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Orinda (7866755256) (cropped)Photo: Erica Fischer · CC BY 2.0
Colleges in and near Orinda

Saint Mary's College of California is 4.3 miles from Orinda

No college sits inside Orinda’s boundary, but Saint Mary's College of California’s campus in Moraga, with 2,642 students on campus, is 4.3 miles from the center of town, and Berkeley City College is 5.6 miles away in Berkeley. About 4% of Orinda’s residents are enrolled in college, below California (8%).

Saint 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 Orinda. Colleges are described, not graded.

Within 15 miles
25
85,808 students on campus
Nearest college
4.3 mi
Saint Mary's College of California
Residents in college
4%
Below CA (8%)
Nearest community college
5.6 mi
Berkeley City College · $1,258 tuition
Nearest public university
5.1 mi
University of California-Berkeley · $16,347 in-state
Median household income
$250K
prices below start here

What stands out about college from Orinda

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

A college 4.3 miles awaySaint Mary's College of California has 2,642 students on campus in Moraga, 70% of whom graduate within six years.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.A community college 5.6 miles awayBerkeley City College in Berkeley: tuition and fees $1,258 a year for California residents.Students are 4% of residentsBelow California (8%). The Census counts anyone enrolled, including part-time and online students.
Every college

Colleges within 15 miles of Orinda

17 private colleges within 15 miles, two public colleges within 13.4 miles, and six community colleges.

5 mi10 mi15 miUniversity of California-BerkeleyDiablo Valley CollegeLaney CollegeOrinda
University or collegeCommunity college
Saint Mary's College of CaliforniaUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 2,642 on campus · 4.3 mi · Moraga87%admitted$30knet price70%graduate$79kearningsThe Wright InstituteUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 511 on campus · 4.7 mi · BerkeleyGraduate students only; the Scorecard reports no undergraduate figures.University of California-BerkeleyUniversity or college · Public · 43,954 on campus · 5.1 mi · Berkeley11%admitted$13knet price93%graduate$92kearningsGraduate Theological UnionUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 140 on campus · 5.1 mi · BerkeleyGraduate students only; the Scorecard reports no undergraduate figures.Pacific School of ReligionUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 128 on campus · 5.2 mi · BerkeleyGraduate students only; the Scorecard reports no undergraduate figures.Berkeley City CollegeCommunity college · Public · 2,915 on campus · 5.6 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.Acupuncture and Integrative Medicine College-BerkeleyUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 119 on campus · 5.6 mi · BerkeleyGraduate students only; the Scorecard reports no undergraduate figures.Merritt CollegeCommunity college · Public · 2,888 on campus · 6.4 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.Samuel Merritt UniversityUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 1,516 on campus · 6.8 mi · Oakland$143kearningsNortheastern University OaklandUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 657 on campus · 7 mi · Oakland17%admitted$25knet price$93kearningsEarnings are reported for all 3 campuses that file with it.Academy of Chinese Culture and Health SciencesUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 122 on campus · 7.6 mi · OaklandGraduate students only; the Scorecard reports no undergraduate figures.Lincoln UniversityUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 474 on campus · 7.7 mi · Oakland100%graduate$54kearningsCarrington College-Pleasant Hill CampusUniversity or college · For-profit · 432 on campus · 7.7 mi · Pleasant Hill$39knet price59%graduate$40kearningsEarnings are reported for all 5 campuses that file with it.Laney CollegeCommunity college · Public · 6,027 on campus · 7.8 mi · Oakland$17knet price31%graduate$37kearningsTuition and fees: $1,258 a year. The net price counts housing and food at full cost.Diablo Valley CollegeCommunity college · Public · 10,850 on campus · 7.9 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 · 9.2 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.Contra Costa CollegeCommunity college · Public · 3,192 on campus · 11 mi · San Pablo$9knet price28%graduate$41kearningsTuition and fees: $1,312 a year. The net price counts housing and food at full cost.Carrington College-San Leandro CampusUniversity or college · For-profit · 401 on campus · 12.8 mi · San Leandro$40knet price59%graduate$40kearningsEarnings are reported for all 5 campuses that file with it.California State University Maritime AcademyUniversity or college · Public · 761 on campus · 13.4 mi · Vallejo95%admitted$21knet price60%graduate$95kearningsGolden Gate UniversityUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 502 on campus · 14.1 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 · 14.1 mi · San Francisco$32knet price67%graduateAcademy of Art UniversityUniversity or college · For-profit · 2,900 on campus · 14.2 mi · San Francisco · mostly online$41knet price34%graduate$39kearnings54% of its students study only online; price, graduation and earnings count them too.Minerva UniversityUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 603 on campus · 14.8 mi · San Francisco3%admittedCalifornia College of the ArtsUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 1,332 on campus · 14.9 mi · San Francisco91%admitted$54knet price61%graduate$49kearningsTouro University CaliforniaUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 966 on campus · 15 mi · Vallejo$105kearningsEarnings are reported for all 2 campuses that file with it.Graduate students only; the Scorecard reports no undergraduate figures.

