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Marin County Civic CenterMarin County Civic Center · Photo: Fizbin at en.wikipedia · Public domain
Colleges in and near San Rafael

San Rafael is home to Dominican University of California

Dominican University of California (1,699 students on campus) is inside the city, and College of Marin (4,093) is 3 miles from the center, just over the line in Kentfield. About 7% of San Rafael’s residents are enrolled in college, about the same as California (8%).

Dominican University of CaliforniaCollege of Marin

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 Rafael. Colleges are described, not graded.

Within 15 miles
12
26,343 students on campus
Nearest college
0.3 mi
Dominican University of California
Residents in college
7%
About the same as CA (8%)
Nearest community college
3 mi
College of Marin · $1,558 tuition
Nearest public university
14.7 mi
University of California College of the Law-San Francisco
Median household income
$119K
prices below start here

What stands out about college in San Rafael

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

Two colleges within 3 milesDominican University of California admits 84% of applicants. Together they have 5,792 students on campus.A community college 3 miles awayCollege of Marin in Kentfield: tuition and fees $1,558 a year for California residents.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 San Rafael

Eight private colleges within 15 miles, one public college within 14.7 miles, and three community colleges.

5 mi10 mi15 miUniversity of San FranciscoCollege of MarinContra Costa CollegeSan Rafael
University or collegeCommunity college
Dominican University of CaliforniaUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 1,699 on campus · In San Rafael84%admitted$35knet price78%graduate$85kearningsCollege of MarinCommunity college · Public · 4,093 on campus · 3 mi · Kentfield$12knet price39%graduate$43kearningsTuition and fees: $1,558 a year. The net price counts housing and food at full cost.Presidio Graduate SchoolUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 103 on campus · 3.3 mi · San AnselmoGraduate students only; the Scorecard reports no undergraduate figures.Contra Costa CollegeCommunity college · Public · 3,192 on campus · 9.3 mi · San Pablo$9knet price28%graduate$41kearningsTuition and fees: $1,312 a year. The net price counts housing and food at full cost.San Francisco Film SchoolUniversity or college · For-profit · 141 on campus · 14.3 mi · San Francisco$32knet price67%graduateUniversity of San FranciscoUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 8,633 on campus · 14.5 mi · San Francisco62%admitted$41knet price70%graduate$90kearningsAcademy of Art UniversityUniversity or college · For-profit · 2,900 on campus · 14.5 mi · San Francisco · mostly online$41knet price34%graduate$39kearnings54% of its students study only online; price, graduation and earnings count them too.Golden Gate UniversityUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 502 on campus · 14.5 mi · San Francisco · mostly online$87kearnings78% of its students study only online; price, graduation and earnings count them too.University of California College of the Law-San FranciscoUniversity or college · Public · 1,159 on campus · 14.7 mi · San FranciscoGraduate students only; the Scorecard reports no undergraduate figures.Minerva UniversityUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 603 on campus · 14.7 mi · San Francisco3%admittedBerkeley City CollegeCommunity college · Public · 2,915 on campus · 15 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.San Francisco Conservatory of MusicUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 403 on campus · 15 mi · San Francisco55%admitted$43knet price74%graduate

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 San Rafael’s median household income ($119,435) falls.

Contra Costa College9.3 mi · San Pablo · sticker $18,422 · tuition $1,312$9,567a year
College of Marin3 mi · Kentfield · sticker $21,015 · tuition $1,558$17,686a year
Dominican University of CaliforniaIn San Rafael · sticker $71,751$43,317a year
Academy of Art University14.5 mi · San Francisco · mostly online · sticker $48,036$44,082a year
San Francisco Conservatory of Music15 mi · San Francisco · sticker $78,781$45,245a year
University of San Francisco14.5 mi · San Francisco · sticker $80,141$52,497a year
San Francisco Film School14.3 mi · San Francisco · sticker $37,597—a year
Berkeley City College15 mi · Berkeley · mostly online · sticker $18,845 · tuition $1,258—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 San Rafael: 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 →Dominican University of CaliforniaCollege of MarinContra Costa CollegeUniversity of San FranciscoAcademy of Art UniversityBerkeley City College
University of San Francisco70% graduate$90k earnings$23k typical debt
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

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.

Majors

What students study in San Rafael

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

Health professions 42%Business 15%Psychology 11%Biology 10%Computer science 7%Visual & performing arts 4%Everything else 11%

Biggest programs

Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing121 graduates a year
$150k4 yrs out
Business Administration, Management and Operations53 graduates a year
$89k4 yrs out
Psychology, General23 graduates a year
$61k4 yrs out
Biology, General18 graduates a year
$76k4 yrs out
Health Services/Allied Health/Health Sciences, General16 graduates a year
$83k4 yrs out
Communication, Journalism, and Related Programs, Other6 graduates a year
$58k4 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 Rafael

Is San Rafael a college town?

No. About 7 of every 100 San Rafael residents are enrolled in college (Census, 2020–24), about the same as California (8). The largest campus in the city, Dominican University of California, has 1,699 students on campus.

What colleges are in San Rafael?

Dominican University of California is inside the city. College of Marin is 3 miles from the center, in Kentfield.

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

College of Marin in Kentfield, 3 miles away. Tuition and fees are $1,558 a year for California residents; the federal net price, $12,351, counts housing and food at full cost.

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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 Rafael. 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 →