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Richmond California aerial (cropped)Photo: Dicklyon · CC BY-SA 4.0
Colleges in and near Richmond

Contra Costa College is 1.7 miles from Richmond

No college sits inside Richmond’s boundary, but Contra Costa College’s campus in San Pablo, with 3,192 students on campus, is 1.7 miles from the center of town. About 7% of Richmond’s residents are enrolled in college, about the same as California (8%).

Contra Costa 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 Richmond. Colleges are described, not graded.

Within 15 miles
27
88,121 students on campus
Nearest college
1.7 mi
Contra Costa College
Residents in college
7%
About the same as CA (8%)
Nearest community college
1.7 mi
Contra Costa College · $1,312 tuition
Nearest public university
7.8 mi
University of California-Berkeley · $16,347 in-state
Median household income
$95K
prices below start here

What stands out about college from Richmond

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

A community college 1.7 miles awayContra Costa College has 3,192 students on campus in San Pablo, 28% 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 7% 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 Richmond

18 private colleges within 13.1 miles, four public colleges within 14.1 miles, and five community colleges.

5 mi10 mi15 miUniversity of California-BerkeleyUniversity of San FranciscoLaney CollegeRichmond
University or collegeCommunity college
Contra Costa CollegeCommunity college · Public · 3,192 on campus · 1.7 mi · San Pablo$9knet price28%graduate$41kearningsTuition and fees: $1,312 a year. The net price counts housing and food at full cost.Pacific School of ReligionUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 128 on campus · 7.4 mi · BerkeleyGraduate students only; the Scorecard reports no undergraduate figures.Berkeley City CollegeCommunity college · Public · 2,915 on campus · 7.5 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.Graduate Theological UnionUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 140 on campus · 7.6 mi · BerkeleyGraduate students only; the Scorecard reports no undergraduate figures.University of California-BerkeleyUniversity or college · Public · 43,954 on campus · 7.8 mi · Berkeley11%admitted$13knet price93%graduate$92kearningsAcupuncture and Integrative Medicine College-BerkeleyUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 119 on campus · 8 mi · BerkeleyGraduate students only; the Scorecard reports no undergraduate figures.The Wright InstituteUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 511 on campus · 8.2 mi · BerkeleyGraduate students only; the Scorecard reports no undergraduate figures.Dominican University of CaliforniaUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 1,699 on campus · 8.5 mi · San Rafael84%admitted$35knet price78%graduate$85kearningsCollege of MarinCommunity college · Public · 4,093 on campus · 10.3 mi · Kentfield$12knet price39%graduate$43kearningsTuition and fees: $1,558 a year. The net price counts housing and food at full cost.Samuel Merritt UniversityUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 1,516 on campus · 10.5 mi · Oakland$143kearningsTouro University CaliforniaUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 966 on campus · 10.6 mi · Vallejo$105kearningsEarnings are reported for all 2 campuses that file with it.Graduate students only; the Scorecard reports no undergraduate figures.California State University Maritime AcademyUniversity or college · Public · 761 on campus · 10.7 mi · Vallejo95%admitted$21knet price60%graduate$95kearningsPresidio Graduate SchoolUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 103 on campus · 11.2 mi · San AnselmoGraduate students only; the Scorecard reports no undergraduate figures.Lincoln UniversityUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 474 on campus · 11.3 mi · Oakland100%graduate$54kearningsSan Francisco Film SchoolUniversity or college · For-profit · 141 on campus · 11.3 mi · San Francisco$32knet price67%graduateAcademy of Chinese Culture and Health SciencesUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 122 on campus · 11.3 mi · OaklandGraduate students only; the Scorecard reports no undergraduate figures.Golden Gate UniversityUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 502 on campus · 11.4 mi · San Francisco · mostly online$87kearnings78% of its students study only online; price, graduation and earnings count them too.Academy of Art UniversityUniversity or college · For-profit · 2,900 on campus · 11.6 mi · San Francisco · mostly online$41knet price34%graduate$39kearnings54% of its students study only online; price, graduation and earnings count them too.Laney CollegeCommunity college · Public · 6,027 on campus · 12 mi · Oakland$17knet price31%graduate$37kearningsTuition and fees: $1,258 a year. The net price counts housing and food at full cost.Minerva UniversityUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 603 on campus · 12 mi · San Francisco3%admittedUniversity of California College of the Law-San FranciscoUniversity or college · Public · 1,159 on campus · 12.2 mi · San FranciscoGraduate students only; the Scorecard reports no undergraduate figures.College of AlamedaCommunity college · Public · 1,635 on campus · 12.6 mi · Alameda · mostly online$8knet price33%graduate$43kearnings72% 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.California Institute of Integral StudiesUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 980 on campus · 12.6 mi · San Francisco · mostly online$49kearnings52% of its students study only online; price, graduation and earnings count them too.San Francisco Conservatory of MusicUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 403 on campus · 12.6 mi · San Francisco55%admitted$43knet price74%graduateCalifornia College of the ArtsUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 1,332 on campus · 12.9 mi · San Francisco91%admitted$54knet price61%graduate$49kearningsUniversity of San FranciscoUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 8,633 on campus · 13.1 mi · San Francisco62%admitted$41knet price70%graduate$90kearningsUniversity of California-San FranciscoUniversity or college · Public · 3,113 on campus · 14.1 mi · San FranciscoGraduate 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 $75–110k, where Richmond’s median household income ($95,391) falls.

