Ultimate Medical Academy is 5.4 miles from Ridgecrest
No college sits inside Ridgecrest’s boundary, but Ultimate Medical Academy’s campus in Clearwater, with 110 students on campus, is 5.4 miles from the center of town. About 1% of Ridgecrest’s residents are enrolled in college, below Florida (6%).
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 Ridgecrest. Colleges are described, not graded.
What stands out about college from Ridgecrest
Facts about the town and its distance to campus; each college’s own figures follow.
Colleges within 15 miles of Ridgecrest
Three private colleges within 14 miles, one public college within 13.1 miles, and Ultimate Medical Academy 5.4 miles away.
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 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.
Starts at $48–75k, where Ridgecrest’s median household income ($50,428) falls.
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.
Do students finish, and does it pay?
Each dot is a college within 15 miles of Ridgecrest: across is the share who graduate, up is what they earn ten years after starting.
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: Galen College of Nursing-Tampa Bay (20).
Questions about college near Ridgecrest
Is Ridgecrest a college town?
No. About 1 of every 100 Ridgecrest residents are enrolled in college (Census, 2020–24), below Florida (6). The nearest campus, Ultimate Medical Academy, is 5.4 miles away in Clearwater.
What colleges are near Ridgecrest?
Within 15 miles: Ultimate Medical Academy (5.4 miles, 110 students on campus), Galen College of Nursing-Tampa Bay (9.8 miles, 1,601), St Petersburg College (13.1 miles, 13,501) and Eckerd College (14 miles, 1,986).
What is the closest community college to Ridgecrest, and what does it cost?
Ultimate Medical Academy in Clearwater, 5.4 miles away.
How much does St Petersburg College cost if we live in Florida?
Tuition and fees are $2,682 a year in-state and $9,286 from out of state. After grants, families on federal aid paid an average of $-716 (under $30,000 income) to $11,943 (over $110,000), housing and food included.
Neighbors talk college
Students, parents, alumni and the neighbors next door.
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 Ridgecrest. 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 →