North Highlands is home to two colleges, with about 18,000 students on campus
American River College (16,940 students on campus) and MTI College (571) are inside the town. About 7% of North Highlands’ 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 Highlands. Colleges are described, not graded.
Within 15 miles
13
74,315 students on campus
Nearest college
1.7 mi
MTI College
Residents in college
7%
About the same as CA (8%)
Nearest community college
1.9 mi
American River College · $1,288 tuition
Nearest public university
8.2 mi
California State University-Sacramento · $8,018 in-state
Median household income
$65K
prices below start here
What stands out about college in North Highlands
Facts about the town and its distance to campus; each college’s own figures follow.
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 $48–75k, where North Highlands’ median household income ($65,495) 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.
Outcomes
Do students finish, and does it pay?
Each dot is a college within 15 miles of North Highlands: across is the share who graduate, up is what they earn ten years after starting.
California State University-Sacramento56% graduate$65k earnings$15k typical debt
American River College37% graduate$40k earnings$10k typical debt
Sierra College42% graduate$45k earnings$10k typical debt
Sacramento City College33% graduate$42k earnings$10k typical debt
Folsom Lake College44% graduate$43k earnings
William Jessup University56% graduate$56k earnings$24k typical debt
Universal Technical Institute of Northern California Inc64% graduate$48k earnings*$13k typical debt
San Joaquin Valley College-Rancho Cordova76% graduate$38k earnings*$11k 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: San Joaquin Valley College-Rancho Cordova (14); Carrington College-Sacramento (5); Universal Technical Institute of Northern California Inc (3).
Majors
What students study in North Highlands
Share of bachelor’s and associate degrees by field across North Highlands’ 2 colleges, weighted by undergraduates; then the biggest programs.
Liberal arts 16%Construction trades 15%Social sciences 10%Health professions 9%Business 8%Interdisciplinary 6%Everything else 37%
Biggest programs
Social Sciences, GeneralAmerican River College · 397 graduates a year
$48k4 yrs out
Biological and Physical SciencesAmerican River College · 295 graduates a year
$43k4 yrs out
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical NursingAmerican River College · 64 graduates a year
$122k4 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 North Highlands
Is North Highlands a college town?
No. About 7 of every 100 North Highlands residents are enrolled in college (Census, 2020–24), about the same as California (8). The largest campus in the town, American River College, has 16,940 students on campus.
What colleges are in North Highlands?
American River College and MTI College are inside the town.
What is the closest community college to North Highlands, and what does it cost?
American River College in Sacramento, 1.9 miles away. Tuition and fees are $1,288 a year for California residents; the federal net price, $7,999, counts housing and food at full cost.
How much does California State University-Sacramento cost if we live in California?
Tuition and fees are $8,018 a year in-state and $20,618 from out of state. After grants, families on federal aid paid an average of $6,501 (under $30,000 income) to $18,861 (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 Highlands. 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 →