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Colleges in and near Pleasant Hill

Pleasant Hill is home to two colleges, with about 11,000 students on campus

Diablo Valley College (10,850 students on campus) and Carrington College-Pleasant Hill Campus (432) are inside the city. About 8% of Pleasant Hill’s residents are enrolled in college, about the same as California (8%).

Diablo Valley 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 Pleasant Hill. Colleges are described, not graded.

Within 15 miles
20
83,896 students on campus
Nearest college
0.6 mi
Carrington College-Pleasant Hill Campus
Residents in college
8%
About the same as CA (8%)
Nearest community college
1 mi
Diablo Valley College · $1,312 tuition
Nearest public university
11.5 mi
University of California-Berkeley · $16,347 in-state
Median household income
$145K
prices below start here

What stands out about college in Pleasant Hill

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

A community college in Pleasant HillDiablo Valley College has 10,850 students on campus in Pleasant Hill, 49% of whom graduate within three 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.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 Pleasant Hill

12 private colleges within 15 miles, two public colleges within 11.6 miles, and six community colleges.

5 mi10 mi15 miUniversity of California-BerkeleyDiablo Valley CollegeLaney CollegePleasant Hill
University or collegeCommunity college
Carrington College-Pleasant Hill CampusUniversity or college · For-profit · 432 on campus · In Pleasant Hill$39knet price59%graduate$40kearningsEarnings are reported for all 5 campuses that file with it.Diablo Valley CollegeCommunity college · Public · 10,850 on campus · In Pleasant Hill$8knet price49%graduate$51kearningsTuition and fees: $1,312 a year. The net price counts housing and food at full cost.Saint Mary's College of CaliforniaUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 2,642 on campus · 8 mi · Moraga87%admitted$30knet price70%graduate$79kearningsThe Wright InstituteUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 511 on campus · 11.3 mi · BerkeleyGraduate students only; the Scorecard reports no undergraduate figures.University of California-BerkeleyUniversity or college · Public · 43,954 on campus · 11.5 mi · Berkeley11%admitted$13knet price93%graduate$92kearningsGraduate Theological UnionUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 140 on campus · 11.5 mi · BerkeleyGraduate students only; the Scorecard reports no undergraduate figures.Pacific School of ReligionUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 128 on campus · 11.5 mi · BerkeleyGraduate students only; the Scorecard reports no undergraduate figures.California State University Maritime AcademyUniversity or college · Public · 761 on campus · 11.6 mi · Vallejo95%admitted$21knet price60%graduate$95kearningsBerkeley City CollegeCommunity college · Public · 2,915 on campus · 12.1 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 · 12.2 mi · BerkeleyGraduate students only; the Scorecard reports no undergraduate figures.Los Medanos CollegeCommunity college · Public · 5,265 on campus · 12.3 mi · Pittsburg$7knet price41%graduate$42kearningsTuition and fees: $1,312 a year. The net price counts housing and food at full cost.Merritt CollegeCommunity college · Public · 2,888 on campus · 12.4 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.Northeastern University OaklandUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 657 on campus · 13.3 mi · Oakland17%admitted$25knet price$93kearningsEarnings are reported for all 3 campuses that file with it.Touro University CaliforniaUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 966 on campus · 13.7 mi · Vallejo$105kearningsEarnings are reported for all 2 campuses that file with it.Graduate students only; the Scorecard reports no undergraduate figures.Samuel Merritt UniversityUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 1,516 on campus · 13.9 mi · Oakland$143kearningsContra Costa CollegeCommunity college · Public · 3,192 on campus · 14.3 mi · San Pablo$9knet price28%graduate$41kearningsTuition and fees: $1,312 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 · 14.7 mi · OaklandGraduate students only; the Scorecard reports no undergraduate figures.Lincoln UniversityUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 474 on campus · 14.8 mi · Oakland100%graduate$54kearningsLaney CollegeCommunity college · Public · 6,027 on campus · 14.9 mi · Oakland$17knet price31%graduate$37kearningsTuition and fees: $1,258 a year. The net price counts housing and food at full cost.Contra Costa Medical Career CollegeUniversity or college · For-profit · 337 on campus · 15 mi · Antioch100%graduate

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 Pleasant Hill’s median household income ($145,029) falls.

Diablo Valley CollegeIn Pleasant Hill · sticker $16,774 · tuition $1,312$6,953a year
Los Medanos College12.3 mi · Pittsburg · sticker $16,056 · tuition $1,312$7,051a year
Contra Costa College14.3 mi · San Pablo · sticker $18,422 · tuition $1,312$9,567a year
Merritt College12.4 mi · Oakland · mostly online · sticker $21,424 · tuition $1,258$20,036a year
California State University Maritime Academy11.6 mi · Vallejo · sticker $29,853$24,911a year
University of California-Berkeley11.5 mi · Berkeley · sticker $45,619$34,529a year
Northeastern University Oakland13.3 mi · Oakland · sticker $85,418$38,398a year
Saint Mary's College of California8 mi · Moraga · sticker $77,659$40,581a year
Carrington College-Pleasant Hill CampusIn Pleasant Hill · sticker $44,064$44,064a year
Berkeley City College12.1 mi · Berkeley · mostly online · sticker $18,845 · tuition $1,258—a year
Laney College14.9 mi · Oakland · sticker $25,335 · tuition $1,258—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 Pleasant Hill: 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 →Diablo Valley CollegeUniversity of California-BerkeleyLos Medanos CollegeContra Costa CollegeLaney College
University of California-Berkeley93% graduate$92k earnings$13k typical debt
Diablo Valley College49% graduate$51k earnings$10k typical debt
Laney College31% graduate$37k earnings
Los Medanos College41% graduate$42k earnings
Contra Costa College28% graduate$41k earnings
Berkeley City College36% graduate$41k earnings
Merritt College26% graduate$44k earnings
Saint Mary's College of California70% graduate$79k earnings$24k typical debt
California State University Maritime Academy60% graduate$95k earnings$25k typical debt
Lincoln University100% graduate$54k earnings
Carrington College-Pleasant Hill Campus59% graduate$40k earnings*$12k 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: Carrington College-Pleasant Hill Campus (5).

Majors

What students study in Pleasant Hill

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

Health professions 13%Business 12%Computer science 11%Liberal arts 10%Family sciences 7%Social sciences 5%Everything else 41%

Biggest programs

Business Administration, Management and OperationsDiablo Valley College · 253 graduates a year
$57k4 yrs out
Psychology, GeneralDiablo Valley College · 173 graduates a year
$48k4 yrs out
EconomicsDiablo Valley College · 94 graduates a year
$60k4 yrs out
Criminal Justice and CorrectionsDiablo Valley College · 56 graduates a year
$59k4 yrs out
Communication and Media StudiesDiablo Valley College · 51 graduates a year
$40k4 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.

Questions about college in Pleasant Hill

Is Pleasant Hill a college town?

No. About 8 of every 100 Pleasant Hill residents are enrolled in college (Census, 2020–24), about the same as California (8). The largest campus in the city, Diablo Valley College, has 10,850 students on campus.

What colleges are in Pleasant Hill?

Diablo Valley College and Carrington College-Pleasant Hill Campus are inside the city.

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

Diablo Valley College in Pleasant Hill, 1 mile away. Tuition and fees are $1,312 a year for California residents; the federal net price, $8,312, 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 Pleasant Hill. 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 →