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Pasadena City Hall David Wakely (cropped)Photo: David Wakely · CC BY-SA 2.5
Colleges in and near Pasadena

Pasadena is home to 10 colleges, with about 25,000 students on campus

Pasadena City College (17,485 students on campus) and California Institute of Technology (2,463) are inside the city, and Occidental College (1,854) is 4.8 miles from the center, just over the line in Los Angeles. About 8% of Pasadena’s residents are enrolled in college, about the same as California (8%).

Pasadena City CollegeCalifornia Institute of TechnologyArt Center College of DesignOccidental College

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 Pasadena. Colleges are described, not graded.

Within 15 miles
50
177,683 students on campus
Nearest college
0.8 mi
Integrity College of Health
Residents in college
8%
About the same as CA (8%)
Nearest community college
1.6 mi
Pasadena City College · $1,180 tuition
Nearest public university
6.7 mi
California State University-Los Angeles · $7,160 in-state
Median household income
$105K
prices below start here

What stands out about college in Pasadena

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

Four colleges within 4.8 milesCalifornia Institute of Technology admits 3% of applicants; Art Center College of Design admits 75%; Occidental College admits 44%. Together they have 24,141 students on campus.A community college 1.6 miles awayPasadena City College in Pasadena: tuition and fees $1,180 a year for California residents.In-state price at California State University-Los AngelesLiving in California, California State University-Los Angeles charges $7,160 in tuition and fees; from out of state, $19,760. State residency rules decide which a new arrival pays.Students are 8% of residentsAbout the same as California (8%). The Census counts anyone enrolled, including part-time and online students.
Every college

Colleges within 15 miles of Pasadena

41 private colleges within 15 miles, one public college within 6.7 miles, and 10 community colleges.