Berkeley City College7.5 mi · Berkeley · mostly online · sticker $18,845 · tuition $1,258$13,213a year
Contra Costa College1.7 mi · San Pablo · sticker $18,422 · tuition $1,312$14,269a year
University of California-Berkeley7.8 mi · Berkeley · sticker $45,619$15,074a year
College of Alameda12.6 mi · Alameda · mostly online · sticker $18,185 · tuition $1,258$15,603a year
College of Marin10.3 mi · Kentfield · sticker $21,015 · tuition $1,558$16,944a year
Laney College12 mi · Oakland · sticker $25,335 · tuition $1,258$18,321a year
California State University Maritime Academy10.7 mi · Vallejo · sticker $29,853$21,257a year
Dominican University of California8.5 mi · San Rafael · sticker $71,751$35,343a year
San Francisco Conservatory of Music12.6 mi · San Francisco · sticker $78,781$36,802a year
University of San Francisco13.1 mi · San Francisco · sticker $80,141$38,933a year
Academy of Art University11.6 mi · San Francisco · mostly online · sticker $48,036$43,953a year
California College of the Arts12.9 mi · San Francisco · sticker $79,776$46,060a year
San Francisco Film School11.3 mi · San Francisco · sticker $37,597—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 Richmond: 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 →Contra Costa CollegeBerkeley City CollegeUniversity of California-BerkeleyCollege of MarinLaney CollegeUniversity of San Francisco
University of California-Berkeley93% graduate$92k earnings$13k typical debt
University of San Francisco70% graduate$90k earnings$23k typical debt
Laney College31% graduate$37k earnings
College of Marin39% graduate$43k earnings$10k typical debt
Contra Costa College28% graduate$41k earnings
Berkeley City College36% graduate$41k earnings
Academy of Art University34% graduate$39k earnings$31k typical debt
Dominican University of California78% graduate$85k earnings$27k typical debt
College of Alameda33% graduate$43k earnings
California College of the Arts61% graduate$49k earnings$27k typical debt
California State University Maritime Academy60% graduate$95k earnings$25k typical debt
Lincoln University100% graduate$54k earnings

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 Richmond

Is Richmond a college town?

No. About 7 of every 100 Richmond residents are enrolled in college (Census, 2020–24), about the same as California (8). The nearest campus, Contra Costa College, is 1.7 miles away in San Pablo.

What colleges are near Richmond?

27 colleges are within 15 miles. The largest: the University of California-Berkeley (7.8 miles, 43,954 students on campus), the University of San Francisco (13.1 miles, 8,633) and Laney College (12 miles, 6,027).

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

Contra Costa College in San Pablo, 1.7 miles away. Tuition and fees are $1,312 a year for California residents; the federal net price, $9,490, 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 Richmond. 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 →