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Colleges in and near South El Monte

Rio Hondo College is 2.3 miles from South El Monte

No college sits inside South El Monte’s boundary, but Rio Hondo College’s campus in Whittier, with 12,523 students on campus, is 2.3 miles from the center of town. About 6% of South El Monte’s residents are enrolled in college, below California (8%).

Rio Hondo 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 South El Monte. Colleges are described, not graded.

Within 15 miles
59
294,952 students on campus
Nearest college
2 mi
University of the West
Residents in college
6%
Below CA (8%)
Nearest community college
2.3 mi
Rio Hondo College · $1,388 tuition
Nearest public university
2.3 mi
Rio Hondo College · $1,388 in-state
Median household income
$73K
prices below start here

What stands out about college from South El Monte

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

A community college 2.3 miles awayRio Hondo College has 12,523 students on campus in Whittier, 25% of whom graduate within six years.In-state price at Rio Hondo CollegeLiving in California, Rio Hondo College charges $1,388 in tuition and fees; from out of state, $9,884. 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 South El Monte

45 private colleges within 14.9 miles, three public colleges within 14.9 miles, and 12 community colleges.

5 mi10 mi15 miCalifornia State University-FullertonCalifornia State Polytechnic University-PomonaSouth El Monte
University or collegeCommunity college
University of the WestUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 145 on campus · 2 mi · Rosemead100%admitted$7knet price38%graduateRio Hondo CollegeCommunity college · Public · 12,523 on campus · 2.3 mi · Whittier$14knet price25%graduate$45kearningsTuition and fees: $1,388 a year. The net price counts housing and food at full cost.Premiere Career CollegeUniversity or college · For-profit · 106 on campus · 3.9 mi · Irwindale$25knet price52%graduate$41kearningsWhittier CollegeUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 859 on campus · 5 mi · Whittier81%admitted$26knet price60%graduate$59kearningsEast Los Angeles CollegeCommunity college · Public · 17,853 on campus · 5.8 mi · Monterey Park$11knet price37%graduate$42kearningsTuition and fees: $1,238 a year. The net price counts housing and food at full cost.North-West College-West CovinaUniversity or college · For-profit · 635 on campus · 5.9 mi · West Covina$30knet price68%graduate$38kearningsEarnings are reported for all 2 campuses that file with it.Glendale Career College-North-West College-MFSONUniversity or college · For-profit · 218 on campus · 5.9 mi · West Covina$45knet price$41kearningsEarnings are reported for all 5 campuses that file with it.Alhambra Medical UniversityUniversity or college · For-profit · 144 on campus · 6.1 mi · AlhambraPlatt College-Los AngelesUniversity or college · For-profit · 405 on campus · 6.2 mi · Alhambra$28knet price63%graduate$41kearningsEarnings are reported for all 4 campuses that file with it.California Institute of Advanced ManagementUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 163 on campus · 6.3 mi · AlhambraGraduate students only; the Scorecard reports no undergraduate figures.California State University-Los AngelesUniversity or college · Public · 23,850 on campus · 7 mi · Los Angeles91%admitted$4knet price53%graduate$59kearningsCalifornia Institute of TechnologyUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 2,463 on campus · 7.5 mi · Pasadena3%admitted$16knet price94%graduate$129kearningsATI College-WhittierUniversity or college · For-profit · 125 on campus · 7.5 mi · Whitter$20knet price72%graduate$39kearningsPasadena City CollegeCommunity college · Public · 17,485 on campus · 7.6 mi · Pasadena$4knet price48%graduate$44kearningsTuition and fees: $1,180 a year. The net price counts housing and food at full cost.Institute of Culinary EducationUniversity or college · For-profit · 357 on campus · 8.3 mi · Pasadena77%graduate$48kearningsEarnings are reported for all 2 campuses that file with it.Fuller Theological SeminaryUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 770 on campus · 8.5 mi · Pasadena · mostly online60% of its students study only online; price, graduation and earnings count them too.Graduate students only; the Scorecard reports no undergraduate figures.Los Angeles College of MusicUniversity or college · For-profit · 279 on campus · 8.5 mi · Pasadena88%admitted$44knet price41%graduate$32kearningsProvidence Christian CollegeUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 147 on campus · 8.7 mi · Pasadena100%admitted$25knet price20%graduate$46kearningsInterCoast Colleges-West CovinaUniversity or college · For-profit · 118 on campus · 8.8 mi · West Covina · mostly online$28knet price97%graduate$36kearnings77% of its students study only online; price, graduation and earnings count them too.Earnings are reported for all 4 campuses that file with it.Pacific Oaks CollegeUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 405 on campus · 9.2 mi · Pasadena · mostly online34%admitted$52kearnings61% of its students study only online; price, graduation and earnings count them too.Saybrook UniversityUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 705 on campus · 9.3 mi · PasadenaGraduate students only; the Scorecard reports no undergraduate figures.Los Angeles County College of Nursing and Allied HealthCommunity college · Public · 220 on campus · 9.4 mi · Los Angeles$115kearningsSouthern California University of Health SciencesUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 957 on campus · 9.6 mi · Whittier · mostly online$46knet price50%graduate$71kearnings52% of its students study only online; price, graduation and earnings count them too.Integrity College of HealthUniversity or college · For-profit · 154 on campus · 9.6 mi · Pasadena$15knet price0%graduateBiola UniversityUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 4,288 on