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Lake Merritt 2022-06-16Photo: Robert Hsiao · CC BY-SA 4.0
Colleges in and near Oakland

Oakland is home to six colleges, with about 12,000 students on campus

Laney College (6,027 students on campus) and Merritt College (2,888) are inside the city. About 6% of Oakland’s residents are enrolled in college, below California (8%).

Laney CollegeSamuel Merritt University

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 Oakland. Colleges are described, not graded.

Within 15 miles
30
136,789 students on campus
Nearest college
2.5 mi
Northeastern University Oakland
Residents in college
6%
Below CA (8%)
Nearest community college
2.8 mi
Laney College · $1,258 tuition
Nearest public university
7.3 mi
University of California-Berkeley · $16,347 in-state
Median household income
$102K
prices below start here

What stands out about college in Oakland

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

Two colleges within 4.1 milesTogether they have 7,543 students on campus.A community college 2.8 miles awayLaney 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.Students are 6% of residentsBelow California (8%). The Census counts anyone enrolled, including part-time and online students.
Every college

Colleges within 15 miles of Oakland

19 private colleges within 12.3 miles, five public colleges within 14.1 miles, and six community colleges.

5 mi10 mi15 miUniversity of California-BerkeleySan Francisco StateOakland
University or collegeCommunity college
Northeastern University OaklandUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 657 on campus · In Oakland17%admitted$25knet price$93kearningsEarnings are reported for all 3 campuses that file with it.Laney CollegeCommunity college · Public · 6,027 on campus · In Oakland$17knet price31%graduate$37kearningsTuition and fees: $1,258 a year. The net price counts housing and food at full cost.College of AlamedaCommunity college · Public · 1,635 on campus · 3 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.Lincoln UniversityUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 474 on campus · In Oakland100%graduate$54kearningsMerritt CollegeCommunity college · Public · 2,888 on campus · In 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.Academy of Chinese Culture and Health SciencesUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 122 on campus · In OaklandGraduate students only; the Scorecard reports no undergraduate figures.Samuel Merritt UniversityUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 1,516 on campus · In Oakland$143kearningsAcupuncture and Integrative Medicine College-BerkeleyUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 119 on campus · 6.8 mi · BerkeleyGraduate students only; the Scorecard reports no undergraduate figures.The Wright InstituteUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 511 on campus · 7 mi · BerkeleyGraduate students only; the Scorecard reports no undergraduate figures.University of California-BerkeleyUniversity or college · Public · 43,954 on campus · 7.3 mi · Berkeley11%admitted$13knet price93%graduate$92kearningsBerkeley City CollegeCommunity college · Public · 2,915 on campus · 7.3 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.Carrington College-San Leandro CampusUniversity or college · For-profit · 401 on campus · 7.3 mi · San Leandro$40knet price59%graduate$40kearningsEarnings are reported for all 5 campuses that file with it.Graduate Theological UnionUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 140 on campus · 7.6 mi · BerkeleyGraduate students only; the Scorecard reports no undergraduate figures.Pacific School of ReligionUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 128 on campus · 7.7 mi · BerkeleyGraduate students only; the Scorecard reports no undergraduate figures.Saint Mary's College of CaliforniaUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 2,642 on campus · 8 mi · Moraga87%admitted$30knet price70%graduate$79kearningsCalifornia College of the ArtsUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 1,332 on campus · 9.5 mi · San Francisco91%admitted$54knet price61%graduate$49kearningsAcademy of Art UniversityUniversity or college · For-profit · 2,900 on campus · 9.6 mi · San Francisco · mostly online$41knet price34%graduate$39kearnings54% of its students study only online; price, graduation and earnings count them too.Golden Gate UniversityUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 502 on campus · 9.6 mi · San Francisco · mostly online$87kearnings78% of its students study only online; price, graduation and earnings count them too.San Francisco Film SchoolUniversity or college · For-profit · 141 on campus · 9.7 mi · San Francisco$32knet price67%graduateMinerva UniversityUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 603 on campus · 10 mi · San Francisco3%admittedUniversity of California College of the Law-San FranciscoUniversity or college · Public · 1,159 on campus · 10.4 mi · San FranciscoGraduate students only; the Scorecard reports no undergraduate figures.California Institute of Integral StudiesUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 980 on campus · 10.4 mi · San Francisco · mostly online$49kearnings52% of its students study only online; price, graduation and earnings count them too.San Francisco Conservatory of MusicUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 403 on campus · 10.6 mi · San Francisco55%admitted$43knet price74%graduateLife Chiropractic College WestUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 613 on campus · 10.9 mi · HaywardGraduate students only; the Scorecard reports no undergraduate figures.Chabot CollegeCommunity college · Public · 7,625 on campus · 11 mi · Hayward$9knet price47%graduate$48kearningsTuition and fees: $1,150 a year. The net price counts housing and food at full cost.California State University-East BayUniversity or college · Public · 8,951 on campus · 12.2 mi · Hayward97%admitted$9knet price48%graduate$71kearningsUniversity of San FranciscoUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 8,633 on campus · 12.3 mi · San Francisco62%admitted$41knet price70%graduate$90kearningsCity College of San FranciscoCommunity college · Public · 13,762 on campus · 12.7 mi · San Francisco$7knet price40%graduate$46kearningsTuition and fees: $1,696 a year. The net price counts housing and food at full cost.University of California-San FranciscoUniversity or college · Public · 3,113 on campus · 12.7 mi · San FranciscoGraduate students only; the Scorecard reports no undergraduate figures.San Francisco State UniversityUniversity or college · Public · 21,943 on campus · 14.1 mi · San Francisco96%admitted$12knet price50%graduate$68kearnings