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 Orinda’s median household income ($250,001) falls.

Diablo Valley College7.9 mi · Pleasant Hill · sticker $16,774 · tuition $1,312$6,953a year
Contra Costa College11 mi · San Pablo · sticker $18,422 · tuition $1,312$9,567a year
Merritt College6.4 mi · Oakland · mostly online · sticker $21,424 · tuition $1,258$20,036a year
California State University Maritime Academy13.4 mi · Vallejo · sticker $29,853$24,911a year
University of California-Berkeley5.1 mi · Berkeley · sticker $45,619$34,529a year
Northeastern University Oakland7 mi · Oakland · sticker $85,418$38,398a year
Saint Mary's College of California4.3 mi · Moraga · sticker $77,659$40,581a year
Carrington College-Pleasant Hill Campus7.7 mi · Pleasant Hill · sticker $44,064$44,064a year
Academy of Art University14.2 mi · San Francisco · mostly online · sticker $48,036$44,082a year
Carrington College-San Leandro Campus12.8 mi · San Leandro · sticker $44,224$44,224a year
California College of the Arts14.9 mi · San Francisco · sticker $79,776$56,394a year
Berkeley City College5.6 mi · Berkeley · mostly online · sticker $18,845 · tuition $1,258—a year
Laney College7.8 mi · Oakland · sticker $25,335 · tuition $1,258—a year
College of Alameda9.2 mi · Alameda · mostly online · sticker $18,185 · tuition $1,258—a year
San Francisco Film School14.1 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 Orinda: 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 CollegeContra Costa CollegeAcademy of Art University
University of California-Berkeley93% graduate$92k earnings$13k typical debt
Diablo Valley College49% graduate$51k earnings$10k typical debt
Laney College31% graduate$37k earnings
Contra Costa College28% graduate$41k 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
California College of the Arts61% graduate$49k earnings$27k typical debt
California State University Maritime Academy60% graduate$95k earnings$25k typical debt
Lincoln University100% graduate$54k 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-Pleasant Hill Campus (5); Carrington College-San Leandro Campus (5).

Questions about college near Orinda

Is Orinda a college town?

No. About 4 of every 100 Orinda residents are enrolled in college (Census, 2020–24), below California (8). The nearest campus, Saint Mary's College of California, is 4.3 miles away in Moraga.

What colleges are near Orinda?

25 colleges are within 15 miles. The largest: the University of California-Berkeley (5.1 miles, 43,954 students on campus), Diablo Valley College (7.9 miles, 10,850) and Laney College (7.8 miles, 6,027).

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

Berkeley City College in Berkeley, 5.6 miles away. Tuition and fees are $1,258 a year for California residents; the federal net price, $9,096, 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 Orinda. 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 →