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SouthsanfranciscoPhoto: Coolcaesar at English Wikipedia · CC BY-SA 3.0
Colleges in and near South San Francisco

Skyline College is 5.3 miles from South San Francisco

No college sits inside South San Francisco’s boundary, but Skyline College’s campus in San Bruno, with 5,706 students on campus, is 5.3 miles from the center of town. About 7% of South San Francisco’s residents are enrolled in college, about the same as 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 South San Francisco. Colleges are described, not graded.

Within 15 miles
26
90,521 students on campus
Nearest college
5.3 mi
Skyline College
Residents in college
7%
About the same as CA (8%)
Nearest community college
5.3 mi
Skyline College · $1,272 tuition
Nearest public university
5.3 mi
Skyline College · $1,272 in-state
Median household income
$137K
prices below start here

What stands out about college from South San Francisco

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

A community college 5.3 miles awaySkyline College has 5,706 students on campus in San Bruno, 44% of whom graduate within six years.In-state price at Skyline CollegeLiving in California, Skyline College charges $1,272 in tuition and fees; from out of state, $9,956. State residency rules decide which a new arrival pays.Students are 7% 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 South San Francisco

16 private colleges within 14.2 miles, three public colleges within 9 miles, and seven community colleges.

5 mi10 mi15 miSan Francisco StateCity College of San FranciscoUniversity of San FranciscoSouth San Francisco
University or collegeCommunity college
Skyline CollegeCommunity college · Public · 5,706 on campus · 5.3 mi · San Bruno$2knet price44%graduate$56kearningsTuition and fees: $1,272 a year. The net price counts housing and food at full cost.City College of San FranciscoCommunity college · Public · 13,762 on campus · 6.4 mi · San Francisco$7knet price40%graduate$46kearningsTuition and fees: $1,696 a year. The net price counts housing and food at full cost.San Francisco State UniversityUniversity or college · Public · 21,943 on campus · 7.1 mi · San Francisco96%admitted$12knet price50%graduate$68kearningsCalifornia College of the ArtsUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 1,332 on campus · 7.9 mi · San Francisco91%admitted$54knet price61%graduate$49kearningsCollege of San MateoCommunity college · Public · 6,728 on campus · 8.6 mi · San Mateo$1knet price61%graduate$54kearningsTuition and fees: $1,332 a year. The net price counts housing and food at full cost.California Institute of Integral StudiesUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 980 on campus · 8.6 mi · San Francisco · mostly online$49kearnings52% of its students study only online; price, graduation and earnings count them too.University of California-San FranciscoUniversity or college · Public · 3,113 on campus · 8.7 mi · San FranciscoGraduate students only; the Scorecard reports no undergraduate figures.San Francisco Conservatory of MusicUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 403 on campus · 8.7 mi · San Francisco55%admitted$43knet price74%graduateUniversity of California College of the Law-San FranciscoUniversity or college · Public · 1,159 on campus · 9 mi · San FranciscoGraduate students only; the Scorecard reports no undergraduate figures.Minerva UniversityUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 603 on campus · 9 mi · San Francisco3%admittedUniversity of San FranciscoUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 8,633 on campus · 9.3 mi · San Francisco62%admitted$41knet price70%graduate$90kearningsAcademy of Art UniversityUniversity or college · For-profit · 2,900 on campus · 9.3 mi · San Francisco · mostly online$41knet price34%graduate$39kearnings54% of its students study only online; price, graduation and earnings count them too.Golden Gate UniversityUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 502 on campus · 9.4 mi · San Francisco · mostly online$87kearnings78% of its students study only online; price, graduation and earnings count them too.San Francisco Film SchoolUniversity or college · For-profit · 141 on campus · 9.5 mi · San Francisco$32knet price67%graduateCollege of AlamedaCommunity college · Public · 1,635 on campus · 10.2 mi · Alameda · mostly online$8knet price33%graduate$43kearnings72% of its students study only online; price, graduation and earnings count them too.Tuition and fees: $1,258 a year. The net price counts housing and food at full cost.Notre Dame de Namur UniversityUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 205 on campus · 10.8 mi · Belmont7%graduate$75kearningsLaney CollegeCommunity college · Public · 6,027 on campus · 11.6 mi · Oakland$17knet price31%graduate$37kearningsTuition and fees: $1,258 a year. The net price counts housing and food at full cost.Lincoln UniversityUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 474 on campus · 11.9 mi · Oakland100%graduate$54kearningsAcademy of Chinese Culture and Health SciencesUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 122 on campus · 11.9 mi · OaklandGraduate students only; the Scorecard reports no undergraduate figures.Samuel Merritt UniversityUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 1,516 on campus · 12.9 mi · Oakland$143kearningsNortheastern University OaklandUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 657 on campus · 13.7 mi · Oakland17%admitted$25knet price$93kearningsEarnings are reported for all 3 campuses that file with it.Alder Graduate School of EducationUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 453 on campus · 13.9 mi · Redwood CityGraduate students only; the Scorecard reports no undergraduate figures.Carrington College-San Leandro CampusUniversity or college · For-profit · 401 on campus · 14 mi · San Leandro$40knet price59%graduate$40kearningsEarnings are reported for all 5 campuses that file with it.Life Chiropractic College WestUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 613 on campus · 14.2 mi · HaywardGraduate students only; the Scorecard reports no undergraduate figures.Merritt CollegeCommunity college · Public · 2,888 on campus · 14.7 mi · Oakland · mostly online$14knet price26%graduate$44kearnings57% of its students study only online; price, graduation and earnings count them too.Tuition and fees: $1,258 a year. The net price counts housing and food at full cost.Chabot CollegeCommunity college · Public · 7,625 on campus · 14.8 mi · Hayward$9knet price47%graduate$48kearningsTuition and fees: $1,150 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 South San Francisco’s median household income ($136,578) falls.

