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Topanga Canyon trailPhoto: Rneches · CC BY 2.5
Colleges in and near Topanga

Los Angeles Pierce College is 6.3 miles from Topanga

No college sits inside Topanga’s boundary, but Los Angeles Pierce College’s campus in Woodland Hills, with 8,928 students on campus, is 6.3 miles from the center of town. About 6% of Topanga’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 Topanga. Colleges are described, not graded.

Within 15 miles
22
139,359 students on campus
Nearest college
6.3 mi
Los Angeles Pierce College
Residents in college
6%
About the same as CA (8%)
Nearest community college
6.3 mi
Los Angeles Pierce College · $1,238 tuition
Nearest public university
9.5 mi
University of California-Los Angeles · $15,203 in-state
Median household income
$157K
prices below start here

What stands out about college from Topanga

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

A community college 6.3 miles awayLos Angeles Pierce College has 8,928 students on campus in Woodland Hills, 46% of whom graduate within three years.In-state price at University of California-Los AngelesLiving in California, the University of California-Los Angeles charges $15,203 in tuition and fees; from out of state, $49,403. State residency rules decide which a new arrival pays.Students are 6% 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 Topanga

16 private colleges within 15 miles, two public colleges within 10.8 miles, and six community colleges.

5 mi10 mi15 miCalifornia State University-NorthridgeSanta Monica CollegeTopanga
University or collegeCommunity college
Los Angeles Pierce CollegeCommunity college · Public · 8,928 on campus · 6.3 mi · Woodland Hills$13knet price46%graduate$45kearningsTuition and fees: $1,238 a year. The net price counts housing and food at full cost.California Career CollegeUniversity or college · For-profit · 144 on campus · 7 mi · Canoga Park$47knet price100%graduate$52kearningsPepperdine UniversityUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 6,741 on campus · 7.1 mi · Malibu63%admitted$58knet price83%graduate$83kearningsMount Saint Mary's UniversityUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 2,219 on campus · 7.1 mi · Los Angeles73%admitted$21knet price53%graduate$72kearningsEmperor's College of Traditional Oriental MedicineUniversity or college · For-profit · 181 on campus · 8.3 mi · Santa MonicaGraduate students only; the Scorecard reports no undergraduate figures.Casa Loma College-Los AngelesCommunity college · Private nonprofit · 571 on campus · 8.9 mi · Sherman Oaks43%admitted$28knet price73%graduate$50kearningsRAND School of Public PolicyUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 126 on campus · 8.9 mi · Santa MonicaGraduate students only; the Scorecard reports no undergraduate figures.University of California-Los AngelesUniversity or college · Public · 46,029 on campus · 9.5 mi · Los Angeles9%admitted$13knet price93%graduate$83kearningsSanta Monica CollegeCommunity college · Public · 14,294 on campus · 9.5 mi · Santa Monica$3knet price36%graduate$42kearningsTuition and fees: $1,156 a year. The net price counts housing and food at full cost.California State University-NorthridgeUniversity or college · Public · 34,847 on campus · 10.8 mi · Northridge93%admitted$7knet price57%graduate$59kearningsLos Angeles Valley CollegeCommunity college · Public · 6,750 on campus · 11.8 mi · Valley Glen · mostly online$12knet price32%graduate$43kearnings57% 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.Yo San University of Traditional Chinese MedicineUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 124 on campus · 11.8 mi · Los AngelesGraduate students only; the Scorecard reports no undergraduate figures.National Career CollegeUniversity or college · For-profit · 360 on campus · 12.6 mi · Panorama City$28knet price74%graduate$19kearningsConcorde Career College-North HollywoodUniversity or college · For-profit · 143 on campus · 13.1 mi · North Hollywood100%admitted$24knet price78%graduate$51kearningsWest Coast University-Los AngelesUniversity or college · For-profit · 2,640 on campus · 13.4 mi · North Hollywood$53knet price31%graduate$103kearningsEarnings are reported for all 6 campuses that file with it.GnomonUniversity or college · For-profit · 426 on campus · 13.5 mi · North Hollywood42%admitted$52knet price100%graduate$115kearningsLoyola Marymount UniversityUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 9,533 on campus · 13.9 mi · Los Angeles45%admitted$48knet price79%graduate$78kearningsWest Los Angeles CollegeCommunity college · Public · 2,805 on campus · 14.1 mi · Culver City · mostly online$10knet price28%graduate$39kearnings70% 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.Otis College of Art and DesignUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 1,284 on campus · 14.5 mi · Los Angeles82%admitted$51knet price66%graduate$58kearningsAntioch University-Los AngelesUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 888 on campus · 14.7 mi · Culver City$52kearningsEarnings are reported for all 5 campuses that file with it.Yeshiva Ohr Elchonon Chabad West Coast Talmudical SeminaryUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 157 on campus · 14.9 mi · Los Angeles58%admitted$15knet price12%graduate$48kearningsAmerican Academy of Dramatic Arts-Los AngelesCommunity college · Private nonprofit · 169 on campus · 15 mi · Los Angeles

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 Topanga’s median household income ($157,045) falls.