campus · 10.2 mi · La Mirada74%admitted$31knet price68%graduate$57kearningsSouthern California Institute of ArchitectureUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 457 on campus · 10.6 mi · Los Angeles77%admitted$44knet price71%graduate$72kearningsAzusa Pacific UniversityUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 5,836 on campus · 10.7 mi · Azusa88%admitted$22knet price62%graduate$67kearningsOccidental CollegeUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 1,854 on campus · 10.7 mi · Los Angeles44%admitted$38knet price81%graduate$76kearningsCitrus CollegeCommunity college · Public · 6,995 on campus · 11 mi · Glendora$4knet price41%graduate$42kearningsTuition and fees: $1,204 a year. The net price counts housing and food at full cost.Art Center College of DesignUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 2,339 on campus · 11.3 mi · Pasadena75%admitted$49knet price79%graduate$72kearningsMt San Antonio CollegeCommunity college · Public · 21,946 on campus · 11.6 mi · Walnut$6knet price45%graduate$46kearningsTuition and fees: $1,364 a year. The net price counts housing and food at full cost.Cerritos CollegeCommunity college · Public · 13,757 on campus · 11.6 mi · Norwalk$2knet price31%graduate$41kearningsTuition and fees: $1,364 a year. The net price counts housing and food at full cost.The Chicago School at Los AngelesUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 616 on campus · 11.9 mi · Los Angeles · mostly online46%admitted0%graduate$57kearnings82% of its students study only online; price, graduation and earnings count them too.Earnings are reported for all 8 campuses that file with it.FIDM-Fashion Institute of Design & MerchandisingUniversity or college · For-profit · 1,348 on campus · 12.1 mi · Los AngelesCalifornia College of ASUUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 136 on campus · 12.1 mi · Los AngelesHealthcare Career CollegeUniversity or college · For-profit · 381 on campus · 12.5 mi · Paramount$14knet price71%graduate$33kearningsPCI CollegeUniversity or college · For-profit · 163 on campus · 12.5 mi · Cerritos$27knet price68%graduate$36kearningsLos Angeles Trade Technical CollegeCommunity college · Public · 8,945 on campus · 12.7 mi · Los Angeles$12knet price35%graduate$35kearningsTuition and fees: $1,238 a year. The net price counts housing and food at full cost.California State Polytechnic University-PomonaUniversity or college · Public · 25,991 on campus · 13 mi · Pomona75%admitted$12knet price68%graduate$72kearningsLife Pacific UniversityUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 359 on campus · 13 mi · San Dimas96%admitted$21knet price40%graduate$43kearningsGlendale Community CollegeCommunity college · Public · 7,661 on campus · 13.1 mi · Glendale$8knet price37%graduate$42kearningsTuition and fees: $1,191 a year. The net price counts housing and food at full cost.University of Southern CaliforniaUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 41,282 on campus · 13.6 mi · Los Angeles10%admitted$33knet price92%graduate$92kearningsGrace Mission UniversityUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 121 on campus · 13.6 mi · Fullerton100%graduateGlendale Career CollegeUniversity or college · For-profit · 854 on campus · 13.7 mi · Glendale$49knet price63%graduate$41kearningsEarnings are reported for all 5 campuses that file with it.American Medical Sciences CenterUniversity or college · For-profit · 200 on campus · 13.7 mi · Glendale$22knet price75%graduate$30kearningsSouthwestern Law SchoolUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 950 on campus · 13.8 mi · Los AngelesGraduate students only; the Scorecard reports no undergraduate figures.American Career College-Los AngelesUniversity or college · For-profit · 2,066 on campus · 14.1 mi · Los Angeles$32knet price75%graduate$38kearningsEarnings are reported for all 2 campuses that file with it.Charles R Drew University of Medicine and ScienceUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 763 on campus · 14.1 mi · Los Angeles39%admitted$36knet price30%graduate$83kearningsWest Coast University-Center for Graduate StudiesUniversity or college · For-profit · 527 on campus · 14.1 mi · Los Angeles$103kearningsEarnings are reported for all 6 campuses that file with it.Graduate students only; the Scorecard reports no undergraduate figures.Fullerton CollegeCommunity college · Public · 12,859 on campus · 14.2 mi · Fullerton$6knet price34%graduate$43kearningsTuition and fees: $1,150 a year. The net price counts housing and food at full cost.Los Angeles City CollegeCommunity college · Public · 6,569 on campus · 14.2 mi · Los Angeles · mostly online$10knet price29%graduate$36kearnings53% 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.National Polytechnic CollegeUniversity or college · For-profit · 299 on campus · 14.2 mi · Lakewood$31knet price47%graduate$31kearningsAngeles CollegeUniversity or college · For-profit · 493 on campus · 14.4 mi · Los Angeles$29knet price93%graduate$49kearningsAmerican Career College-AnaheimUniversity or college · For-profit · 1,643 on campus · 14.5 mi · Anaheim$31knet price70%graduate$38kearningsEarnings are reported for all 2 campuses that file with it.Marshall B Ketchum UniversityUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 679 on campus · 14.5 mi · FullertonGraduate students only; the Scorecard reports no undergraduate figures.Smith Chason CollegeUniversity or college · For-profit · 2,221 on campus · 14.6 mi · Los Angeles$34knet price72%graduate$58kearningsCBD CollegeCommunity college · Private nonprofit · 824 on campus · 14.8 mi · Los Angeles$23knet price82%graduate$37kearningsCalifornia State University-FullertonUniversity or college · Public · 38,210 on campus · 14.9 mi · Fullerton91%admitted$7knet price70%graduate$63kearningsSouth Baylo UniversityUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 234 on campus · 14.9 mi · AnaheimGraduate students only; the Scorecard reports no undergraduate figures.

