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Ramona Street Architectural District, 261 Hamilton St., Palo Alto, CA 5-27-2012 2-20-25 PMPhoto: Sanfranman59 · CC BY-SA 3.0
Colleges in and near Palo Alto

Stanford University is 2.6 miles from Palo Alto

Sofia University (995 students on campus) and Palo Alto University (664) are inside the city, and Stanford University (18,233) is 2.6 miles from the center, just over the line in Stanford. About 5% of Palo Alto’s residents are enrolled in college, below California (8%).

Foothill CollegeStanford 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 Palo Alto. Colleges are described, not graded.

Within 15 miles
21
112,871 students on campus
Nearest college
2.5 mi
Foothill College
Residents in college
5%
Below CA (8%)
Nearest community college
2.5 mi
Foothill College · $1,565 tuition
Nearest public university
2.5 mi
Foothill College · $1,565 in-state
Median household income
$231K
prices below start here

What stands out about college in Palo Alto

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

Two colleges within 2.6 milesStanford University admits 4% of applicants. Together they have 25,733 students on campus.A community college 2.5 miles awayFoothill College in Los Altos Hills: tuition and fees $1,565 a year for California residents.In-state price at Foothill CollegeLiving in California, Foothill College charges $1,565 in tuition and fees; from out of state, $12,590. State residency rules decide which a new arrival pays.Students are 5% of residentsBelow California (8%). The Census counts anyone enrolled, including part-time and online students.
Every college

Colleges within 15 miles of Palo Alto

13 private colleges within 13.3 miles, one public college within 15 miles, and seven community colleges.

5 mi10 mi15 miSan Jose StateStanford UniversityDe Anza CollegePalo Alto
University or collegeCommunity college
Foothill CollegeCommunity college · Public · 7,500 on campus · 2.5 mi · Los Altos Hills$8knet price56%graduate$57kearningsTuition and fees: $1,565 a year. The net price counts housing and food at full cost.Stanford UniversityUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 18,233 on campus · 2.6 mi · Stanford4%admitted$14knet price92%graduate$124kearningsPalo Alto UniversityUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 664 on campus · In Palo Alto$83kearningsSofia UniversityUniversity or college · For-profit · 995 on campus · In Palo AltoMenlo CollegeUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 840 on campus · 4.7 mi · Atherton68%admitted$31knet price54%graduate$76kearningsDe Anza CollegeCommunity college · Public · 10,013 on campus · 7.5 mi · Cupertino$7knet price68%graduate$57kearningsTuition and fees: $1,571 a year. The net price counts housing and food at full cost.Canada CollegeCommunity college · Public · 5,636 on campus · 7.6 mi · Redwood City$0knet price47%graduate$50kearningsTuition and fees: $1,332 a year. The net price counts housing and food at full cost.University of East-West MedicineUniversity or college · For-profit · 110 on campus · 8 mi · SunnyvaleGraduate students only; the Scorecard reports no undergraduate figures.Alder Graduate School of EducationUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 453 on campus · 8.1 mi · Redwood CityGraduate students only; the Scorecard reports no undergraduate figures.Mission CollegeCommunity college · Public · 4,407 on campus · 8.9 mi · Santa Clara$5knet price39%graduate$51kearningsTuition and fees: $1,438 a year. The net price counts housing and food at full cost.Institute for Business and TechnologyUniversity or college · For-profit · 609 on campus · 11 mi · San Jose$27knet price84%graduate$38kearningsEarnings are reported for all 3 campuses that file with it.University of Silicon ValleyUniversity or college · For-profit · 249 on campus · 11.2 mi · San Jose51%admitted$28knet price29%graduate$51kearningsNotre Dame de Namur UniversityUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 205 on campus · 11.4 mi · Belmont7%graduate$75kearningsSanta Clara UniversityUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 8,955 on campus · 11.8 mi · Santa Clara48%admitted$50knet price88%graduate$109kearningsWest Valley CollegeCommunity college · Public · 4,444 on campus · 11.8 mi · Saratoga$3knet price51%graduate$52kearningsUnitek CollegeUniversity or college · For-profit · 4,254 on campus · 12.6 mi · Fremont$25knet price73%graduate$80kearningsGurnick Academy of Medical ArtsUniversity or college · For-profit · 2,372 on campus · 12.8 mi · San Jose$32knet price64%graduate$67kearningsSan Jose City CollegeCommunity college · Public · 5,172 on campus · 13.2 mi · San Jose$17knet price34%graduate$46kearningsTuition and fees: $1,366 a year. The net price counts housing and food at full cost.San Francisco Bay UniversityUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 328 on campus · 13.3 mi · Fremont96%admittedCollege of San MateoCommunity college · Public · 6,728 on campus · 14.2 mi · San Mateo$1knet price61%graduate$54kearningsTuition and fees: $1,332 a year. The net price counts housing and food at full cost.San Jose State UniversityUniversity or college · Public · 30,704 on campus · 15 mi · San Jose85%admitted$14knet price69%graduate$79kearnings

