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Fountain in front of the Edwards Theater, at Towncenter and Theater Drives in Santa Clarita — Los Angeles County, year 2000Photo: Mrrxx · CC BY-SA 2.5
Colleges in and near Santa Clarita

Santa Clarita is home to three colleges, with about 14,000 students on campus

College of the Canyons (11,041 students on campus) and The Master's University and Seminary (2,010) are inside the city. About 8% of Santa Clarita’s residents are enrolled in college, about the same as California (8%).

The Master's University and SeminaryCollege of the CanyonsCalifornia Institute of the Arts

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 Clarita. Colleges are described, not graded.

Within 15 miles
6
54,002 students on campus
Nearest college
2.6 mi
The Master's University and Seminary
Residents in college
8%
About the same as CA (8%)
Nearest community college
4 mi
College of the Canyons · $1,166 tuition
Nearest public university
12.3 mi
California State University-Northridge · $7,458 in-state
Median household income
$123K
prices below start here

What stands out about college in Santa Clarita

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

Three colleges within 4.1 milesThe Master's University and Seminary admits 84% of applicants; California Institute of the Arts admits 32%. Together they have 14,404 students on campus.A community college 4 miles awayCollege of the Canyons in Santa Clarita: tuition and fees $1,166 a year for California residents.In-state price at California State University-NorthridgeLiving in California, California State University-Northridge charges $7,458 in tuition and fees; from out of state, $20,058. 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 Clarita

Three private colleges within 13.8 miles, one public college within 12.3 miles, and two community colleges.

5 mi10 mi15 miCalifornia State University-NorthridgeCollege of the CanyonsLos Angeles Mission CollegeSanta Clarita
University or collegeCommunity college
The Master's University and SeminaryUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 2,010 on campus · In Santa Clarita84%admitted$33knet price68%graduate$57kearningsCollege of the CanyonsCommunity college · Public · 11,041 on campus · In Santa Clarita$4knet price45%graduate$49kearningsTuition and fees: $1,166 a year. The net price counts housing and food at full cost.California Institute of the ArtsUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 1,353 on campus · In Santa Clarita32%admitted$46knet price67%graduate$41kearningsLos Angeles Mission CollegeCommunity college · Public · 4,391 on campus · 8.4 mi · Sylmar · mostly online$13knet price20%graduate$40kearnings58% of its students study only online; price, graduation and earnings count them too.Tuition and fees: $1,238 a year. The net price counts housing and food at full cost.California State University-NorthridgeUniversity or college · Public · 34,847 on campus · 12.3 mi · Northridge93%admitted$7knet price57%graduate$59kearningsNational Career CollegeUniversity or college · For-profit · 360 on campus · 13.8 mi · Panorama City$28knet price74%graduate$19kearnings

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 Clarita’s median household income ($123,062) falls.

College of the CanyonsIn Santa Clarita · sticker $11,360 · tuition $1,166$9,240a year
California State University-Northridge12.3 mi · Northridge · sticker $20,485$18,040a year
National Career College13.8 mi · Panorama City · sticker $34,495$34,325a year
The Master's University and SeminaryIn Santa Clarita · sticker $54,845$36,535a year
California Institute of the ArtsIn Santa Clarita · sticker $77,560$58,873a year
Los Angeles Mission College8.4 mi · Sylmar · mostly online · sticker $21,717 · tuition $1,238—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 Clarita: across is the share who graduate, up is what they earn ten years after starting.

$0$20k$40k$60k$80k0%25%50%75%100%Graduate →The Master's University and SeminaryCollege of the CanyonsCalifornia Institute of the ArtsLos Angeles Mission CollegeCalifornia State University-NorthridgeNational Career College
California State University-Northridge57% graduate$59k earnings$14k typical debt
College of the Canyons45% graduate$49k earnings$10k typical debt
Los Angeles Mission College20% graduate$40k earnings$13k typical debt
The Master's University and Seminary68% graduate$57k earnings$20k typical debt
California Institute of the Arts67% graduate$41k earnings$25k typical debt
National Career College74% graduate$19k earnings$9k 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 Santa Clarita

Share of bachelor’s and associate degrees by field across Santa Clarita’s 3 colleges, weighted by undergraduates; then the biggest programs.

Liberal arts 25%Business 13%Social sciences 12%Parks & recreation 8%Health professions 5%Psychology 4%Everything else 33%

Biggest programs

Business Administration, Management and OperationsCollege of the Canyons · 298 graduates a year
$60k4 yrs out
Psychology, GeneralCollege of the Canyons · 222 graduates a year
$42k4 yrs out
Accounting and Related ServicesCollege of the Canyons · 134 graduates a year
$64k4 yrs out
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and HumanitiesCollege of the Canyons · 93 graduates a year
$52k4 yrs out
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical NursingCollege of the Canyons · 93 graduates a year
$99k4 yrs out
MathematicsCollege of the Canyons · 82 graduates a year
$73k4 yrs out
Business Administration, Management and OperationsThe Master's University and Seminary · 79 graduates a year
$66k4 yrs out
Criminal Justice and CorrectionsCollege of the Canyons · 78 graduates a year
$54k4 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 Clarita

Is Santa Clarita a college town?

No. About 8 of every 100 Santa Clarita residents are enrolled in college (Census, 2020–24), about the same as California (8). The largest campus in the city, College of the Canyons, has 11,041 students on campus.

What colleges are in Santa Clarita?

College of the Canyons, The Master's University and Seminary and California Institute of the Arts are inside the city.

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

College of the Canyons in Santa Clarita, 4 miles away. Tuition and fees are $1,166 a year for California residents; the federal net price, $3,702, counts housing and food at full cost.

How much does California State University-Northridge cost if we live in California?

Tuition and fees are $7,458 a year in-state and $20,058 from out of state. After grants, families on federal aid paid an average of $4,905 (under $30,000 income) to $18,040 (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 Clarita. 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 →