Santa Monica College9.5 mi · Santa Monica · sticker $11,162 · tuition $1,156$8,395a year
Yeshiva Ohr Elchonon Chabad West Coast Talmudical Seminary14.9 mi · Los Angeles · sticker $31,300$10,300a year
California State University-Northridge10.8 mi · Northridge · sticker $20,485$18,040a year
Mount Saint Mary's University7.1 mi · Los Angeles · sticker $66,726$18,762a year
Los Angeles Pierce College6.3 mi · Woodland Hills · sticker $21,400 · tuition $1,238$18,929a year
Los Angeles Valley College11.8 mi · Valley Glen · mostly online · sticker $20,546 · tuition $1,238$20,546a year
Concorde Career College-North Hollywood13.1 mi · North Hollywood · sticker $28,621$26,608a year
University of California-Los Angeles9.5 mi · Los Angeles · sticker $38,614$29,682a year
Casa Loma College-Los Angeles8.9 mi · Sherman Oaks · sticker $32,018$32,018a year
National Career College12.6 mi · Panorama City · sticker $34,495$34,325a year
Gnomon13.5 mi · North Hollywood · sticker $54,947$54,947a year
West Coast University-Los Angeles13.4 mi · North Hollywood · sticker $55,938$55,938a year
Loyola Marymount University13.9 mi · Los Angeles · sticker $83,943$58,371a year
Otis College of Art and Design14.5 mi · Los Angeles · sticker $75,861$60,718a year
Pepperdine University7.1 mi · Malibu · sticker $93,512$65,081a year
California Career College7 mi · Canoga Park · sticker $46,880—a year
West Los Angeles College14.1 mi · Culver City · mostly online · sticker $17,336 · 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 Topanga: across is the share who graduate, up is what they earn ten years after starting.

$0$20k$40k$60k$80k$100k$120k0%25%50%75%100%Graduate →Los Angeles Pierce CollegeUniversity of California-Los AngelesSanta Monica CollegeCalifornia State University-NorthridgeLos Angeles Valley CollegeLoyola Marymount University
University of California-Los Angeles93% graduate$83k earnings$14k typical debt
California State University-Northridge57% graduate$59k earnings$14k typical debt
Santa Monica College36% graduate$42k earnings$6k typical debt
Loyola Marymount University79% graduate$78k earnings$20k typical debt
Los Angeles Pierce College46% graduate$45k earnings$13k typical debt
Los Angeles Valley College32% graduate$43k earnings$10k typical debt
Pepperdine University83% graduate$83k earnings$24k typical debt
West Los Angeles College28% graduate$39k earnings$14k typical debt
West Coast University-Los Angeles31% graduate$103k earnings*$33k typical debt
Mount Saint Mary's University53% graduate$72k earnings$26k typical debt
Otis College of Art and Design66% graduate$58k earnings$27k typical debt
Casa Loma College-Los Angeles73% graduate$50k earnings$27k 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: West Coast University-Los Angeles (6).

Questions about college near Topanga

Is Topanga a college town?

No. About 6 of every 100 Topanga residents are enrolled in college (Census, 2020–24), about the same as California (8). The nearest campus, Los Angeles Pierce College, is 6.3 miles away in Woodland Hills.

What colleges are near Topanga?

22 colleges are within 15 miles. The largest: the University of California-Los Angeles (9.5 miles, 46,029 students on campus), California State University-Northridge (10.8 miles, 34,847) and Santa Monica College (9.5 miles, 14,294).

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

Los Angeles Pierce College in Woodland Hills, 6.3 miles away. Tuition and fees are $1,238 a year for California residents; the federal net price, $13,270, counts housing and food at full cost.

How much does the University of California-Los Angeles cost if we live in California?

Tuition and fees are $15,203 a year in-state and $49,403 from out of state. After grants, families on federal aid paid an average of $5,579 (under $30,000 income) to $29,682 (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 Topanga. 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 →