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 Palo Alto’s median household income ($231,101) falls.

West Valley College11.8 mi · Saratoga · sticker $13,717$9,893a year
De Anza College7.5 mi · Cupertino · sticker $14,975 · tuition $1,571$11,825a year
Foothill College2.5 mi · Los Altos Hills · sticker $16,361 · tuition $1,565$14,237a year
San Jose City College13.2 mi · San Jose · sticker $26,081 · tuition $1,366$20,198a year
San Jose State University15 mi · San Jose · sticker $26,593$22,862a year
Unitek College12.6 mi · Fremont · sticker $27,775$27,775a year
Institute for Business and Technology11 mi · San Jose · sticker $30,501$30,072a year
University of Silicon Valley11.2 mi · San Jose · sticker $35,722$34,379a year
Gurnick Academy of Medical Arts12.8 mi · San Jose · sticker $36,834$36,618a year
Menlo College4.7 mi · Atherton · sticker $72,020$37,298a year
Stanford University2.6 mi · Stanford · sticker $87,833$53,882a year
Santa Clara University11.8 mi · Santa Clara · sticker $82,026$60,678a year
Canada College7.6 mi · Redwood City · sticker $9,087 · tuition $1,332—a year
Mission College8.9 mi · Santa Clara · sticker $13,744 · tuition $1,438—a year
College of San Mateo14.2 mi · San Mateo · sticker $10,837 · tuition $1,332—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 Palo Alto: across is the share who graduate, up is what they earn ten years after starting.

$0$20k$40k$60k$80k$100k$120k$140k0%25%50%75%100%Graduate →Foothill CollegeStanford UniversityDe Anza CollegeSanta Clara UniversityCollege of San MateoSan Jose State
San Jose State University69% graduate$79k earnings$15k typical debt
Stanford University92% graduate$124k earnings$12k typical debt
De Anza College68% graduate$57k earnings$6k typical debt
Santa Clara University88% graduate$109k earnings$19k typical debt
Foothill College56% graduate$57k earnings$10k typical debt
College of San Mateo61% graduate$54k earnings$15k typical debt
Canada College47% graduate$50k earnings
San Jose City College34% graduate$46k earnings
West Valley College51% graduate$52k earnings
Mission College39% graduate$51k earnings
Unitek College73% graduate$80k earnings$11k typical debt
Gurnick Academy of Medical Arts64% graduate$67k earnings$17k 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: Institute for Business and Technology (3).

Majors

What students study in Palo Alto

Share of bachelor’s and associate degrees by field across Palo Alto’s 2 colleges, weighted by undergraduates; then the biggest programs.

Psychology 100%Everything else 0%

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 Palo Alto

Is Palo Alto a college town?

No. About 5 of every 100 Palo Alto residents are enrolled in college (Census, 2020–24), below California (8). The largest campus in the city, Sofia University, has 995 students on campus.

What colleges are in Palo Alto?

Sofia University and Palo Alto University are inside the city. Stanford University is 2.6 miles from the center, in Stanford, and Foothill College is 2.5 miles from the center, in Los Altos Hills.

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

Foothill College in Los Altos Hills, 2.5 miles away. Tuition and fees are $1,565 a year for California residents; the federal net price, $7,653, 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.

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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 Palo Alto. 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 →