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Santa Fe Texas Post OfficePhoto: Nsaum75 · CC BY-SA 3.0
Colleges in and near Santa Fe

College of the Mainland is 6.2 miles from Santa Fe

No college sits inside Santa Fe’s boundary, but College of the Mainland’s campus in Texas City, with 4,279 students on campus, is 6.2 miles from the center of town. About 3% of Santa Fe’s residents are enrolled in college, below Texas (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 Santa Fe. Colleges are described, not graded.

Within 15 miles
3
16,295 students on campus
Nearest college
6.2 mi
College of the Mainland
Residents in college
3%
Below TX (6%)
Nearest community college
6.2 mi
College of the Mainland · $2,310 tuition
Nearest public university
6.2 mi
College of the Mainland · $2,310 in-state
Median household income
$99K
prices below start here

What stands out about college from Santa Fe

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

A community college 6.2 miles awayCollege of the Mainland has 4,279 students on campus in Texas City, 31% of whom graduate within six years.In-state price at College of the MainlandLiving in Texas, College of the Mainland charges $2,310 in tuition and fees; from out of state, $4,140. State residency rules decide which a new arrival pays.Students are 3% of residentsBelow Texas (6%). The Census counts anyone enrolled, including part-time and online students.
Every college

Colleges within 15 miles of Santa Fe

All 3 are public. Every other college is more than 15 miles from Santa Fe.

5 mi10 mi15 miUniversity of Houston-Clear LakeAlvinCollege of the MainlandSanta Fe
University or collegeCommunity college
College of the MainlandCommunity college · Public · 4,279 on campus · 6.2 mi · Texas City$1knet price31%graduate$40kearningsTuition and fees: $2,310 a year. The net price counts housing and food at full cost.Alvin Community CollegeCommunity college · Public · 5,208 on campus · 8.4 mi · Alvin$9knet price24%graduate$46kearningsTuition and fees: $1,906 a year. The net price counts housing and food at full cost.University of Houston-Clear LakeUniversity or college · Public · 6,808 on campus · 13.5 mi · Houston91%admitted$16knet price52%graduate$59kearnings

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 Santa Fe’s median household income ($99,190) falls.

Alvin Community College8.4 mi · Alvin · sticker $16,962 · tuition $1,906$13,590a year
University of Houston-Clear Lake13.5 mi · Houston · sticker $24,622$21,296a year
College of the Mainland6.2 mi · Texas City · sticker $8,357 · tuition $2,310—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 Santa Fe: 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 →College of the MainlandAlvinUniversity of Houston-Clear Lake
University of Houston-Clear Lake52% graduate$59k earnings$18k typical debt
Alvin Community College24% graduate$46k earnings$5k typical debt
College of the Mainland31% graduate$40k 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.

Questions about college near Santa Fe

Is Santa Fe a college town?

No. About 3 of every 100 Santa Fe residents are enrolled in college (Census, 2020–24), below Texas (6). The nearest campus, College of the Mainland, is 6.2 miles away in Texas City.

What colleges are near Santa Fe?

Within 15 miles: College of the Mainland (6.2 miles, 4,279 students on campus), Alvin Community College (8.4 miles, 5,208) and the University of Houston-Clear Lake (13.5 miles, 6,808).

What is the closest community college to Santa Fe, and what does it cost?

College of the Mainland in Texas City, 6.2 miles away. Tuition and fees are $2,310 a year for Texas residents; the federal net price, $1,342, counts housing and food at full cost.

How much does College of the Mainland cost if we live in Texas?

Tuition and fees are $2,310 a year in-state and $4,140 from out of state.

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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 Santa Fe. 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 →