5 mi10 mi15 miUniversity of Southern CaliforniaCalifornia State University-Los AngelesEast Los Angeles CollegePasadena
University or collegeCommunity college
Integrity College of HealthUniversity or college · For-profit · 154 on campus · In Pasadena$15knet price0%graduateProvidence Christian CollegeUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 147 on campus · In Pasadena100%admitted$25knet price20%graduate$46kearningsFuller Theological SeminaryUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 770 on campus · In Pasadena · mostly online60% of its students study only online; price, graduation and earnings count them too.Graduate students only; the Scorecard reports no undergraduate figures.Pacific Oaks CollegeUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 405 on campus · In Pasadena · mostly online34%admitted$52kearnings61% of its students study only online; price, graduation and earnings count them too.Saybrook UniversityUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 705 on campus · In PasadenaGraduate students only; the Scorecard reports no undergraduate figures.Institute of Culinary EducationUniversity or college · For-profit · 357 on campus · In Pasadena77%graduate$48kearningsEarnings are reported for all 2 campuses that file with it.Pasadena City CollegeCommunity college · Public · 17,485 on campus · In Pasadena$4knet price48%graduate$44kearningsTuition and fees: $1,180 a year. The net price counts housing and food at full cost.Los Angeles College of MusicUniversity or college · For-profit · 279 on campus · In Pasadena88%admitted$44knet price41%graduate$32kearningsCalifornia Institute of TechnologyUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 2,463 on campus · In Pasadena3%admitted$16knet price94%graduate$129kearningsArt Center College of DesignUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 2,339 on campus · In Pasadena75%admitted$49knet price79%graduate$72kearningsOccidental CollegeUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 1,854 on campus · 4.8 mi · Los Angeles44%admitted$38knet price81%graduate$76kearningsGlendale Community CollegeCommunity college · Public · 7,661 on campus · 5.2 mi · Glendale$8knet price37%graduate$42kearningsTuition and fees: $1,191 a year. The net price counts housing and food at full cost.California Institute of Advanced ManagementUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 163 on campus · 5.4 mi · AlhambraGraduate students only; the Scorecard reports no undergraduate figures.Platt College-Los AngelesUniversity or college · For-profit · 405 on campus · 5.5 mi · Alhambra$28knet price63%graduate$41kearningsEarnings are reported for all 4 campuses that file with it.Alhambra Medical UniversityUniversity or college · For-profit · 144 on campus · 5.6 mi · AlhambraCalifornia State University-Los AngelesUniversity or college · Public · 23,850 on campus · 6.7 mi · Los Angeles91%admitted$4knet price53%graduate$59kearningsGlendale Career CollegeUniversity or college · For-profit · 854 on campus · 6.7 mi · Glendale$49knet price63%graduate$41kearningsEarnings are reported for all 5 campuses that file with it.American Medical Sciences CenterUniversity or college · For-profit · 200 on campus · 6.9 mi · Glendale$22knet price75%graduate$30kearningsLos Angeles County College of Nursing and Allied HealthCommunity college · Public · 220 on campus · 8 mi · Los Angeles$115kearningsEast Los Angeles CollegeCommunity college · Public · 17,853 on campus · 8.3 mi · Monterey Park$11knet price37%graduate$42kearningsTuition and fees: $1,238 a year. The net price counts housing and food at full cost.University of the WestUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 145 on campus · 8.5 mi · Rosemead100%admitted$7knet price38%graduateSouthern California Institute of ArchitectureUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 457 on campus · 9.7 mi · Los Angeles77%admitted$44knet price71%graduate$72kearningsPremiere Career CollegeUniversity or college · For-profit · 106 on campus · 10.1 mi · Irwindale$25knet price52%graduate$41kearningsLos Angeles City CollegeCommunity college · Public · 6,569 on campus · 10.2 mi · Los Angeles · mostly online$10knet price29%graduate$36kearnings53% of its students study only online; price, graduation and earnings count them too.Tuition and fees: $1,238 a year. The net price counts housing and food at full cost.The Chicago School at Los AngelesUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 616 on campus · 10.3 mi · Los Angeles · mostly online46%admitted0%graduate$57kearnings82% of its students study only online; price, graduation and earnings count them too.Earnings are reported for all 8 campuses that file with it.West Coast University-Center for Graduate StudiesUniversity or college · For-profit · 527 on campus · 10.3 mi · Los Angeles$103kearningsEarnings are reported for all 6 campuses that file with it.Graduate students only; the Scorecard reports no undergraduate figures.American Career College-Los AngelesUniversity or college · For-profit · 2,066 on campus · 10.5 mi · Los Angeles$32knet price75%graduate$38kearningsEarnings are reported for all 2 campuses that file with it.American Film Institute ConservatoryUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 389 on campus · 10.5 mi · Los AngelesGraduate students only; the Scorecard reports no undergraduate figures.FIDM-Fashion Institute of Design & MerchandisingUniversity or college · For-profit · 1,348 on campus · 10.6 mi · Los AngelesCalifornia College of ASUUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 136 on campus · 10.9 mi · Los AngelesSouthwestern Law SchoolUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 950 on campus · 11 mi · Los AngelesGraduate students only; the Scorecard reports no undergraduate figures.New York Film AcademyUniversity or college · For-profit · 1,238 on campus · 11.3 mi · Burbank$39knet price68%graduate$30kearningsRio Hondo CollegeCommunity college · Public · 12,523 on campus · 11.4 mi · Whittier$14knet price25%graduate$45kearningsTuition and fees: $1,388 a year. The net price counts housing and food at full cost.Angeles CollegeUniversity or college · For-profit · 493 on campus · 11.5 mi · Los Angeles$29knet price93%graduate$49kearningsLos Angeles Trade Technical CollegeCommunity college · Public · 8,945 on campus · 11.6 mi · Los Angeles$12knet price35%graduate$35kearningsTuition and fees: $1,238 a year. The net price counts housing and food at full cost.Smith Chason CollegeUniversity or college · For-profit · 2,221 on campus · 11.7 mi · Los Angeles$34knet price72%graduate$58kearningsLos Angeles Film SchoolUniversity or college · For-profit · 1,566 on campus · 11.7 mi · Hollywood · mostly online$31knet price41%graduate$32kearnings73% of its students study only online; price, graduation and earnings count them too.CBD CollegeCommunity college · Private nonprofit · 824 on campus · 11.8 mi · Los Angeles$23knet price82%graduate$37kearningsWoodbury UniversityUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 895 on campus · 12.1 mi · Burbank82%admitted$34knet price60%graduate$66kearningsMusicians InstituteUniversity or college · For-profit · 666 on campus · 12.1 mi · Hollywood78%admitted$47knet price53%graduate$33kearningsNorth-West College-West CovinaUniversity or college · For-profit · 635 on campus · 12.4 mi · West Covina$30knet price68%graduate$38kearningsEarnings are reported for all 2 campuses that file with it.Glendale Career College-North-West College-MFSONUniversity or college · For-profit · 218 on campus · 12.4 mi · West Covina$45knet price$41kearningsEarnings are reported for all 5 campuses that file with it.American Academy of Dramatic Arts-Los AngelesCommunity college · Private nonprofit · 169 on campus · 12.6 mi · Los AngelesUniversity of Southern CaliforniaUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 41,282 on campus · 12.8 mi · Los Angeles10%admitted$33knet price92%graduate$92kearningsYeshiva Ohr Elchonon Chabad West Coast Talmudical SeminaryUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 157 on campus · 13 mi · Los Angeles58%admitted$15knet price12%graduate$48kearningsWhittier CollegeUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 859 on campus · 13.9 mi · Whittier81%admitted$26knet price60%graduate$59kearningsAzusa Pacific UniversityUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 5,836 on campus · 14.4 mi · Azusa88%admitted$22knet price62%graduate$67kearningsCitrus CollegeCommunity college · Public · 6,995 on campus · 14.5 mi · Glendora$4knet price41%graduate$42kearningsTuition and fees: $1,204 a year. The net price counts housing and food at full cost.GnomonUniversity or college · For-profit · 426 on campus · 14.7 mi · North Hollywood42%admitted$52knet price100%graduate$115kearningsInterCoast Colleges-West CovinaUniversity or college · For-profit · 118 on campus · 15 mi · West Covina · mostly online$28knet price97%graduate$36kearnings77% of its students study only online; price, graduation and earnings count them too.Earnings are reported for all 4 campuses that file with it.

