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Colleges in and near Winter Gardens

Grossmont College is 4.9 miles from Winter Gardens

No college sits inside Winter Gardens’ boundary, but Grossmont College’s campus in El Cajon, with 8,594 students on campus, is 4.9 miles from the center of town. About 6% of Winter Gardens’ residents are enrolled in college, about the same as California (8%).

Grossmont 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 Winter Gardens. Colleges are described, not graded.

Within 15 miles
15
91,442 students on campus
Nearest college
3.5 mi
ATA College
Residents in college
6%
About the same as CA (8%)
Nearest community college
4.9 mi
Grossmont College · $1,332 tuition
Nearest public university
9.5 mi
San Diego State · $8,728 in-state
Median household income
$98K
prices below start here

What stands out about college from Winter Gardens

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

A community college 4.9 miles awayGrossmont College has 8,594 students on campus in El Cajon, 37% of whom graduate within three years.In-state price at San Diego StateLiving in California, San Diego State University charges $8,728 in tuition and fees; from out of state, $21,328. 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 Winter Gardens

Nine private colleges within 14.7 miles, one public college within 9.5 miles, and five community colleges.

5 mi10 mi15 miSan Diego StateSouthwestern CollegeWinter Gardens
University or collegeCommunity college
ATA CollegeUniversity or college · For-profit · 106 on campus · 3.5 mi · El Cajon$19knet price89%graduate$35kearningsGrossmont CollegeCommunity college · Public · 8,594 on campus · 4.9 mi · El Cajon$5knet price37%graduate$40kearningsTuition and fees: $1,332 a year. The net price counts housing and food at full cost.Cuyamaca CollegeCommunity college · Public · 4,143 on campus · 6.5 mi · El Cajon · mostly online$7knet price41%graduate$32kearnings51% of its students study only online; price, graduation and earnings count them too.Tuition and fees: $1,346 a year. The net price counts housing and food at full cost.San Diego State UniversityUniversity or college · Public · 36,799 on campus · 9.5 mi · San Diego36%admitted$15knet price76%graduate$65kearningsNorth-West College-San DiegoUniversity or college · For-profit · 551 on campus · 9.5 mi · San Diego$47knet price$41kearningsEarnings are reported for all 5 campuses that file with it.Alliant International University-San DiegoUniversity or college · For-profit · 1,412 on campus · 10.6 mi · San Diego · mostly online0%admitted$67kearnings66% of its students study only online; price, graduation and earnings count them too.National UniversityUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 3,355 on campus · 11.7 mi · San Diego · mostly online$23knet price43%graduate$68kearnings83% of its students study only online; price, graduation and earnings count them too.California Miramar UniversityUniversity or college · For-profit · 203 on campus · 11.9 mi · San Diego18%admitted$12knet price50%graduateSan Diego Miramar CollegeCommunity college · Public · 8,368 on campus · 12.3 mi · San Diego$3knet price48%graduate$48kearningsTuition and fees: $1,146 a year. The net price counts housing and food at full cost.Concorde Career College-San DiegoUniversity or college · For-profit · 178 on campus · 13.8 mi · San Diego100%admitted$25knet price76%graduate$39kearningsSouthwestern CollegeCommunity college · Public · 13,521 on campus · 14.2 mi · Chula Vista$13knet price36%graduate$40kearningsTuition and fees: $1,344 a year. The net price counts housing and food at full cost.Pacific College of Health and ScienceUniversity or college · For-profit · 393 on campus · 14.2 mi · San Diego · mostly online$52knet price77%graduate$26kearnings56% of its students study only online; price, graduation and earnings count them too.Earnings are reported for all 3 campuses that file with it.San Diego Mesa CollegeCommunity college · Public · 11,593 on campus · 14.3 mi · San Diego$6knet price35%graduate$45kearningsTuition and fees: $1,146 a year. The net price counts housing and food at full cost.Design Institute of San DiegoUniversity or college · For-profit · 107 on campus · 14.3 mi · San Diego100%admitted$44knet price80%graduate$47kearningsUnited States UniversityUniversity or college · For-profit · 2,119 on campus · 14.7 mi · San Diego$81kearnings

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 Winter Gardens’ median household income ($97,973) falls.

Grossmont College4.9 mi · El Cajon · sticker $14,027 · tuition $1,332$9,677a year
San Diego Miramar College12.3 mi · San Diego · sticker $17,126 · tuition $1,146$10,379a year
Cuyamaca College6.5 mi · El Cajon · mostly online · sticker $16,690 · tuition $1,346$12,665a year
San Diego Mesa College14.3 mi · San Diego · sticker $19,371 · tuition $1,146$13,576a year
San Diego State University9.5 mi · San Diego · sticker $27,780$15,891a year
California Miramar University11.9 mi · San Diego · sticker $19,067$16,995a year
Southwestern College14.2 mi · Chula Vista · sticker $22,104 · tuition $1,344$18,484a year
Concorde Career College-San Diego13.8 mi · San Diego · sticker $30,461$28,668a year
North-West College-San Diego9.5 mi · San Diego · sticker $49,552$48,695a year
Pacific College of Health and Science14.2 mi · San Diego · mostly online · sticker $54,944$52,468a year
ATA College3.5 mi · El Cajon · sticker $26,134—a year
National University11.7 mi · San Diego · mostly online · sticker $33,978—a year
Design Institute of San Diego14.3 mi · San Diego · sticker $55,911—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 Winter Gardens: across is the share who graduate, up is what they earn ten years after starting.

$0$20k$40k$60k$80k0%25%50%75%100%Graduate →Grossmont CollegeCuyamaca CollegeSan Diego StateSan Diego Miramar CollegeSouthwestern CollegeSan Diego Mesa College
San Diego State University76% graduate$65k earnings$15k typical debt
Southwestern College36% graduate$40k earnings$4k typical debt
San Diego Mesa College35% graduate$45k earnings$5k typical debt
Grossmont College37% graduate$40k earnings$9k typical debt
San Diego Miramar College48% graduate$48k earnings$7k typical debt
Cuyamaca College41% graduate$32k earnings
National University43% graduate$68k earnings$25k typical debt
Pacific College of Health and Science77% graduate$26k earnings*$12k typical debt
Concorde Career College-San Diego76% graduate$39k earnings$10k typical debt
Design Institute of San Diego80% graduate$47k earnings$37k typical debt
ATA College89% graduate$35k earnings$6k 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: Pacific College of Health and Science (3).

Questions about college near Winter Gardens

Is Winter Gardens a college town?

No. About 6 of every 100 Winter Gardens residents are enrolled in college (Census, 2020–24), about the same as California (8). The nearest campus, ATA College, is 3.5 miles away in El Cajon.

What colleges are near Winter Gardens?

15 colleges are within 15 miles. The largest: San Diego State University (9.5 miles, 36,799 students on campus), Southwestern College (14.2 miles, 13,521) and San Diego Mesa College (14.3 miles, 11,593).

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

Grossmont College in El Cajon, 4.9 miles away. Tuition and fees are $1,332 a year for California residents; the federal net price, $5,311, counts housing and food at full cost.

How much does San Diego State University cost if we live in California?

Tuition and fees are $8,728 a year in-state and $21,328 from out of state. After grants, families on federal aid paid an average of $9,910 (under $30,000 income) to $23,821 (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 Winter Gardens. 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 →