Photo: Famartin · CC BY-SA 4.0St. Mary's College of Maryland is 8.3 miles from California
No college sits inside California’s boundary, but St. Mary's College of Maryland’s campus in St. Mary's City, with 1,587 students on campus, is 8.3 miles from the center of town, and College of Southern Maryland is 33.3 miles away in La Plata. About 5% of California’s residents are enrolled in college, below Maryland (7%).
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
It is public. Every other college is more than 15 miles from California.
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 Over $110k, where California’s median household income ($119,855) 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 California: 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.
Questions about college near California
Is California a college town?
No. About 5 of every 100 California residents are enrolled in college (Census, 2020–24), below Maryland (7). The nearest campus, St. Mary's College of Maryland, is 8.3 miles away in St. Mary's City.
What colleges are near California?
Within 15 miles: St. Mary's College of Maryland (8.3 miles, 1,587 students on campus).
What is the closest community college to California, and what does it cost?
College of Southern Maryland in La Plata, 33.3 miles away. Tuition and fees are $4,200 a year for Maryland residents; the federal net price, $9,204, counts housing and food at full cost.
How much does St. Mary's College of Maryland cost if we live in Maryland?
Tuition and fees are $15,298 a year in-state and $31,374 from out of state. After grants, families on federal aid paid an average of $2,889 (under $30,000 income) to $25,173 (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 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 →