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Colleges in and near San Pablo

San Pablo is home to Contra Costa College

Contra Costa College (3,192 students on campus) is inside the city. About 7% of San Pablo’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 San Pablo. Colleges are described, not graded.

Within 15 miles
28
96,290 students on campus
Nearest college
0.5 mi
Contra Costa College
Residents in college
7%
About the same as CA (8%)
Nearest community college
0.5 mi
Contra Costa College · $1,312 tuition
Nearest public university
7.7 mi
University of California-Berkeley · $16,347 in-state
Median household income
$79K
prices below start here

What stands out about college in San Pablo

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

Every college

Colleges within 15 miles of San Pablo

19 private colleges within 14.7 miles, three public colleges within 13.2 miles, and six community colleges.

5 mi10 mi15 miUniversity of California-BerkeleyDiablo Valley CollegeUniversity of San FranciscoSan Pablo
University or collegeCommunity college
Contra Costa CollegeCommunity college · Public · 3,192 on campus · In 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.Graduate Theological UnionUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 140 on campus · 7.5 mi · BerkeleyGraduate students only; the Scorecard reports no undergraduate figures.Berkeley City CollegeCommunity college · Public · 2,915 on campus · 7.6 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.University of California-BerkeleyUniversity or college · Public · 43,954 on campus · 7.7 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 · 9.3 mi · San Rafael84%admitted$35knet price78%graduate$85kearningsTouro University CaliforniaUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 966 on campus · 9.5 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 · 9.5 mi · Vallejo95%admitted$21knet price60%graduate$95kearningsSamuel Merritt UniversityUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 1,516 on campus · 10.7 mi · Oakland$143kearningsCollege of MarinCommunity college · Public · 4,093 on campus · 11.3 mi · Kentfield$12knet price39%graduate$43kearningsTuition and fees: $1,558 a year. The net price counts housing and food at full cost.Academy of Chinese Culture and Health SciencesUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 122 on campus · 11.5 mi · OaklandGraduate students only; the Scorecard reports no undergraduate figures.Lincoln UniversityUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 474 on campus · 11.6 mi · Oakland100%graduate$54kearningsPresidio Graduate SchoolUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 103 on campus · 12.1 mi · San AnselmoGraduate students only; the Scorecard reports no undergraduate figures.Laney CollegeCommunity college · Public · 6,027 on campus · 12.2 mi · Oakland$17knet price31%graduate$37kearningsTuition and fees: $1,258 a year. The net price counts housing and food at full cost.San Francisco Film SchoolUniversity or college · For-profit · 141 on campus · 12.3 mi · San Francisco$32knet price67%graduateGolden Gate UniversityUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 502 on campus · 12.4 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 · 12.5 mi · San Francisco · mostly online$41knet price34%graduate$39kearnings54% of its students study only online; price, graduation and earnings count them too.Minerva UniversityUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 603 on campus · 12.9 mi · San Francisco3%admittedCollege of AlamedaCommunity college · Public · 1,635 on campus · 13 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.University of California College of the Law-San FranciscoUniversity or college · Public · 1,159 on campus · 13.2 mi · San FranciscoGraduate students only; the Scorecard reports no undergraduate figures.California Institute of Integral StudiesUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 980 on campus · 13.6 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 · 13.6 mi · San Francisco55%admitted$43knet price74%graduateCalifornia College of the ArtsUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 1,332 on campus · 13.9 mi · San Francisco91%admitted$54knet price61%graduate$49kearningsUniversity of San FranciscoUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 8,633 on campus · 14.2 mi · San Francisco62%admitted$41knet price70%graduate$90kearningsDiablo Valley CollegeCommunity college · Public · 10,850 on campus · 14.7 mi · Pleasant Hill$8knet price49%graduate$51kearningsTuition and fees: $1,312 a year. The net price counts housing and food at full cost.Carrington College-Pleasant Hill CampusUniversity or college · For-profit · 432 on campus · 14.7 mi · Pleasant Hill$39knet price59%graduate$40kearningsEarnings are reported for all 5 campuses that file with it.

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 San Pablo’s median household income ($79,478) falls.

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 San Pablo: 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 CollegeUniversity of California-BerkeleyCollege of MarinLaney CollegeUniversity of San FranciscoDiablo Valley College
University of California-Berkeley93% graduate$92k earnings$13k typical debt
Diablo Valley College49% graduate$51k earnings$10k 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

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-Pleasant Hill Campus (5).

Majors

What students study in San Pablo

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

Interdisciplinary 32%Liberal arts 29%Business 10%Family sciences 4%Health professions 3%Biology 3%Everything else 18%

Biggest programs

Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities237 graduates a year
$52k4 yrs out
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing34 graduates a year
$161k4 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 San Pablo

Is San Pablo a college town?

No. About 7 of every 100 San Pablo residents are enrolled in college (Census, 2020–24), about the same as California (8). The largest campus in the city, Contra Costa College, has 3,192 students on campus.

What colleges are in San Pablo?

Contra Costa College is inside the city.

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

Contra Costa College in San Pablo, 0.5 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 San Pablo. 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 →