Skyline College5.3 mi · San Bruno · sticker $11,880 · tuition $1,272$5,974a year
Chabot College14.8 mi · Hayward · sticker $17,456 · tuition $1,150$6,370a year
City College of San Francisco6.4 mi · San Francisco · sticker $16,870 · tuition $1,696$13,974a year
Merritt College14.7 mi · Oakland · mostly online · sticker $21,424 · tuition $1,258$20,036a year
San Francisco State University7.1 mi · San Francisco · sticker $26,488$22,523a year
Northeastern University Oakland13.7 mi · Oakland · sticker $85,418$38,398a year
Academy of Art University9.3 mi · San Francisco · mostly online · sticker $48,036$44,082a year
Carrington College-San Leandro Campus14 mi · San Leandro · sticker $44,224$44,224a year
San Francisco Conservatory of Music8.7 mi · San Francisco · sticker $78,781$45,245a year
University of San Francisco9.3 mi · San Francisco · sticker $80,141$52,497a year
California College of the Arts7.9 mi · San Francisco · sticker $79,776$56,394a year
College of San Mateo8.6 mi · San Mateo · sticker $10,837 · tuition $1,332—a year
San Francisco Film School9.5 mi · San Francisco · sticker $37,597—a year
College of Alameda10.2 mi · Alameda · mostly online · sticker $18,185 · tuition $1,258—a year
Laney College11.6 mi · Oakland · sticker $25,335 · tuition $1,258—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 San Francisco: 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 →City College of San FranciscoSan Francisco StateCollege of San MateoUniversity of San FranciscoLaney CollegeChabot College
San Francisco State University50% graduate$68k earnings$15k typical debt
City College of San Francisco40% graduate$46k earnings$8k typical debt
University of San Francisco70% graduate$90k earnings$23k typical debt
Chabot College47% graduate$48k earnings$10k typical debt
College of San Mateo61% graduate$54k earnings$15k typical debt
Laney College31% graduate$37k earnings
Skyline College44% graduate$56k earnings
Academy of Art University34% graduate$39k earnings$31k typical debt
Merritt College26% graduate$44k earnings
College of Alameda33% graduate$43k earnings
California College of the Arts61% graduate$49k earnings$27k typical debt
Lincoln University100% graduate$54k earnings

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: Carrington College-San Leandro Campus (5).

Questions about college near South San Francisco

Is South San Francisco a college town?

No. About 7 of every 100 South San Francisco residents are enrolled in college (Census, 2020–24), about the same as California (8). The nearest campus, Skyline College, is 5.3 miles away in San Bruno.

What colleges are near South San Francisco?

26 colleges are within 15 miles. The largest: San Francisco State University (7.1 miles, 21,943 students on campus), City College of San Francisco (6.4 miles, 13,762) and the University of San Francisco (9.3 miles, 8,633).

What is the closest community college to South San Francisco, and what does it cost?

Skyline College in San Bruno, 5.3 miles away. Tuition and fees are $1,272 a year for California residents; the federal net price, $1,738, counts housing and food at full cost.

How much does Skyline College cost if we live in California?

Tuition and fees are $1,272 a year in-state and $9,956 from out of state. After grants, families on federal aid paid an average of $842 (under $30,000 income) to $5,974 (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 San Francisco. 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 →