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Fletcher Cover, Solana Beach California - panoramioPhoto: rosalynn carmen · CC BY-SA 3.0
Colleges in and near Solana Beach

The University of California-San Diego is 8 miles from Solana Beach

No college sits inside Solana Beach’s boundary, but the University of California-San Diego’s campus in La Jolla, with 42,066 students on campus, is 8 miles from the center of town, and San Diego Miramar College is 9.8 miles away in San Diego. About 4% of Solana Beach’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 Solana Beach. Colleges are described, not graded.

Within 15 miles
12
106,307 students on campus
Nearest college
8 mi
University of California-San Diego
Residents in college
4%
Below CA (8%)
Nearest community college
9.8 mi
San Diego Miramar College · $1,146 tuition
Nearest public university
8 mi
University of California-San Diego · $16,758 in-state
Median household income
$152K
prices below start here

What stands out about college from Solana Beach

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

A university 8 miles awayThe University of California-San Diego has 42,066 students on campus in La Jolla, 86% of whom graduate within six years.In-state price at University of California-San DiegoLiving in California, the University of California-San Diego charges $16,758 in tuition and fees; from out of state, $50,958. State residency rules decide which a new arrival pays.A community college 9.8 miles awaySan Diego Miramar College in San Diego: tuition and fees $1,146 a year for California residents.Students are 4% of residentsBelow California (8%). The Census counts anyone enrolled, including part-time and online students.
Every college

Colleges within 15 miles of Solana Beach

Six private colleges within 13.6 miles, two public colleges within 11.2 miles, and four community colleges.

5 mi10 mi15 miUniversity of California-San DiegoPalomar CollegeSolana Beach
University or collegeCommunity college
University of California-San DiegoUniversity or college · Public · 42,066 on campus · 8 mi · La Jolla27%admitted$12knet price86%graduate$85kearningsDesign Institute of San DiegoUniversity or college · For-profit · 107 on campus · 9.3 mi · San Diego100%admitted$44knet price80%graduate$47kearningsSan Diego Miramar CollegeCommunity college · Public · 8,368 on campus · 9.8 mi · San Diego$3knet price48%graduate$48kearningsTuition and fees: $1,146 a year. The net price counts housing and food at full cost.California State University-San MarcosUniversity or college · Public · 14,549 on campus · 11.2 mi · San Marcos95%admitted$10knet price55%graduate$63kearningsAlliant International University-San DiegoUniversity or college · For-profit · 1,412 on campus · 11.5 mi · San Diego · mostly online0%admitted$67kearnings66% of its students study only online; price, graduation and earnings count them too.Pima Medical Institute-San MarcosUniversity or college · For-profit · 630 on campus · 11.5 mi · San Marcos$27knet price71%graduate$39kearningsEarnings are reported for all 13 campuses that file with it.Palomar CollegeCommunity college · Public · 13,825 on campus · 11.7 mi · San Marcos$6knet price38%graduate$42kearningsTuition and fees: $1,354 a year. The net price counts housing and food at full cost.University of St. Augustine for Health SciencesUniversity or college · For-profit · 4,158 on campus · 12.3 mi · San Marcos$79kearningsGraduate students only; the Scorecard reports no undergraduate figures.National UniversityUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 3,355 on campus · 13.5 mi · San Diego · mostly online$23knet price43%graduate$68kearnings83% of its students study only online; price, graduation and earnings count them too.John Paul the Great Catholic UniversityUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 298 on campus · 13.6 mi · Escondido80%admitted$35knet price64%graduate$57kearningsSan Diego Mesa CollegeCommunity college · Public · 11,593 on campus · 13.9 mi · San Diego$6knet price35%graduate$45kearningsTuition and fees: $1,146 a year. The net price counts housing and food at full cost.MiraCosta CollegeCommunity college · Public · 5,946 on campus · 14 mi · Oceanside$7knet price41%graduate$44kearningsTuition and fees: $1,158 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 Over $110k, where Solana Beach’s median household income ($152,167) falls.

San Diego Miramar College9.8 mi · San Diego · sticker $17,126 · tuition $1,146$11,600a year
Palomar College11.7 mi · San Marcos · sticker $14,360 · tuition $1,354$12,642a year
MiraCosta College14 mi · Oceanside · sticker $15,531 · tuition $1,158$12,855a year
San Diego Mesa College13.9 mi · San Diego · sticker $19,371 · tuition $1,146$13,977a year
California State University-San Marcos11.2 mi · San Marcos · sticker $21,649$18,734a year
University of California-San Diego8 mi · La Jolla · sticker $38,701$28,785a year
John Paul the Great Catholic University13.6 mi · Escondido · sticker $52,367$38,282a year
Design Institute of San Diego9.3 mi · San Diego · sticker $55,911—a year
Pima Medical Institute-San Marcos11.5 mi · San Marcos · sticker $32,210—a year
National University13.5 mi · San Diego · mostly online · sticker $33,978—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 Solana Beach: 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 →University of California-San DiegoSan Diego Miramar CollegeCalifornia State University-San MarcosPalomar CollegeSan Diego Mesa CollegeMiraCosta College
University of California-San Diego86% graduate$85k earnings$16k typical debt
California State University-San Marcos55% graduate$63k earnings$17k typical debt
Palomar College38% graduate$42k earnings
San Diego Mesa College35% graduate$45k earnings$5k typical debt
San Diego Miramar College48% graduate$48k earnings$7k typical debt
MiraCosta College41% graduate$44k earnings$9k typical debt
National University43% graduate$68k earnings$25k typical debt
Pima Medical Institute-San Marcos71% graduate$39k earnings*$10k typical debt
John Paul the Great Catholic University64% graduate$57k earnings$27k typical debt
Design Institute of San Diego80% graduate$47k earnings$37k 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: Pima Medical Institute-San Marcos (13).

Questions about college near Solana Beach

Is Solana Beach a college town?

No. About 4 of every 100 Solana Beach residents are enrolled in college (Census, 2020–24), below California (8). The nearest campus, the University of California-San Diego, is 8 miles away in La Jolla.

What colleges are near Solana Beach?

12 colleges are within 15 miles. The largest: the University of California-San Diego (8 miles, 42,066 students on campus), California State University-San Marcos (11.2 miles, 14,549) and Palomar College (11.7 miles, 13,825).

What is the closest community college to Solana Beach, and what does it cost?

San Diego Miramar College in San Diego, 9.8 miles away. Tuition and fees are $1,146 a year for California residents; the federal net price, $3,337, counts housing and food at full cost.

How much does the University of California-San Diego cost if we live in California?

Tuition and fees are $16,758 a year in-state and $50,958 from out of state. After grants, families on federal aid paid an average of $7,525 (under $30,000 income) to $28,785 (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 Solana Beach. 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 →