Santa Clara is home to two colleges, with about 13,000 students on campus
Santa Clara University (8,955 students on campus) and Mission College (4,407) are inside the city, and San Jose City College (5,172) is 4.1 miles from the center, just over the line in San Jose. About 11% of Santa Clara’s residents are enrolled in college, above 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 Santa Clara. Colleges are described, not graded.
Within 15 miles
20
111,375 students on campus
Nearest college
2 mi
Santa Clara University
Residents in college
11%
Above CA (8%)
Nearest community college
2 mi
Mission College · $1,438 tuition
Nearest public university
5.2 mi
San Jose State · $8,410 in-state
Median household income
$179K
prices below start here
What stands out about college in Santa Clara
Facts about the town and its distance to campus; each college’s own figures follow.
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 Santa Clara’s median household income ($178,958) 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 Santa Clara: across is the share who graduate, up is what they earn ten years after starting.
San Jose State University69% graduate$79k earnings$15k typical debt
Gurnick Academy of Medical Arts64% graduate$67k earnings$17k 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: Institute for Business and Technology (3); Carrington College-San Jose (5).
Majors
What students study in Santa Clara
Share of bachelor’s and associate degrees by field across Santa Clara’s 2 colleges, weighted by undergraduates; then the biggest programs.
Business 18%Liberal arts 16%Interdisciplinary 9%Engineering 8%Social sciences 6%Computer science 4%Everything else 39%
Biggest programs
Finance and Financial Management ServicesSanta Clara University · 164 graduates a year
$119k4 yrs out
Communication and Media StudiesSanta Clara University · 140 graduates a year
$84k4 yrs out
Psychology, GeneralSanta Clara University · 115 graduates a year
$76k4 yrs out
Business Administration, Management and OperationsMission College · 110 graduates a year
$67k4 yrs out
Mathematics and Computer ScienceSanta Clara University · 103 graduates a year
$147k4 yrs out
MarketingSanta Clara University · 99 graduates a year
$105k4 yrs out
Political Science and GovernmentSanta Clara University · 96 graduates a year
$94k4 yrs out
Accounting and Related ServicesSanta Clara University · 84 graduates a year
$130k4 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 Clara
Is Santa Clara a college town?
No. About 11 of every 100 Santa Clara residents are enrolled in college (Census, 2020–24), above California (8). The largest campus in the city, Santa Clara University, has 8,955 students on campus.
What colleges are in Santa Clara?
Santa Clara University and Mission College are inside the city. San Jose City College is 4.1 miles from the center, in San Jose, and Gurnick Academy of Medical Arts is 3 miles from the center, in San Jose.
What is the closest community college to Santa Clara, and what does it cost?
Mission College in Santa Clara, 2 miles away. Tuition and fees are $1,438 a year for California residents; the federal net price, $5,080, counts housing and food at full cost.
How much does San Jose State University cost if we live in California?
Tuition and fees are $8,410 a year in-state and $21,010 from out of state. After grants, families on federal aid paid an average of $9,730 (under $30,000 income) to $22,862 (over $110,000), housing and food included.
Neighbors talk college
Students, parents, alumni and the neighbors next door.
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 Clara. 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 →
Photo: JaGa · CC BY-SA 3.0