Photo: Soundsfancy · CC BY-SA 4.0Laurus College is 8 miles from Pismo Beach
No college sits inside Pismo Beach’s boundary, but Laurus College’s campus in San Luis Obispo, with 641 students on campus, is 8 miles from the center of town, and Cuesta College is 12.9 miles away in San Luis Obispo. About 3% of Pismo Beach’s residents are enrolled in college, below 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 Pismo Beach. Colleges are described, not graded.
What stands out about college from Pismo Beach
Facts about the town and its distance to campus; each college’s own figures follow.
Colleges within 15 miles of Pismo Beach
One private college within 8 miles, one public college within 10.2 miles, and Cuesta College 12.9 miles away.
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 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.
Starts at Over $110k, where Pismo Beach’s median household income ($118,072) 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.
Do students finish, and does it pay?
Each dot is a college within 15 miles of Pismo Beach: across is the share who graduate, up is what they earn ten years after starting.
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.
Questions about college near Pismo Beach
Is Pismo Beach a college town?
No. About 3 of every 100 Pismo Beach residents are enrolled in college (Census, 2020–24), below California (8). The nearest campus, Laurus College, is 8 miles away in San Luis Obispo.
What colleges are near Pismo Beach?
Within 15 miles: Laurus College (8 miles, 641 students on campus), California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo (10.2 miles, 22,376) and Cuesta College (12.9 miles, 7,216).
What is the closest community college to Pismo Beach, and what does it cost?
Cuesta College in San Luis Obispo, 12.9 miles away. Tuition and fees are $1,350 a year for California residents; the federal net price, $12,124, counts housing and food at full cost.
How much does California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo cost if we live in California?
Tuition and fees are $13,596 a year in-state and $34,665 from out of state. After grants, families on federal aid paid an average of $7,529 (under $30,000 income) to $27,772 (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 Pismo Beach. 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 →