Photo: KenShirriff · CC BY-SA 4.0Stanford University is 3.7 miles from North Fair Oaks
No college sits inside North Fair Oaks’ boundary, but Stanford University’s campus in Stanford, with 18,233 students on campus, is 3.7 miles from the center of town, and Canada College is 3.9 miles away in Redwood City. About 7% of North Fair Oaks’ 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 North Fair Oaks. Colleges are described, not graded.
What stands out about college from North Fair Oaks
Facts about the town and its distance to campus; each college’s own figures follow.
Colleges within 15 miles of North Fair Oaks
11 private colleges within 15 miles, one public college within 15 miles, and six community colleges.
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 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.
Starts at $75–110k, where North Fair Oaks’ median household income ($104,884) falls.
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.
Do students finish, and does it pay?
Each dot is a college within 15 miles of North Fair Oaks: across is the share who graduate, up is what they earn ten years after starting.
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: Institute for Business and Technology (3).
Questions about college near North Fair Oaks
Is North Fair Oaks a college town?
No. About 7 of every 100 North Fair Oaks residents are enrolled in college (Census, 2020–24), about the same as California (8). The nearest campus, Menlo College, is 1.7 miles away in Atherton.
What colleges are near North Fair Oaks?
18 colleges are within 15 miles. The largest: Stanford University (3.7 miles, 18,233 students on campus), De Anza College (13.8 miles, 10,013) and California State University-East Bay (15 miles, 8,951).
What is the closest community college to North Fair Oaks, and what does it cost?
Canada College in Redwood City, 3.9 miles away. Tuition and fees are $1,332 a year for California residents; the federal net price, $32, counts housing and food at full cost.
How much does Foothill College cost if we live in California?
Tuition and fees are $1,565 a year in-state and $12,590 from out of state. After grants, families on federal aid paid an average of $6,571 (under $30,000 income) to $14,237 (over $110,000), housing and food included.
Neighbors talk college
Students, parents, alumni and the neighbors next door.
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 North Fair Oaks. 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 →