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 $48–75k, where South El Monte’s median household income ($72,990) falls.

California Institute of Technology7.5 mi · Pasadena · sticker $86,886$431a year
Cerritos College11.6 mi · Norwalk · sticker $10,236 · tuition $1,364$3,774a year
California State University-Los Angeles7 mi · Los Angeles · sticker $18,403$5,002a year
Citrus College11 mi · Glendora · sticker $13,699 · tuition $1,204$5,996a year
Pasadena City College7.6 mi · Pasadena · sticker $13,677 · tuition $1,180$6,003a year
California State University-Fullerton14.9 mi · Fullerton · sticker $18,269$6,090a year
Fullerton College14.2 mi · Fullerton · sticker $14,369 · tuition $1,150$7,915a year
Mt San Antonio College11.6 mi · Walnut · sticker $15,701 · tuition $1,364$8,414a year
Glendale Community College13.1 mi · Glendale · sticker $17,501 · tuition $1,191$9,747a year
California State Polytechnic University-Pomona13 mi · Pomona · sticker $23,955$10,734a year
Los Angeles City College14.2 mi · Los Angeles · mostly online · sticker $18,924 · tuition $1,238$11,783a year
East Los Angeles College5.8 mi · Monterey Park · sticker $19,193 · tuition $1,238$11,971a year
Los Angeles Trade Technical College12.7 mi · Los Angeles · sticker $20,457 · tuition $1,238$14,008a year
Healthcare Career College12.5 mi · Paramount · sticker $18,873$14,135a year
Rio Hondo College2.3 mi · Whittier · sticker $21,391 · tuition $1,388$15,030a year
Integrity College of Health9.6 mi · Pasadena · sticker $20,178$17,783a year
Life Pacific University13 mi · San Dimas · sticker $35,062$18,255a year
University of Southern California13.6 mi · Los Angeles · sticker $90,300$19,539a year
Occidental College10.7 mi · Los Angeles · sticker $84,800$21,468a year
American Medical Sciences Center13.7 mi · Glendale · sticker $27,293$22,487a year
Azusa Pacific University10.7 mi · Azusa · sticker $56,313$22,998a year
Whittier College5 mi · Whittier · sticker $63,664$24,973a year
Premiere Career College3.9 mi · Irwindale · sticker $32,314$25,528a year
ATI College-Whittier7.5 mi · Whitter · sticker $29,726$25,613a year
Platt College-Los Angeles6.2 mi · Alhambra · sticker $32,164$26,818a year
Biola University10.2 mi · La Mirada · sticker $62,757$26,825a year
National Polytechnic College14.2 mi · Lakewood · sticker $34,762$27,366a year
Angeles College14.4 mi · Los Angeles · sticker $33,854$28,185a year
InterCoast Colleges-West Covina8.8 mi · West Covina · mostly online · sticker $35,442$28,520a year
PCI College12.5 mi · Cerritos · sticker $33,852$29,007a year
American Career College-Anaheim14.5 mi · Anaheim · sticker $35,751$29,299a year
North-West College-West Covina5.9 mi · West Covina · sticker $34,193$30,650a year
American Career College-Los Angeles14.1 mi · Los Angeles · sticker $37,270$33,051a year
Smith Chason College14.6 mi · Los Angeles · sticker $39,461$36,291a year
Providence Christian College8.7 mi · Pasadena · sticker $53,447$40,748a year
Los Angeles College of Music8.5 mi · Pasadena · sticker $49,705$43,352a year
Art Center College of Design11.3 mi · Pasadena · sticker $75,649$44,738a year
Glendale Career College-North-West College-MFSON5.9 mi · West Covina · sticker $49,247$45,763a year
Glendale Career College13.7 mi · Glendale · sticker $51,802$49,798a year
Southern California Institute of Architecture10.6 mi · Los Angeles · sticker $71,612$66,362a year
University of the West2 mi · Rosemead · sticker $21,278—a year
Southern California University of Health Sciences9.6 mi · Whittier · mostly online · sticker $57,740—a year
Charles R Drew University of Medicine and Science14.1 mi · Los Angeles · sticker $39,834—a year
CBD College14.8 mi · Los Angeles · sticker $28,569—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 South El Monte: across is the share who graduate, up is what they earn ten years after starting.

