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Harbor-UCLA Medical Center 20150328 (3)Photo: Biochemistry2016 · CC BY-SA 4.0
Colleges in and near West Carson

El Camino Community College District is 4.8 miles from West Carson

No college sits inside West Carson’s boundary, but El Camino Community College District’s campus in Torrance, with 15,562 students on campus, is 4.8 miles from the center of town, and Los Angeles Harbor College is 2.6 miles away in Wilmington. About 6% of West Carson’s residents are enrolled in college, below California (8%).

California State University-Dominguez HillsEl Camino Community College DistrictUEI College-Gardena

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 West Carson. Colleges are described, not graded.

Within 15 miles
26
177,575 students on campus
Nearest college
2.6 mi
Los Angeles Harbor College
Residents in college
6%
Below CA (8%)
Nearest community college
2.6 mi
Los Angeles Harbor College · $1,238 tuition
Nearest public university
3.6 mi
California State University-Dominguez Hills · $7,449 in-state
Median household income
$93K
prices below start here

What stands out about college from West Carson

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

Three colleges within 4.8 milesCalifornia State University-Dominguez Hills admits 93% of applicants. Together they have 29,844 students on campus.A community college 2.6 miles awayLos Angeles Harbor College in Wilmington: tuition and fees $1,238 a year for California residents.In-state price at California State University-Dominguez HillsLiving in California, California State University-Dominguez Hills charges $7,449 in tuition and fees; from out of state, $20,049. 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 West Carson

16 private colleges within 14.5 miles, two public colleges within 10.8 miles, and eight community colleges.

5 mi10 mi15 miUniversity of Southern CaliforniaCalifornia State University-Long BeachLong Beach City CollegeWest Carson
University or collegeCommunity college
Los Angeles Harbor CollegeCommunity college · Public · 3,447 on campus · 2.6 mi · Wilmington · mostly online$13knet price36%graduate$41kearnings61% 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.Homestead SchoolsUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 178 on campus · 3.4 mi · Torrance$16knet price93%graduate$59kearningsEarnings are reported for all 2 campuses that file with it.California State University-Dominguez HillsUniversity or college · Public · 13,167 on campus · 3.6 mi · Carson93%admitted$9knet price43%graduate$57kearningsEl Camino Community College DistrictCommunity college · Public · 15,562 on campus · 4.8 mi · Torrance$6knet price42%graduate$42kearningsTuition and fees: $1,144 a year. The net price counts housing and food at full cost.UEI College-GardenaUniversity or college · For-profit · 1,115 on campus · 4.8 mi · Gardena$29knet price60%graduate$31kearningsEarnings are reported for all 5 campuses that file with it.Compton CollegeCommunity college · Public · 3,330 on campus · 6.2 mi · Compton$13knet price27%graduate$34kearningsTuition and fees: $1,142 a year. The net price counts housing and food at full cost.American University of Health SciencesUniversity or college · For-profit · 523 on campus · 7.3 mi · Signal Hill50%admitted50%graduate$94kearningsLos Angeles Southwest CollegeCommunity college · Public · 1,754 on campus · 7.4 mi · Los Angeles · mostly online$6knet price34%graduate$32kearnings67% 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.Charles R Drew University of Medicine and ScienceUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 763 on campus · 7.7 mi · Los Angeles39%admitted$36knet price30%graduate$83kearningsUniversal Technical Institute-Southern CaliforniaUniversity or college · For-profit · 1,447 on campus · 8.5 mi · Long Beach$28knet price63%graduate$53kearningsEarnings are reported for all 6 campuses that file with it.North-West College-Long BeachUniversity or college · For-profit · 576 on campus · 8.5 mi · Long Beach$34knet price58%graduate$40kearningsEarnings are reported for all 4 campuses that file with it.National Polytechnic CollegeUniversity or college · For-profit · 299 on campus · 9 mi · Lakewood$31knet price47%graduate$31kearningsLong Beach City CollegeCommunity college · Public · 17,484 on campus · 9.1 mi · Long Beach$6knet price30%graduate$39kearningsTuition and fees: $1,556 a year. The net price counts housing and food at full cost.Healthcare Career CollegeUniversity or college · For-profit · 381 on campus · 9.5 mi · Paramount$14knet price71%graduate$33kearningsUniversity of West Los AngelesUniversity or college · For-profit · 256 on campus · 9.6 mi · InglewoodSpartan College of Aeronautics & TechnologyUniversity or college · For-profit · 319 on campus · 10.4 mi · Inglewood$33knet price64%graduate$62kearningsEarnings are reported for all 2 campuses that file with it.California State University-Long BeachUniversity or college · Public · 38,193 on campus · 10.8 mi · Long Beach46%admitted$10knet price69%graduate$64kearningsOtis College of Art and DesignUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 1,284 on campus · 11.6 mi · Los Angeles82%admitted$51knet price66%graduate$58kearningsPCI CollegeUniversity or college · For-profit · 163 on campus · 11.7 mi · Cerritos$27knet price68%graduate$36kearningsCerritos CollegeCommunity college · Public · 13,757 on campus · 12.1 mi · Norwalk$2knet price31%graduate$41kearningsTuition and fees: $1,364 a year. The net price counts housing and food at full cost.Loyola Marymount UniversityUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 9,533 on campus · 12.4 mi · Los Angeles45%admitted$48knet price79%graduate$78kearningsAntioch University-Los AngelesUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 888 on campus · 12.6 mi · Culver City$52kearningsEarnings are reported for all 5 campuses that file with it.West Los Angeles CollegeCommunity college · Public · 2,805 on campus · 13.6 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.University of Southern CaliforniaUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 41,282 on campus · 13.7 mi · Los Angeles10%admitted$33knet price92%graduate$92kearningsLos Angeles Trade Technical CollegeCommunity college · Public · 8,945 on campus · 14.5 mi · Los Angeles$12knet price35%graduate$35kearningsTuition 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 · 14.5 mi · Los AngelesGraduate 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 $75–110k, where West Carson’s median household income ($92,775) falls.

