoraga
University or collegeCommunity college
Saint Mary's College of CaliforniaUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 2,642 on campus · In Moraga87%admitted$30knet price70%graduate$79kearningsMerritt CollegeCommunity college · Public · 2,888 on campus · 4.6 mi · Oakland · mostly online$14knet price26%graduate$44kearnings57% of its students study only online; price, graduation and earnings count them too.Tuition and fees: $1,258 a year. The net price counts housing and food at full cost.Northeastern University OaklandUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 657 on campus · 5.5 mi · Oakland17%admitted$25knet price$93kearningsEarnings are reported for all 3 campuses that file with it.The Wright InstituteUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 511 on campus · 7.3 mi · BerkeleyGraduate students only; the Scorecard reports no undergraduate figures.University of California-BerkeleyUniversity or college · Public · 43,954 on campus · 7.7 mi · Berkeley11%admitted$13knet price93%graduate$92kearningsGraduate Theological UnionUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 140 on campus · 7.8 mi · BerkeleyGraduate students only; the Scorecard reports no undergraduate figures.Pacific School of ReligionUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 128 on campus · 7.9 mi · BerkeleyGraduate students only; the Scorecard reports no undergraduate figures.Samuel Merritt UniversityUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 1,516 on campus · 8 mi · Oakland$143kearningsAcupuncture and Integrative Medicine College-BerkeleyUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 119 on campus · 8 mi · BerkeleyGraduate students only; the Scorecard reports no undergraduate figures.Berkeley City CollegeCommunity college · Public · 2,915 on campus · 8.2 mi · Berkeley · mostly online$9knet price36%graduate$41kearnings55% of its students study only online; price, graduation and earnings count them too.Tuition and fees: $1,258 a year. The net price counts housing and food at full cost.Laney CollegeCommunity college · Public · 6,027 on campus · 8.3 mi · Oakland$17knet price31%graduate$37kearningsTuition and fees: $1,258 a year. The net price counts housing and food at full cost.Lincoln UniversityUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 474 on campus · 8.5 mi · Oakland100%graduate$54kearningsCarrington College-Pleasant Hill CampusUniversity or college · For-profit · 432 on campus · 8.5 mi · Pleasant Hill$39knet price59%graduate$40kearningsEarnings are reported for all 5 campuses that file with it.Academy of Chinese Culture and Health SciencesUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 122 on campus · 8.5 mi · OaklandGraduate students only; the Scorecard reports no undergraduate figures.Diablo Valley CollegeCommunity college · Public · 10,850 on campus · 8.9 mi · Pleasant Hill$8knet price49%graduate$51kearningsTuition and fees: $1,312 a year. The net price counts housing and food at full cost.College of AlamedaCommunity college · Public · 1,635 on campus · 9.6 mi · Alameda · mostly online$8knet price33%graduate$43kearnings72% of its students study only online; price, graduation and earnings count them too.Tuition and fees: $1,258 a year. The net price counts housing and food at full cost.Carrington College-San Leandro CampusUniversity or college · For-profit · 401 on campus · 10.1 mi · San Leandro$40knet price59%graduate$40kearningsEarnings are reported for all 5 campuses that file with it.California State University-East BayUniversity or college · Public · 8,951 on campus · 13.5 mi · Hayward97%admitted$9knet price48%graduate$71kearningsChabot CollegeCommunity college · Public · 7,625 on campus · 14.1 mi · Hayward$9knet price47%graduate$48kearningsTuition and fees: $1,150 a year. The net price counts housing and food at full cost.Life Chiropractic College WestUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 613 on campus · 14.3 mi · HaywardGraduate students only; the Scorecard reports no undergraduate figures.Contra Costa CollegeCommunity college · Public · 3,192 on campus · 14.5 mi · San Pablo$9knet price28%graduate$41kearningsTuition and fees: $1,312 a year. The net price counts housing and food at full cost.

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 Moraga’s median household income ($216,193) falls.

