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California - Santora Building - 20180915152902 (cropped)Photo: Coolsheep2 · CC BY-SA 4.0
Colleges in and near Santa Ana

Santa Ana is home to two colleges, with about 20,000 students on campus

Santa Ana College (18,643 students on campus) and Career Networks Institute (971) are inside the city, and Orange Coast College (14,830) is 4.9 miles from the center, just over the line in Costa Mesa. About 8% of Santa Ana’s residents are enrolled in college, about the same as California (8%).

Santa Ana CollegeWestcliff UniversityChapman UniversityStanbridge UniversityOrange Coast 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 Santa Ana. Colleges are described, not graded.

Within 15 miles
36
229,202 students on campus
Nearest college
1.6 mi
Santa Ana College
Residents in college
8%
About the same as CA (8%)
Nearest community college
1.6 mi
Santa Ana College · $1,180 tuition
Nearest public university
1.6 mi
Santa Ana College · $1,180 in-state
Median household income
$94K
prices below start here

What stands out about college in Santa Ana

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

Five colleges within 4.9 milesWestcliff University admits 73% of applicants; Chapman University admits 65%; Stanbridge University admits 10%. Together they have 50,597 students on campus.A community college 1.6 miles awaySanta Ana College in Santa Ana: tuition and fees $1,180 a year for California residents.In-state price at Santa Ana CollegeLiving in California, Santa Ana College charges $1,180 in tuition and fees; from out of state, $10,756. 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 Santa Ana

25 private colleges within 14.1 miles, three public colleges within 13.5 miles, and eight community colleges.

