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American River Grange Hall No. 172American River Grange Hall No. 172 · Photo: Asilvero · CC BY-SA 3.0
Colleges in and near Rancho Cordova

Rancho Cordova is home to two colleges, with 880 students on campus

Chamberlain University-California (654 students on campus) and San Joaquin Valley College-Rancho Cordova (226) are inside the city. About 8% of Rancho Cordova’s residents are enrolled in college, about the same as 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 Rancho Cordova. Colleges are described, not graded.

Within 15 miles
12
79,169 students on campus
Nearest college
2.6 mi
Chamberlain University-California
Residents in college
8%
About the same as CA (8%)
Nearest community college
8 mi
American River College · $1,288 tuition
Nearest public university
10.2 mi
California State University-Sacramento · $8,018 in-state
Median household income
$90K
prices below start here

What stands out about college in Rancho Cordova

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

A university in Rancho CordovaChamberlain University-California has 654 students on campus in Rancho Cordova.A community college 8 miles awayAmerican River College in Sacramento: tuition and fees $1,288 a year for California residents.In-state price at California State University-SacramentoLiving in California, California State University-Sacramento charges $8,018 in tuition and fees; from out of state, $20,618. 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 Rancho Cordova

Six private colleges within 10.4 miles, one public college within 10.2 miles, and five community colleges.

5 mi10 mi15 miAmerican River CollegeSierra CollegeRancho Cordova
University or collegeCommunity college
Chamberlain University-CaliforniaUniversity or college · For-profit · 654 on campus · In Rancho Cordova80%admitted$37knet price$92kearningsEarnings are reported for all 15 campuses that file with it.San Joaquin Valley College-Rancho CordovaUniversity or college · For-profit · 226 on campus · In Rancho Cordova$30knet price76%graduate$38kearningsEarnings are reported for all 14 campuses that file with it.Carrington College-SacramentoUniversity or college · For-profit · 991 on campus · 7.4 mi · Sacramento · mostly online$41knet price51%graduate$40kearnings57% of its students study only online; price, graduation and earnings count them too.Earnings are reported for all 5 campuses that file with it.American River CollegeCommunity college · Public · 16,940 on campus · 8 mi · Sacramento$8knet price37%graduate$40kearningsTuition and fees: $1,288 a year. The net price counts housing and food at full cost.MTI CollegeUniversity or college · For-profit · 571 on campus · 8.2 mi · Sacramento63%admitted$22knet price77%graduate$45kearningsFolsom Lake CollegeCommunity college · Public · 4,187 on campus · 8.3 mi · Folsom · mostly online$6knet price44%graduate$43kearnings59% of its students study only online; price, graduation and earnings count them too.Tuition and fees: $1,288 a year. The net price counts housing and food at full cost.Asher CollegeUniversity or college · For-profit · 589 on campus · 9.7 mi · Sacramento$35knet price56%graduate$45kearningsCalifornia State University-SacramentoUniversity or college · Public · 29,083 on campus · 10.2 mi · Sacramento94%admitted$9knet price56%graduate$65kearningsSacramento Ultrasound InstituteUniversity or college · For-profit · 104 on campus · 10.4 mi · Sacramento71%admitted$29knet price98%graduateCosumnes River CollegeCommunity college · Public · 7,142 on campus · 13.3 mi · Sacramento · mostly online$6knet price40%graduate$42kearnings52% of its students study only online; price, graduation and earnings count them too.Tuition and fees: $1,288 a year. The net price counts housing and food at full cost.Sacramento City CollegeCommunity college · Public · 8,001 on campus · 14 mi · Sacramento · mostly online$7knet price33%graduate$42kearnings58% of its students study only online; price, graduation and earnings count them too.Tuition and fees: $1,288 a year. The net price counts housing and food at full cost.Sierra CollegeCommunity college · Public · 10,681 on campus · 14.8 mi · Rocklin$7knet price42%graduate$45kearningsTuition and fees: $1,446 a year. The net price counts housing and food at full cost.

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 Rancho Cordova’s median household income ($89,585) falls.

Cosumnes River College13.3 mi · Sacramento · mostly online · sticker $14,202 · tuition $1,288$9,760a year
Folsom Lake College8.3 mi · Folsom · mostly online · sticker $13,901 · tuition $1,288$9,776a year
Sacramento City College14 mi · Sacramento · mostly online · sticker $15,767 · tuition $1,288$11,609a year
American River College8 mi · Sacramento · sticker $16,384 · tuition $1,288$11,652a year
California State University-Sacramento10.2 mi · Sacramento · sticker $22,945$11,814a year
Sierra College14.8 mi · Rocklin · sticker $17,002 · tuition $1,446$12,648a year
MTI College8.2 mi · Sacramento · sticker $25,251$23,120a year
San Joaquin Valley College-Rancho CordovaIn Rancho Cordova · sticker $33,088$33,088a year
Carrington College-Sacramento7.4 mi · Sacramento · mostly online · sticker $45,593$44,454a year
Chamberlain University-CaliforniaIn Rancho Cordova · sticker $37,232—a year
Asher College9.7 mi · Sacramento · sticker $35,499—a year
Sacramento Ultrasound Institute10.4 mi · Sacramento · sticker $41,256—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 Rancho Cordova: across is the share who graduate, up is what they earn ten years after starting.

$0$20k$40k$60k$80k0%25%50%75%100%Graduate →American River CollegeCalifornia State University-SacramentoSacramento City CollegeSierra College
California State University-Sacramento56% graduate$65k earnings$15k typical debt
American River College37% graduate$40k earnings$10k typical debt
Sierra College42% graduate$45k earnings$10k typical debt
Sacramento City College33% graduate$42k earnings$10k typical debt
Cosumnes River College40% graduate$42k earnings$11k typical debt
Folsom Lake College44% graduate$43k earnings
Carrington College-Sacramento51% graduate$40k earnings*$12k typical debt
Asher College56% graduate$45k earnings$14k typical debt
MTI College77% graduate$45k earnings$9k typical debt
San Joaquin Valley College-Rancho Cordova76% graduate$38k earnings*$11k 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: San Joaquin Valley College-Rancho Cordova (14); Carrington College-Sacramento (5).

Majors

What students study in Rancho Cordova

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

Health professions 100%Everything else 0%

Biggest programs

Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical NursingChamberlain University-California · 151 graduates a year
$96k4 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 Rancho Cordova

Is Rancho Cordova a college town?

No. About 8 of every 100 Rancho Cordova residents are enrolled in college (Census, 2020–24), about the same as California (8). The largest campus in the city, Chamberlain University-California, has 654 students on campus.

What colleges are in Rancho Cordova?

Chamberlain University-California and San Joaquin Valley College-Rancho Cordova are inside the city. American River College is 8 miles away in Sacramento.

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

American River College in Sacramento, 8 miles away. Tuition and fees are $1,288 a year for California residents; the federal net price, $7,999, counts housing and food at full cost.

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

Tuition and fees are $8,018 a year in-state and $20,618 from out of state. After grants, families on federal aid paid an average of $6,501 (under $30,000 income) to $18,861 (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 Rancho Cordova. 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 →