Chabot College14.1 mi · Hayward · sticker $17,456 · tuition $1,150$6,370a year
Diablo Valley College8.9 mi · Pleasant Hill · sticker $16,774 · tuition $1,312$6,953a year
Contra Costa College14.5 mi · San Pablo · sticker $18,422 · tuition $1,312$9,567a year
California State University-East Bay13.5 mi · Hayward · sticker $22,850$19,397a year
Merritt College4.6 mi · Oakland · mostly online · sticker $21,424 · tuition $1,258$20,036a year
University of California-Berkeley7.7 mi · Berkeley · sticker $45,619$34,529a year
Northeastern University Oakland5.5 mi · Oakland · sticker $85,418$38,398a year
Saint Mary's College of CaliforniaIn Moraga · sticker $77,659$40,581a year
Carrington College-Pleasant Hill Campus8.5 mi · Pleasant Hill · sticker $44,064$44,064a year
Carrington College-San Leandro Campus10.1 mi · San Leandro · sticker $44,224$44,224a year
Berkeley City College8.2 mi · Berkeley · mostly online · sticker $18,845 · tuition $1,258—a year
Laney College8.3 mi · Oakland · sticker $25,335 · tuition $1,258—a year
College of Alameda9.6 mi · Alameda · mostly online · sticker $18,185 · tuition $1,258—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 Moraga: 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 →University of California-BerkeleyLaney CollegeDiablo Valley CollegeCalifornia State University-East BayChabot CollegeContra Costa College
University of California-Berkeley93% graduate$92k earnings$13k typical debt
Diablo Valley College49% graduate$51k earnings$10k typical debt
California State University-East Bay48% graduate$71k earnings$17k typical debt
Chabot College47% graduate$48k earnings$10k typical debt
Laney College31% graduate$37k earnings
Contra Costa College28% graduate$41k earnings
Berkeley City College36% graduate$41k earnings
Merritt College26% graduate$44k earnings
Saint Mary's College of California70% graduate$79k earnings$24k typical debt
College of Alameda33% graduate$43k earnings
Lincoln University100% graduate$54k earnings
Carrington College-Pleasant Hill Campus59% graduate$40k earnings*$12k 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: Carrington College-Pleasant Hill Campus (5); Carrington College-San Leandro Campus (5).

Majors

What students study in Moraga

Share of bachelor’s and associate degrees by field at Saint Mary's College of California, weighted by undergraduates; then the biggest programs.

Business 26%Social sciences 11%Psychology 8%Visual & performing arts 8%Communication 8%Biology 8%Everything else 32%

Biggest programs

Business/Commerce, General102 graduates a year
$80k4 yrs out
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities47 graduates a year
$69k4 yrs out
Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness35 graduates a year
$66k4 yrs out
Psychology, General28 graduates a year
$70k4 yrs out
Communication and Media Studies23 graduates a year
$64k4 yrs out
Accounting and Related Services17 graduates a year
$108k4 yrs out
Political Science and Government15 graduates a year
$63k4 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.

Questions about college in Moraga

Is Moraga a college town?

Yes. 16 of every 100 Moraga residents are enrolled in college (Census, 2020–24), against 8 across California. Saint Mary's College of California has 2,642 students on campus, next to 16,322 residents.

What colleges are in Moraga?

Saint Mary's College of California is inside the town. Merritt College is 4.6 miles away in Oakland.

Why is Moraga’s poverty rate so high?

Students who live off campus count in the Census figures. 7.5% of residents are below the poverty line; leaving college students out, 4.3% are (ACS 2020–24, give or take 6 points).

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

Merritt College in Oakland, 4.6 miles away. Tuition and fees are $1,258 a year for California residents; the federal net price, $14,021, counts housing and food at full cost.

How hard is it to get into Saint Mary's College of California?

Saint Mary's College of California admitted 87% of applicants in the Scorecard’s latest year.

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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 Moraga. 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 →