$0$20k$40k$60k$80k$100k$120k$140k0%25%50%75%100%Graduate →East Los Angeles CollegeCalifornia State University-Los AngelesMt San Antonio CollegeCalifornia State Polytechnic University-PomonaUniversity of Southern CaliforniaCalifornia State University-Fullerton
University of Southern California92% graduate$92k earnings$18k typical debt
California State University-Fullerton70% graduate$63k earnings$14k typical debt
California State Polytechnic University-Pomona68% graduate$72k earnings$16k typical debt
California State University-Los Angeles53% graduate$59k earnings$13k typical debt
Mt San Antonio College45% graduate$46k earnings$6k typical debt
East Los Angeles College37% graduate$42k earnings$10k typical debt
Pasadena City College48% graduate$44k earnings$7k typical debt
Cerritos College31% graduate$41k earnings$8k typical debt
Fullerton College34% graduate$43k earnings$4k typical debt
Rio Hondo College25% graduate$45k earnings$6k typical debt
Los Angeles Trade Technical College35% graduate$35k earnings$10k typical debt
Glendale Community College37% graduate$42k 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. *Reported for all the campuses that file together: North-West College-West Covina (2); Platt College-Los Angeles (4); Institute of Culinary Education (2); InterCoast Colleges-West Covina (4); The Chicago School at Los Angeles (8); Glendale Career College (5); American Career College-Los Angeles (2); American Career College-Anaheim (2).

Questions about college near South El Monte

Is South El Monte a college town?

No. About 6 of every 100 South El Monte residents are enrolled in college (Census, 2020–24), below California (8). The nearest campus, the University of the West, is 2 miles away in Rosemead.

What colleges are near South El Monte?

59 colleges are within 15 miles. The largest: the University of Southern California (13.6 miles, 41,282 students on campus), California State University-Fullerton (14.9 miles, 38,210) and California State Polytechnic University-Pomona (13 miles, 25,991).

What is the closest community college to South El Monte, and what does it cost?

Rio Hondo College in Whittier, 2.3 miles away. Tuition and fees are $1,388 a year for California residents; the federal net price, $14,379, counts housing and food at full cost.

How much does Rio Hondo College cost if we live in California?

Tuition and fees are $1,388 a year in-state and $9,884 from out of state. After grants, families on federal aid paid an average of $14,549 (under $30,000 income) to $17,355 (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 South El Monte. 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 →