Cerritos College12.1 mi · Norwalk · sticker $10,236 · tuition $1,364$6,599a year
Los Angeles Southwest College7.4 mi · Los Angeles · mostly online · sticker $13,624 · tuition $1,238$7,420a year
Long Beach City College9.1 mi · Long Beach · sticker $14,503 · tuition $1,556$10,042a year
El Camino Community College District4.8 mi · Torrance · sticker $15,246 · tuition $1,144$11,546a year
California State University-Dominguez Hills3.6 mi · Carson · sticker $23,191$12,323a year
California State University-Long Beach10.8 mi · Long Beach · sticker $22,679$12,630a year
West Los Angeles College13.6 mi · Culver City · mostly online · sticker $17,336 · tuition $1,238$14,028a year
Healthcare Career College9.5 mi · Paramount · sticker $18,873$14,135a year
Los Angeles Trade Technical College14.5 mi · Los Angeles · sticker $20,457 · tuition $1,238$16,399a year
Compton College6.2 mi · Compton · sticker $20,447 · tuition $1,142$16,689a year
Los Angeles Harbor College2.6 mi · Wilmington · mostly online · sticker $21,772 · tuition $1,238$17,831a year
University of Southern California13.7 mi · Los Angeles · sticker $90,300$24,976a year
Universal Technical Institute-Southern California8.5 mi · Long Beach · sticker $33,041$32,469a year
Charles R Drew University of Medicine and Science7.7 mi · Los Angeles · sticker $39,834$33,075a year
National Polytechnic College9 mi · Lakewood · sticker $34,762$34,762a year
North-West College-Long Beach8.5 mi · Long Beach · sticker $36,942$35,381a year
Spartan College of Aeronautics & Technology10.4 mi · Inglewood · sticker $39,104$39,104a year
Loyola Marymount University12.4 mi · Los Angeles · sticker $83,943$40,557a year
Otis College of Art and Design11.6 mi · Los Angeles · sticker $75,861$52,495a year
Homestead Schools3.4 mi · Torrance · sticker $20,937—a year
UEI College-Gardena4.8 mi · Gardena · sticker $34,105—a year
PCI College11.7 mi · Cerritos · sticker $33,852—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 West Carson: 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 →California State University-Dominguez HillsEl Camino Community College DistrictLong Beach City CollegeCalifornia State University-Long BeachCerritos CollegeUniversity of Southern California
University of Southern California92% graduate$92k earnings$18k typical debt
California State University-Long Beach69% graduate$64k earnings$14k typical debt
Long Beach City College30% graduate$39k earnings$10k typical debt
El Camino Community College District42% graduate$42k earnings
Cerritos College31% graduate$41k earnings$8k typical debt
California State University-Dominguez Hills43% graduate$57k earnings$14k typical debt
Loyola Marymount University79% graduate$78k earnings$20k typical debt
Los Angeles Trade Technical College35% graduate$35k earnings$10k typical debt
Los Angeles Harbor College36% graduate$41k earnings
Compton College27% graduate$34k earnings
West Los Angeles College28% graduate$39k earnings$14k typical debt
Los Angeles Southwest College34% graduate$32k 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: Homestead Schools (2); UEI College-Gardena (5); Universal Technical Institute-Southern California (6); North-West College-Long Beach (4); Spartan College of Aeronautics & Technology (2).

Questions about college near West Carson

Is West Carson a college town?

No. About 6 of every 100 West Carson residents are enrolled in college (Census, 2020–24), below California (8). The nearest campus, Los Angeles Harbor College, is 2.6 miles away in Wilmington.

What colleges are near West Carson?

26 colleges are within 15 miles. The largest: the University of Southern California (13.7 miles, 41,282 students on campus), California State University-Long Beach (10.8 miles, 38,193) and Long Beach City College (9.1 miles, 17,484).

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

Los Angeles Harbor College in Wilmington, 2.6 miles away. Tuition and fees are $1,238 a year for California residents; the federal net price, $13,250, counts housing and food at full cost.

How much does California State University-Dominguez Hills cost if we live in California?

Tuition and fees are $7,449 a year in-state and $20,049 from out of state. After grants, families on federal aid paid an average of $7,303 (under $30,000 income) to $18,947 (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 West Carson. 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 →