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Casa de TabletaCasa de Tableta · Photo: W Nowicki · CC BY 3.0
Colleges in and near Portola Valley

Palo Alto University is 2.8 miles from Portola Valley

No college sits inside Portola Valley’s boundary, but Palo Alto University’s campus in Palo Alto, with 664 students on campus, is 2.8 miles from the center of town, and Foothill College is 5.8 miles away in Los Altos Hills. About 2% of Portola Valley’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 Portola Valley. Colleges are described, not graded.

Within 15 miles
13
60,228 students on campus
Nearest college
2.8 mi
Palo Alto University
Residents in college
2%
Below CA (8%)
Nearest community college
5.8 mi
Foothill College · $1,565 tuition
Nearest public university
5.8 mi
Foothill College · $1,565 in-state
Median household income
$250K
prices below start here

What stands out about college from Portola Valley

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

A university 2.8 miles awayPalo Alto University has 664 students on campus in Palo Alto.A community college 5.8 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 2% of residentsBelow California (8%). The Census counts anyone enrolled, including part-time and online students.
Every college

Colleges within 15 miles of Portola Valley

Seven private colleges within 13 miles, and six community colleges.

5 mi10 mi15 miStanford UniversityDe Anza CollegeFoothill CollegePortola Valley
University or collegeCommunity college
Palo Alto UniversityUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 664 on campus · 2.8 mi · Palo Alto$83kearningsStanford UniversityUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 18,233 on campus · 5.7 mi · Stanford4%admitted$14knet price92%graduate$124kearningsFoothill CollegeCommunity college · Public · 7,500 on campus · 5.8 mi · Los Altos Hills$8knet price56%graduate$57kearningsTuition and fees: $1,565 a year. The net price counts housing and food at full cost.Canada CollegeCommunity college · Public · 5,636 on campus · 6 mi · Redwood City$0knet price47%graduate$50kearningsTuition and fees: $1,332 a year. The net price counts housing and food at full cost.Menlo CollegeUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 840 on campus · 6.5 mi · Atherton68%admitted$31knet price54%graduate$76kearningsSofia UniversityUniversity or college · For-profit · 995 on campus · 8.2 mi · Palo AltoAlder Graduate School of EducationUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 453 on campus · 8.4 mi · Redwood CityGraduate students only; the Scorecard reports no undergraduate figures.De Anza CollegeCommunity college · Public · 10,013 on campus · 10.8 mi · Cupertino$7knet price68%graduate$57kearningsTuition and fees: $1,571 a year. The net price counts housing and food at full cost.Notre Dame de Namur UniversityUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 205 on campus · 10.9 mi · Belmont7%graduate$75kearningsCollege of San MateoCommunity college · Public · 6,728 on campus · 13 mi · San Mateo$1knet price61%graduate$54kearningsTuition 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 · 13 mi · SunnyvaleGraduate students only; the Scorecard reports no undergraduate figures.Mission CollegeCommunity college · Public · 4,407 on campus · 14 mi · Santa Clara$5knet price39%graduate$51kearningsTuition and fees: $1,438 a year. The net price counts housing and food at full cost.West Valley CollegeCommunity college · Public · 4,444 on campus · 14.2 mi · Saratoga$3knet price51%graduate$52kearnings

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

West Valley College14.2 mi · Saratoga · sticker $13,717$9,893a year
De Anza College10.8 mi · Cupertino · sticker $14,975 · tuition $1,571$11,825a year
Foothill College5.8 mi · Los Altos Hills · sticker $16,361 · tuition $1,565$14,237a year
Menlo College6.5 mi · Atherton · sticker $72,020$37,298a year
Stanford University5.7 mi · Stanford · sticker $87,833$53,882a year
Canada College6 mi · Redwood City · sticker $9,087 · tuition $1,332—a year
College of San Mateo13 mi · San Mateo · sticker $10,837 · tuition $1,332—a year
Mission College14 mi · Santa Clara · sticker $13,744 · tuition $1,438—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 Portola Valley: 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 →Stanford UniversityFoothill CollegeCanada CollegeDe Anza CollegeCollege of San Mateo
Stanford University92% graduate$124k earnings$12k typical debt
De Anza College68% graduate$57k earnings$6k 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
West Valley College51% graduate$52k earnings
Mission College39% graduate$51k earnings
Menlo College54% graduate$76k earnings$22k typical debt
Notre Dame de Namur University7% graduate$75k earnings$25k 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.

Questions about college near Portola Valley

Is Portola Valley a college town?

No. About 2 of every 100 Portola Valley residents are enrolled in college (Census, 2020–24), below California (8). The nearest campus, Palo Alto University, is 2.8 miles away in Palo Alto.

What colleges are near Portola Valley?

13 colleges are within 15 miles. The largest: Stanford University (5.7 miles, 18,233 students on campus), De Anza College (10.8 miles, 10,013) and Foothill College (5.8 miles, 7,500).

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

Foothill College in Los Altos Hills, 5.8 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 Portola Valley. 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 →