5 mi10 mi15 miCalifornia State University-FullertonCalifornia State University-Long BeachUniversity of California-IrvineSanta Ana
University or collegeCommunity college
Santa Ana CollegeCommunity college · Public · 18,643 on campus · In Santa Ana$3knet price31%graduate$44kearningsTuition and fees: $1,180 a year. The net price counts housing and food at full cost.Career Networks InstituteUniversity or college · For-profit · 971 on campus · In Santa Ana$50knet price89%graduate$45kearningsCoastline Community CollegeCommunity college · Public · 728 on campus · 3 mi · Fountain Valley · mostly online$16knet price34%graduate$44kearnings92% of its students study only online; price, graduation and earnings count them too.Tuition and fees: $1,364 a year. The net price counts housing and food at full cost.South Coast CollegeUniversity or college · For-profit · 241 on campus · 3.6 mi · Orange$17knet price17%graduate$45kearningsPacific CollegeUniversity or college · For-profit · 238 on campus · 4 mi · Costa Mesa56%admitted$29knet price62%graduate$70kearningsWestcliff UniversityUniversity or college · For-profit · 4,526 on campus · 4.1 mi · Irvine73%admitted$35knet price62%graduateConcorde Career College-Garden GroveUniversity or college · For-profit · 202 on campus · 4.1 mi · Garden Grove97%admitted$25knet price84%graduate$46kearningsChapman UniversityUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 9,961 on campus · 4.3 mi · Orange65%admitted$47knet price82%graduate$70kearningsStanbridge UniversityUniversity or college · For-profit · 2,637 on campus · 4.3 mi · Irvine10%admitted$45knet price62%graduate$62kearningsThe Chicago School at AnaheimUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 483 on campus · 4.7 mi · Anaheim$57kearningsEarnings are reported for all 8 campuses that file with it.Graduate students only; the Scorecard reports no undergraduate figures.Orange Coast CollegeCommunity college · Public · 14,830 on campus · 4.9 mi · Costa Mesa$7knet price48%graduate$47kearningsTuition and fees: $1,392 a year. The net price counts housing and food at full cost.Platt College-AnaheimUniversity or college · For-profit · 405 on campus · 5 mi · Anaheim$23knet price64%graduate$41kearningsEarnings are reported for all 4 campuses that file with it.Vanguard University of Southern CaliforniaUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 1,956 on campus · 5.2 mi · Costa Mesa62%admitted$21knet price57%graduate$60kearningsWest Coast University-Orange CountyUniversity or college · For-profit · 2,873 on campus · 5.4 mi · Anaheim$33knet price60%graduate$103kearningsEarnings are reported for all 6 campuses that file with it.California Career InstituteUniversity or college · For-profit · 517 on campus · 5.5 mi · AnaheimUniversity of California-IrvineUniversity or college · Public · 35,954 on campus · 6.6 mi · Irvine29%admitted$14knet price87%graduate$81kearningsInterior Designers InstituteUniversity or college · For-profit · 107 on campus · 6.7 mi · Newport Beach$55kearningsGolden West CollegeCommunity college · Public · 6,281 on campus · 6.9 mi · Huntington Beach$5knet price49%graduate$43kearningsTuition and fees: $1,380 a year. The net price counts housing and food at full cost.Concordia University-IrvineUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 1,999 on campus · 7 mi · Irvine66%admitted$28knet price58%graduate$65kearningsIrvine Valley CollegeCommunity college · Public · 7,416 on campus · 7.4 mi · Irvine$2knet price57%graduate$49kearningsTuition and fees: $1,156 a year. The net price counts housing and food at full cost.Santiago Canyon CollegeCommunity college · Public · 7,854 on campus · 7.8 mi · Orange$2knet price48%graduate$45kearningsTuition and fees: $1,164 a year. The net price counts housing and food at full cost.Southern California Institute of TechnologyUniversity or college · For-profit · 536 on campus · 8 mi · Anaheim74%admitted$33knet price74%graduate$54kearningsBethesda UniversityUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 248 on campus · 8 mi · Anaheim$11knet price11%graduateNorth-West College-AnaheimUniversity or college · For-profit · 455 on campus · 8.3 mi · Anaheim$29knet price60%graduate$40kearningsEarnings are reported for all 4 campuses that file with it.South Baylo UniversityUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 234 on campus · 8.8 mi · AnaheimGraduate students only; the Scorecard reports no undergraduate figures.American Career College-AnaheimUniversity or college · For-profit · 1,643 on campus · 9.5 mi · Anaheim$31knet price70%graduate$38kearningsEarnings are reported for all 2 campuses that file with it.Hope International UniversityUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 656 on campus · 9.6 mi · Fullerton33%admitted$29knet price49%graduate$50kearningsFullerton CollegeCommunity college · Public · 12,859 on campus · 9.8 mi · Fullerton$6knet price34%graduate$43kearningsTuition and fees: $1,150 a year. The net price counts housing and food at full cost.California State University-FullertonUniversity or college · Public · 38,210 on campus · 10 mi · Fullerton91%admitted$7knet price70%graduate$63kearningsGrace Mission UniversityUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 121 on campus · 10 mi · Fullerton100%graduateCypress CollegeCommunity college · Public · 10,494 on campus · 10.3 mi · Cypress$5knet price37%graduate$44kearningsTuition and fees: $1,150 a year. The net price counts housing and food at full cost.Marshall B Ketchum UniversityUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 679 on campus · 10.5 mi · FullertonGraduate students only; the Scorecard reports no undergraduate figures.California State University-Long BeachUniversity or college · Public · 38,193 on campus · 13.5 mi · Long Beach46%admitted$10knet price69%graduate$64kearningsLaguna College of Art and DesignUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 807 on campus · 13.7 mi · Laguna Beach94%admitted$43knet price52%graduate$48kearningsBiola UniversityUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 4,288 on campus · 13.9 mi · La Mirada74%admitted$31knet price68%graduate$57kearningsSouthern California University of Health SciencesUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 957 on campus · 14.1 mi · Whittier · mostly online$46knet price50%graduate$71kearnings52% of its students study only online; price, graduation and earnings count them too.

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 Santa Ana’s median household income ($93,999) falls.

