Photo: Brian Stansberry · CC BY 4.0The University of Cincinnati-Clermont College is 11.8 miles from California
No college sits inside California’s boundary, but the University of Cincinnati-Clermont College’s campus in Batavia, with 1,581 students on campus, is 11.8 miles from the center of town, and Gateway Community and Technical College is 20.1 miles away in Florence. About 2% of California’s residents are enrolled in college, about the same as Kentucky (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 California. Colleges are described, not graded.
What stands out about college from California
Facts about the town and its distance to campus; each college’s own figures follow.
Colleges within 15 miles of California
One private college within 12.8 miles, one public college within 13.2 miles, and University of Cincinnati-Clermont College 11.8 miles away. The nearest public four-year college, Kentucky State University, is 59 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 and the nearest public four-year college. Pick your family’s income.
Starts at $75–110k, where California’s median household income ($77,813) 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: 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: University of Cincinnati-Clermont College (3).
Questions about college near California
Is California a college town?
No. About 2 of every 100 California residents are enrolled in college (Census, 2020–24), about the same as Kentucky (6). The nearest campus, the University of Cincinnati-Clermont College, is 11.8 miles away in Batavia.
What colleges are near California?
Within 15 miles: the University of Cincinnati-Clermont College (11.8 miles, 1,581 students on campus), Athenaeum of Ohio (12.8 miles, 158) and Northern Kentucky University (13.2 miles, 6,772).
What is the closest community college to California, and what does it cost?
Gateway Community and Technical College in Florence, 20.1 miles away. Tuition and fees are $4,728 a year for Kentucky residents; the federal net price, $5,725, counts housing and food at full cost.
How much does Kentucky State University cost if we live in Kentucky?
Tuition and fees are $9,387 a year in-state and $13,658 from out of state.
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 California. 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 →