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 Pasadena’s median household income ($105,192) falls.

California State University-Los Angeles6.7 mi · Los Angeles · sticker $18,403$7,355a year
Citrus College14.5 mi · Glendora · sticker $13,699 · tuition $1,204$9,029a year
Pasadena City CollegeIn Pasadena · sticker $13,677 · tuition $1,180$9,136a year
Glendale Community College5.2 mi · Glendale · sticker $17,501 · tuition $1,191$13,944a year
Los Angeles City College10.2 mi · Los Angeles · mostly online · sticker $18,924 · tuition $1,238$14,784a year
East Los Angeles College8.3 mi · Monterey Park · sticker $19,193 · tuition $1,238$15,346a year
Los Angeles Trade Technical College11.6 mi · Los Angeles · sticker $20,457 · tuition $1,238$16,399a year
Yeshiva Ohr Elchonon Chabad West Coast Talmudical Seminary13 mi · Los Angeles · sticker $31,300$16,940a year
Rio Hondo College11.4 mi · Whittier · sticker $21,391 · tuition $1,388$17,305a year
Integrity College of HealthIn Pasadena · sticker $20,178$18,055a year
California Institute of TechnologyIn Pasadena · sticker $86,886$18,753a year
University of Southern California12.8 mi · Los Angeles · sticker $90,300$24,976a year
Premiere Career College10.1 mi · Irwindale · sticker $32,314$25,469a year
American Medical Sciences Center6.9 mi · Glendale · sticker $27,293$25,745a year
Whittier College13.9 mi · Whittier · sticker $63,664$26,718a year
Occidental College4.8 mi · Los Angeles · sticker $84,800$28,033a year
InterCoast Colleges-West Covina15 mi · West Covina · mostly online · sticker $35,442$29,968a year
Platt College-Los Angeles5.5 mi · Alhambra · sticker $32,164$31,116a year
Angeles College11.5 mi · Los Angeles · sticker $33,854$31,390a year
Los Angeles Film School11.7 mi · Hollywood · mostly online · sticker $38,291$31,598a year
North-West College-West Covina12.4 mi · West Covina · sticker $34,193$32,242a year
Woodbury University12.1 mi · Burbank · sticker $58,010$32,773a year
American Career College-Los Angeles10.5 mi · Los Angeles · sticker $37,270$34,343a year
Smith Chason College11.7 mi · Los Angeles · sticker $39,461$36,953a year
New York Film Academy11.3 mi · Burbank · sticker $62,210$42,667a year
Art Center College of DesignIn Pasadena · sticker $75,649$45,677a year
Glendale Career College-North-West College-MFSON12.4 mi · West Covina · sticker $49,247$48,232a year
Musicians Institute12.1 mi · Hollywood · sticker $52,369$49,296a year
Los Angeles College of MusicIn Pasadena · sticker $49,705$49,455a year
Glendale Career College6.7 mi · Glendale · sticker $51,802$50,013a year
Gnomon14.7 mi · North Hollywood · sticker $54,947$50,947a year
Providence Christian CollegeIn Pasadena · sticker $53,447—a year
University of the West8.5 mi · Rosemead · sticker $21,278—a year
Southern California Institute of Architecture9.7 mi · Los Angeles · sticker $71,612—a year
CBD College11.8 mi · Los Angeles · sticker $28,569—a year
Azusa Pacific University14.4 mi · Azusa · sticker $56,313—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 Pasadena: 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 →Pasadena City CollegeCalifornia State University-Los AngelesEast Los Angeles CollegeLos Angeles Trade Technical CollegeUniversity of Southern California
University of Southern California92% graduate$92k earnings$18k typical debt
California State University-Los Angeles53% graduate$59k earnings$13k typical debt
East Los Angeles College37% graduate$42k earnings$10k typical debt
Pasadena City College48% graduate$44k earnings$7k typical debt
Rio Hondo College25% graduate$45k earnings$6k typical debt
Los Angeles Trade Technical College35% graduate$35k earnings$10k typical debt
Glendale Community College37% graduate$42k earnings$9k typical debt
Citrus College41% graduate$42k earnings$8k typical debt
Los Angeles City College29% graduate$36k earnings$13k typical debt
Azusa Pacific University62% graduate$67k earnings$23k typical debt
California Institute of Technology94% graduate$129k earnings
Art Center College of Design79% graduate$72k earnings$31k 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 of Culinary Education (2); Platt College-Los Angeles (4); Glendale Career College (5); The Chicago School at Los Angeles (8); American Career College-Los Angeles (2); North-West College-West Covina (2); InterCoast Colleges-West Covina (4).