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 Oakland’s median household income ($101,600) falls.

Northeastern University OaklandIn Oakland · sticker $85,418$9,898a year
California State University-East Bay12.2 mi · Hayward · sticker $22,850$12,015a year
City College of San Francisco12.7 mi · San Francisco · sticker $16,870 · tuition $1,696$12,508a year
Berkeley City College7.3 mi · Berkeley · mostly online · sticker $18,845 · tuition $1,258$13,213a year
Chabot College11 mi · Hayward · sticker $17,456 · tuition $1,150$13,457a year
San Francisco State University14.1 mi · San Francisco · sticker $26,488$14,556a year
University of California-Berkeley7.3 mi · Berkeley · sticker $45,619$15,074a year
College of Alameda3 mi · Alameda · mostly online · sticker $18,185 · tuition $1,258$15,603a year
Laney CollegeIn Oakland · sticker $25,335 · tuition $1,258$18,321a year
Merritt CollegeIn Oakland · mostly online · sticker $21,424 · tuition $1,258$18,528a year
Saint Mary's College of California8 mi · Moraga · sticker $77,659$29,049a year
San Francisco Conservatory of Music10.6 mi · San Francisco · sticker $78,781$36,802a year
University of San Francisco12.3 mi · San Francisco · sticker $80,141$38,933a year
Carrington College-San Leandro Campus7.3 mi · San Leandro · sticker $44,224$42,353a year
Academy of Art University9.6 mi · San Francisco · mostly online · sticker $48,036$43,953a year
California College of the Arts9.5 mi · San Francisco · sticker $79,776$46,060a year
San Francisco Film School9.7 mi · San Francisco · sticker $37,597—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 Oakland: 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-BerkeleyChabot CollegeCalifornia State University-East BayUniversity of San FranciscoCity College of San FranciscoSan Francisco State
University of California-Berkeley93% graduate$92k earnings$13k typical debt
San Francisco State University50% graduate$68k earnings$15k typical debt
City College of San Francisco40% graduate$46k earnings$8k typical debt
California State University-East Bay48% graduate$71k earnings$17k typical debt
University of San Francisco70% graduate$90k earnings$23k typical debt
Chabot College47% graduate$48k earnings$10k typical debt
Laney College31% graduate$37k earnings
Berkeley City College36% graduate$41k earnings
Academy of Art University34% graduate$39k earnings$31k typical debt
Merritt College26% graduate$44k earnings
Saint Mary's College of California70% graduate$79k earnings$24k typical debt
College of Alameda33% graduate$43k earnings

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-San Leandro Campus (5).

Majors

What students study in Oakland

Share of bachelor’s and associate degrees by field across Oakland’s 4 colleges, weighted by undergraduates; then the biggest programs.

Social sciences 13%Personal & culinary services 12%Business 11%Health professions 11%Liberal arts 10%Interdisciplinary 5%Everything else 38%

Biggest programs

Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical NursingSamuel Merritt University · 511 graduates a year
$148k4 yrs out
Social Sciences, GeneralLaney College · 139 graduates a year
$30k4 yrs out
Business Administration, Management and OperationsLaney College · 56 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: Merritt College, where most students study only online.

Questions about college in Oakland

Is Oakland a college town?

No. About 6 of every 100 Oakland residents are enrolled in college (Census, 2020–24), below California (8). The largest campus in the city, Laney College, has 6,027 students on campus.

What colleges are in Oakland?

Laney College, Merritt College, Samuel Merritt University, Northeastern University Oakland and 2 more are inside the city.

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

Laney College in Oakland, 2.8 miles away. Tuition and fees are $1,258 a year for California residents; the federal net price, $17,110, counts housing and food at full cost.

How much does the University of California-Berkeley cost if we live in California?

Tuition and fees are $16,347 a year in-state and $50,547 from out of state. After grants, families on federal aid paid an average of $5,311 (under $30,000 income) to $34,529 (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 Oakland. 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 →