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John Dielmann HouseJohn Dielmann House · Photo: BriefEdits · CC BY-SA 4.0
Colleges in and near Redwood City

Redwood City is home to two colleges, with 6,089 students on campus

Canada College (5,636 students on campus) and Alder Graduate School of Education (453) are inside the city. About 6% of Redwood City’s residents are enrolled in college, below California (8%).

Canada 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 Redwood City. Colleges are described, not graded.

Within 15 miles
15
63,208 students on campus
Nearest college
2.4 mi
Alder Graduate School of Education
Residents in college
6%
Below CA (8%)
Nearest community college
5.4 mi
Canada College · $1,332 tuition
Nearest public university
11.6 mi
Foothill College · $1,565 in-state
Median household income
$158K
prices below start here

What stands out about college in Redwood City

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

A community college in Redwood CityCanada College has 5,636 students on campus in Redwood City, 47% of whom graduate within three years.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 6% of residentsBelow California (8%). The Census counts anyone enrolled, including part-time and online students.
Every college

Colleges within 15 miles of Redwood City

10 private colleges within 14.9 miles, one public college within 13.2 miles, and four community colleges.

5 mi10 mi15 miStanford UniversityCalifornia State University-East BayChabot CollegeRedwood City
University or collegeCommunity college
Alder Graduate School of EducationUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 453 on campus · In Redwood CityGraduate students only; the Scorecard reports no undergraduate figures.Notre Dame de Namur UniversityUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 205 on campus · 3.9 mi · Belmont7%graduate$75kearningsMenlo CollegeUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 840 on campus · 4.5 mi · Atherton68%admitted$31knet price54%graduate$76kearningsCanada CollegeCommunity college · Public · 5,636 on campus · In Redwood City$0knet price47%graduate$50kearningsTuition and fees: $1,332 a year. The net price counts housing and food at full cost.Stanford UniversityUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 18,233 on campus · 6.5 mi · Stanford4%admitted$14knet price92%graduate$124kearningsCollege of San MateoCommunity college · Public · 6,728 on campus · 6.8 mi · San Mateo$1knet price61%graduate$54kearningsTuition and fees: $1,332 a year. The net price counts housing and food at full cost.Sofia UniversityUniversity or college · For-profit · 995 on campus · 8.2 mi · Palo AltoPalo Alto UniversityUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 664 on campus · 9.3 mi · Palo Alto$83kearningsLife Chiropractic College WestUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 613 on campus · 10 mi · HaywardGraduate students only; the Scorecard reports no undergraduate figures.Chabot CollegeCommunity college · Public · 7,625 on campus · 10.6 mi · Hayward$9knet price47%graduate$48kearningsTuition and fees: $1,150 a year. The net price counts housing and food at full cost.Foothill CollegeCommunity college · Public · 7,500 on campus · 11.6 mi · Los Altos Hills$8knet price56%graduate$57kearningsTuition and fees: $1,565 a year. The net price counts housing and food at full cost.California State University-East BayUniversity or college · Public · 8,951 on campus · 13.2 mi · Hayward97%admitted$9knet price48%graduate$71kearningsCarrington College-San Leandro CampusUniversity or college · For-profit · 401 on campus · 13.6 mi · San Leandro$40knet price59%graduate$40kearningsEarnings are reported for all 5 campuses that file with it.Unitek CollegeUniversity or college · For-profit · 4,254 on campus · 13.8 mi · Fremont$25knet price73%graduate$80kearningsUniversity of East-West MedicineUniversity or college · For-profit · 110 on campus · 14.9 mi · SunnyvaleGraduate students only; the Scorecard reports no undergraduate figures.

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 Redwood City’s median household income ($157,814) falls.

Chabot College10.6 mi · Hayward · sticker $17,456 · tuition $1,150$6,370a year
Foothill College11.6 mi · Los Altos Hills · sticker $16,361 · tuition $1,565$14,237a year
California State University-East Bay13.2 mi · Hayward · sticker $22,850$19,397a year
Unitek College13.8 mi · Fremont · sticker $27,775$27,775a year
Menlo College4.5 mi · Atherton · sticker $72,020$37,298a year
Carrington College-San Leandro Campus13.6 mi · San Leandro · sticker $44,224$44,224a year
Stanford University6.5 mi · Stanford · sticker $87,833$53,882a year
Canada CollegeIn Redwood City · sticker $9,087 · tuition $1,332—a year
College of San Mateo6.8 mi · San Mateo · sticker $10,837 · tuition $1,332—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 Redwood City: 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 →Canada CollegeStanford UniversityCollege of San MateoChabot CollegeFoothill CollegeCalifornia State University-East Bay
Stanford University92% graduate$124k earnings$12k typical debt
California State University-East Bay48% graduate$71k earnings$17k typical debt
Chabot College47% graduate$48k earnings$10k 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
Unitek College73% graduate$80k earnings$11k typical debt
Menlo College54% graduate$76k earnings$22k typical debt
Carrington College-San Leandro Campus59% graduate$40k earnings*$12k 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. *Reported for all the campuses that file together: Carrington College-San Leandro Campus (5).

Majors

What students study in Redwood City

Share of bachelor’s and associate degrees by field at Canada College, weighted by undergraduates; then the biggest programs.

Liberal arts 16%Health professions 14%Business 12%Social sciences 11%Visual & performing arts 8%Family sciences 8%Everything else 30%

Biggest programs

Psychology, General52 graduates a year
$67k4 yrs out
Business Administration, Management and Operations44 graduates a year
$73k4 yrs out
Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions13 graduates a year
$124k4 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 Redwood City

Is Redwood City a college town?

No. About 6 of every 100 Redwood City residents are enrolled in college (Census, 2020–24), below California (8). The largest campus in the city, Canada College, has 5,636 students on campus.

What colleges are in Redwood City?

Canada College and Alder Graduate School of Education are inside the city.

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

Canada College in Redwood City, 5.4 miles away. Tuition and fees are $1,332 a year for California residents; the federal net price, $32, 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 Redwood City. 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 →