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Thomas Aquinas Chapel Facade 2Photo: Pgnielsen79 · CC BY 3.0
Colleges in and near Santa Paula

Thomas Aquinas College is 5.3 miles from Santa Paula

No college sits inside Santa Paula’s boundary, but Thomas Aquinas College’s campus in Santa Paula, with 539 students on campus, is 5.3 miles from the center of town, and Ventura College is 10.8 miles away in Ventura. About 6% of Santa Paula’s residents are enrolled in college, below 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 Paula. Colleges are described, not graded.

Within 15 miles
7
24,430 students on campus
Nearest college
5.3 mi
Thomas Aquinas College
Residents in college
6%
Below CA (8%)
Nearest community college
10.8 mi
Ventura College · $1,426 tuition
Nearest public university
13.3 mi
California State University-Channel Islands · $7,159 in-state
Median household income
$79K
prices below start here

What stands out about college from Santa Paula

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

A college 5.3 miles awayThomas Aquinas College has 539 students on campus in Santa Paula, 84% of whom graduate within six years.A community college 10.8 miles awayVentura College in Ventura: tuition and fees $1,426 a year for California residents.In-state price at California State University-Channel IslandsLiving in California, California State University-Channel Islands charges $7,159 in tuition and fees; from out of state, $19,759. State residency rules decide which a new arrival pays.Students are 6% of residentsBelow California (8%). The Census counts anyone enrolled, including part-time and online students.
Every college

Colleges within 15 miles of Santa Paula

Three private colleges within 14 miles, one public college within 13.3 miles, and three community colleges.

5 mi10 mi15 miMoorpark CollegeVentura CollegeCalifornia State University-Channel IslandsSanta Paula
University or collegeCommunity college
Thomas Aquinas CollegeUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 539 on campus · 5.3 mi · Santa Paula83%admitted$26knet price84%graduate$56kearningsVentura CollegeCommunity college · Public · 5,191 on campus · 10.8 mi · Ventura · mostly online$-1knet price38%graduate$43kearnings54% of its students study only online; price, graduation and earnings count them too.Tuition and fees: $1,426 a year. The net price counts housing and food at full cost.The Colleges of Law at VenturaUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 260 on campus · 11.7 mi · VenturaGraduate students only; the Scorecard reports no undergraduate figures.California State University-Channel IslandsUniversity or college · Public · 4,817 on campus · 13.3 mi · Camarillo95%admitted$10knet price51%graduate$62kearningsMoorpark CollegeCommunity college · Public · 6,796 on campus · 13.7 mi · Moorpark · mostly online$-2knet price44%graduate$49kearnings52% of its students study only online; price, graduation and earnings count them too.Tuition and fees: $1,426 a year. The net price counts housing and food at full cost.California Lutheran UniversityUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 3,254 on campus · 14 mi · Thousand Oaks76%admitted$30knet price70%graduate$69kearningsOxnard CollegeCommunity college · Public · 3,573 on campus · 14.1 mi · Oxnard$-1knet price34%graduate$41kearningsTuition and fees: $1,426 a year. The net price counts housing and food at full cost.

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 Paula’s median household income ($79,294) falls.

Moorpark College13.7 mi · Moorpark · mostly online · sticker $8,015 · tuition $1,426$3,619a year
Ventura College10.8 mi · Ventura · mostly online · sticker $9,306 · tuition $1,426$4,165a year
Oxnard College14.1 mi · Oxnard · sticker $9,437 · tuition $1,426$4,704a year
California State University-Channel Islands13.3 mi · Camarillo · sticker $23,561$12,286a year
Thomas Aquinas College5.3 mi · Santa Paula · sticker $43,426$23,185a year
California Lutheran University14 mi · Thousand Oaks · sticker $68,426$29,303a 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 Paula: 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 →Thomas Aquinas CollegeVentura CollegeCalifornia State University-Channel IslandsMoorpark CollegeCalifornia Lutheran UniversityOxnard College
Moorpark College44% graduate$49k earnings$10k typical debt
Ventura College38% graduate$43k earnings$14k typical debt
California State University-Channel Islands51% graduate$62k earnings$15k typical debt
Oxnard College34% graduate$41k earnings
California Lutheran University70% graduate$69k earnings$22k typical debt
Thomas Aquinas College84% graduate$56k earnings$18k 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.

Questions about college near Santa Paula

Is Santa Paula a college town?

No. About 6 of every 100 Santa Paula residents are enrolled in college (Census, 2020–24), below California (8). The nearest campus, Thomas Aquinas College, is 5.3 miles away in Santa Paula.

What colleges are near Santa Paula?

7 colleges are within 15 miles. The largest: Moorpark College (13.7 miles, 6,796 students on campus), Ventura College (10.8 miles, 5,191) and California State University-Channel Islands (13.3 miles, 4,817).

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

Ventura College in Ventura, 10.8 miles away. Tuition and fees are $1,426 a year for California residents; the federal net price, $-982, counts housing and food at full cost.

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

Tuition and fees are $7,159 a year in-state and $19,759 from out of state. After grants, families on federal aid paid an average of $6,857 (under $30,000 income) to $20,473 (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 Paula. 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 →