Majors

What students study in Pasadena

Share of bachelor’s and associate degrees by field across Pasadena’s 7 colleges, weighted by undergraduates; then the biggest programs.

Liberal arts 19%Interdisciplinary 15%Business 13%Health professions 11%Visual & performing arts 5%Social sciences 4%Everything else 33%

Biggest programs

Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and HumanitiesPasadena City College · 1,359 graduates a year
$42k4 yrs out
Business Administration, Management and OperationsPasadena City College · 754 graduates a year
$51k4 yrs out
Design and Applied ArtsArt Center College of Design · 245 graduates a year
$76k4 yrs out
Psychology, GeneralPasadena City College · 204 graduates a year
$43k4 yrs out
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical NursingPasadena City College · 68 graduates a year
$107k4 yrs out
Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/FitnessPasadena City College · 67 graduates a year
$34k4 yrs out
Computer ScienceCalifornia Institute of Technology · 67 graduates a year
$201k4 yrs out
Communication and Media StudiesPasadena City College · 65 graduates a year
$45k4 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: Fuller Theological Seminary, Pacific Oaks College, where most students study only online.

Questions about college in Pasadena

Is Pasadena a college town?

No. About 8 of every 100 Pasadena residents are enrolled in college (Census, 2020–24), about the same as California (8). The largest campus in the city, Pasadena City College, has 17,485 students on campus.

What colleges are in Pasadena?

Pasadena City College, California Institute of Technology, Art Center College of Design, Fuller Theological Seminary and 6 more are inside the city. Occidental College is 4.8 miles from the center, in Los Angeles.

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

Pasadena City College in Pasadena, 1.6 miles away. Tuition and fees are $1,180 a year for California residents; the federal net price, $3,864, counts housing and food at full cost.

How much does California State University-Los Angeles cost if we live in California?

Tuition and fees are $7,160 a year in-state and $19,760 from out of state. After grants, families on federal aid paid an average of $2,877 (under $30,000 income) to $13,578 (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 Pasadena. 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 →