Irvine Valley College7.4 mi · Irvine · sticker $13,001 · tuition $1,156$7,906a year
Santa Ana CollegeIn Santa Ana · sticker $12,375 · tuition $1,180$8,575a year
California State University-Fullerton10 mi · Fullerton · sticker $18,269$8,930a year
Santiago Canyon College7.8 mi · Orange · sticker $13,818 · tuition $1,164$9,373a year
Cypress College10.3 mi · Cypress · sticker $14,290 · tuition $1,150$10,163a year
Fullerton College9.8 mi · Fullerton · sticker $14,369 · tuition $1,150$10,392a year
Golden West College6.9 mi · Huntington Beach · sticker $14,618 · tuition $1,380$10,405a year
Bethesda University8 mi · Anaheim · sticker $13,575$11,759a year
Orange Coast College4.9 mi · Costa Mesa · sticker $15,561 · tuition $1,392$11,890a year
California State University-Long Beach13.5 mi · Long Beach · sticker $22,679$12,630a year
University of California-Irvine6.6 mi · Irvine · sticker $38,632$15,164a year
Coastline Community College3 mi · Fountain Valley · mostly online · sticker $24,290 · tuition $1,364$21,617a year
Vanguard University of Southern California5.2 mi · Costa Mesa · sticker $52,665$24,117a year
Concordia University-Irvine7 mi · Irvine · sticker $58,682$26,339a year
Platt College-Anaheim5 mi · Anaheim · sticker $28,170$26,892a year
Concorde Career College-Garden Grove4.1 mi · Garden Grove · sticker $29,040$28,700a year
Biola University13.9 mi · La Mirada · sticker $62,757$29,846a year
North-West College-Anaheim8.3 mi · Anaheim · sticker $31,922$31,247a year
American Career College-Anaheim9.5 mi · Anaheim · sticker $35,751$32,492a year
Hope International University9.6 mi · Fullerton · sticker $51,784$33,634a year
Southern California Institute of Technology8 mi · Anaheim · sticker $37,992$35,453a year
Westcliff University4.1 mi · Irvine · sticker $44,210$36,031a year
Chapman University4.3 mi · Orange · sticker $83,146$40,011a year
Laguna College of Art and Design13.7 mi · Laguna Beach · sticker $57,989$44,233a year
Stanbridge University4.3 mi · Irvine · sticker $49,714$49,714a year
Career Networks InstituteIn Santa Ana · sticker $52,552$51,663a year
South Coast College3.6 mi · Orange · sticker $18,982—a year
Pacific College4 mi · Costa Mesa · sticker $30,789—a year
West Coast University-Orange County5.4 mi · Anaheim · sticker $34,887—a year
Southern California University of Health Sciences14.1 mi · Whittier · mostly online · sticker $57,740—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 Santa Ana: across is the share who graduate, up is what they earn ten years after starting.

$0$20k$40k$60k$80k$100k$120k0%25%50%75%100%Graduate →Santa Ana CollegeOrange Coast CollegeUniversity of California-IrvineFullerton CollegeCalifornia State University-FullertonCalifornia State University-Long Beach
California State University-Fullerton70% graduate$63k earnings$14k typical debt
California State University-Long Beach69% graduate$64k earnings$14k typical debt
University of California-Irvine87% graduate$81k earnings$15k typical debt
Santa Ana College31% graduate$44k earnings$7k typical debt
Orange Coast College48% graduate$47k earnings$10k typical debt
Fullerton College34% graduate$43k earnings$4k typical debt
Cypress College37% graduate$44k earnings$10k typical debt
Chapman University82% graduate$70k earnings$20k typical debt
Santiago Canyon College48% graduate$45k earnings$5k typical debt
Irvine Valley College57% graduate$49k earnings$6k typical debt
Golden West College49% graduate$43k earnings$7k typical debt
Biola University68% graduate$57k earnings$24k 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: Platt College-Anaheim (4); West Coast University-Orange County (6); North-West College-Anaheim (4); American Career College-Anaheim (2).

Majors

What students study in Santa Ana

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

Liberal arts 37%Health professions 14%Public safety 13%Business 8%Family sciences 4%Mechanics & repair 3%Everything else 21%

Biggest programs

Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical NursingCareer Networks Institute · 74 graduates a year
$120k4 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 Santa Ana

Is Santa Ana a college town?

No. About 8 of every 100 Santa Ana residents are enrolled in college (Census, 2020–24), about the same as California (8). The largest campus in the city, Santa Ana College, has 18,643 students on campus.

What colleges are in Santa Ana?

Santa Ana College and Career Networks Institute are inside the city. Orange Coast College is 4.9 miles from the center, in Costa Mesa, Chapman University is 4.3 miles from the center, in Orange, and Westcliff University is 4.1 miles from the center, in Irvine.

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

Santa Ana College in Santa Ana, 1.6 miles away. Tuition and fees are $1,180 a year for California residents; the federal net price, $3,133, counts housing and food at full cost.

How much does Santa Ana College cost if we live in California?

Tuition and fees are $1,180 a year in-state and $10,756 from out of state. After grants, families on federal aid paid an average of $1,970 (under $30,000 income) to $10,160 (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 Santa Ana. 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 →