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Colleges in and near Poway

Alliant International University-San Diego is 7.5 miles from Poway

No college sits inside Poway’s boundary, but Alliant International University-San Diego’s campus in San Diego, with 1,412 students on campus, is 7.5 miles from the center of town, and San Diego Miramar College is 7.8 miles away in San Diego. About 6% of Poway’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 Poway. Colleges are described, not graded.

Within 15 miles
14
134,368 students on campus
Nearest college
7.5 mi
Alliant International University-San Diego
Residents in college
6%
Below CA (8%)
Nearest community college
7.8 mi
San Diego Miramar College · $1,146 tuition
Nearest public university
12.7 mi
California State University-San Marcos · $8,082 in-state
Median household income
$148K
prices below start here

What stands out about college from Poway

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

A university 7.5 miles awayAlliant International University-San Diego has 1,412 students on campus in San Diego.A community college 7.8 miles awaySan Diego Miramar College in San Diego: tuition and fees $1,146 a year for California residents.In-state price at California State University-San MarcosLiving in California, California State University-San Marcos charges $8,082 in tuition and fees; from out of state, $20,682. State residency rules decide which a new arrival pays.Students are 6% of residentsBelow California (8%). The Census counts anyone enrolled, including part-time and online students.
Every college

Colleges within 15 miles of Poway

Eight private colleges within 14.1 miles, three public colleges within 15 miles, and three community colleges.

5 mi10 mi15 miUniversity of California-San DiegoSan Diego StateCalifornia State University-San MarcosPoway
University or collegeCommunity college
Alliant International University-San DiegoUniversity or college · For-profit · 1,412 on campus · 7.5 mi · San Diego · mostly online0%admitted$67kearnings66% of its students study only online; price, graduation and earnings count them too.San Diego Miramar CollegeCommunity college · Public · 8,368 on campus · 7.8 mi · San Diego$3knet price48%graduate$48kearningsTuition and fees: $1,146 a year. The net price counts housing and food at full cost.Westminster Theological Seminary in CaliforniaUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 101 on campus · 9.4 mi · EscondidoGraduate students only; the Scorecard reports no undergraduate figures.John Paul the Great Catholic UniversityUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 298 on campus · 9.8 mi · Escondido80%admitted$35knet price64%graduate$57kearningsDesign Institute of San DiegoUniversity or college · For-profit · 107 on campus · 11.2 mi · San Diego100%admitted$44knet price80%graduate$47kearningsGrossmont CollegeCommunity college · Public · 8,594 on campus · 11.9 mi · El Cajon$5knet price37%graduate$40kearningsTuition and fees: $1,332 a year. The net price counts housing and food at full cost.ATA CollegeUniversity or college · For-profit · 106 on campus · 11.9 mi · El Cajon$19knet price89%graduate$35kearningsNational UniversityUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 3,355 on campus · 12.5 mi · San Diego · mostly online$23knet price43%graduate$68kearnings83% of its students study only online; price, graduation and earnings count them too.California State University-San MarcosUniversity or college · Public · 14,549 on campus · 12.7 mi · San Marcos95%admitted$10knet price55%graduate$63kearningsPima Medical Institute-San MarcosUniversity or college · For-profit · 630 on campus · 13.1 mi · San Marcos$27knet price71%graduate$39kearningsEarnings are reported for all 13 campuses that file with it.University of St. Augustine for Health SciencesUniversity or college · For-profit · 4,158 on campus · 14.1 mi · San Marcos$79kearningsGraduate students only; the Scorecard reports no undergraduate figures.University of California-San DiegoUniversity or college · Public · 42,066 on campus · 14.6 mi · La Jolla27%admitted$12knet price86%graduate$85kearningsPalomar CollegeCommunity college · Public · 13,825 on campus · 14.6 mi · San Marcos$6knet price38%graduate$42kearningsTuition and fees: $1,354 a year. The net price counts housing and food at full cost.San Diego State UniversityUniversity or college · Public · 36,799 on campus · 15 mi · San Diego36%admitted$15knet price76%graduate$65kearnings

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 Poway’s median household income ($148,359) falls.

San Diego Miramar College7.8 mi · San Diego · sticker $17,126 · tuition $1,146$11,600a year
Grossmont College11.9 mi · El Cajon · sticker $14,027 · tuition $1,332$12,250a year
Palomar College14.6 mi · San Marcos · sticker $14,360 · tuition $1,354$12,642a year
California State University-San Marcos12.7 mi · San Marcos · sticker $21,649$18,734a year
San Diego State University15 mi · San Diego · sticker $27,780$23,821a year
University of California-San Diego14.6 mi · La Jolla · sticker $38,701$28,785a year
John Paul the Great Catholic University9.8 mi · Escondido · sticker $52,367$38,282a year
Design Institute of San Diego11.2 mi · San Diego · sticker $55,911—a year
ATA College11.9 mi · El Cajon · sticker $26,134—a year
National University12.5 mi · San Diego · mostly online · sticker $33,978—a year
Pima Medical Institute-San Marcos13.1 mi · San Marcos · sticker $32,210—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 Poway: 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 →San Diego Miramar CollegeGrossmont CollegeCalifornia State University-San MarcosUniversity of California-San DiegoPalomar CollegeSan Diego State
University of California-San Diego86% graduate$85k earnings$16k typical debt
San Diego State University76% graduate$65k earnings$15k typical debt
California State University-San Marcos55% graduate$63k earnings$17k typical debt
Palomar College38% graduate$42k earnings
Grossmont College37% graduate$40k earnings$9k typical debt
San Diego Miramar College48% graduate$48k earnings$7k typical debt
National University43% graduate$68k earnings$25k typical debt
Pima Medical Institute-San Marcos71% graduate$39k earnings*$10k typical debt
John Paul the Great Catholic University64% graduate$57k earnings$27k typical debt
Design Institute of San Diego80% graduate$47k earnings$37k typical debt
ATA College89% graduate$35k earnings$6k 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: Pima Medical Institute-San Marcos (13).

Questions about college near Poway

Is Poway a college town?

No. About 6 of every 100 Poway residents are enrolled in college (Census, 2020–24), below California (8). The nearest campus, Alliant International University-San Diego, is 7.5 miles away in San Diego.

What colleges are near Poway?

14 colleges are within 15 miles. The largest: the University of California-San Diego (14.6 miles, 42,066 students on campus), San Diego State University (15 miles, 36,799) and California State University-San Marcos (12.7 miles, 14,549).

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

San Diego Miramar College in San Diego, 7.8 miles away. Tuition and fees are $1,146 a year for California residents; the federal net price, $3,337, counts housing and food at full cost.

How much does California State University-San Marcos cost if we live in California?

Tuition and fees are $8,082 a year in-state and $20,682 from out of state. After grants, families on federal aid paid an average of $6,230 (under $30,000 income) to $18,734 (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 Poway. 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 →