Colleges Near Salinas, California
Looking for information about the best colleges and universities serving Salinas? Here's your guide to the top schools offering degrees to students in the area, including institutions located within 40 miles of Salinas, California.
There are at least 11 colleges serving the area, including 3 private colleges and universities, 3 public colleges and universities, and 4 community colleges offering 2-year degrees.
The Best Adult Colleges & Careers Guide provides a breakdown of the colleges serving Salinas, with details about cost, enrollment, student type and degree offerings. Click here to learn more about the guide.
Salinas, California Colleges by the Numbers
Associate, bachelor's, masters, and doctoral degree completions at institutions near Salinas, California have been declining over the past 5 years. In 2023, students completed 13,713 doctorates at colleges and universities near Salinas. That was a decrease of 1% from completions reported in 2019.
Schools with Degree Completions
Est. Total Completions in 2023
Est. Completions (Last 5 Years)
Sponsored
Top School For Adults & Online Students
Franklin University is a top choice for transfer students, online learners and adults who need to balance school with busy lives. Founded in 1902 in Columbus, Ohio, Franklin's main focus has been serving adult students and tailoring education to fit their needs. Nonprofit and accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (hlcommission.org/800.621.7440), Franklin offers more than 50 bachelor's, master's, and doctoral programs — all available 100% online.
Undergraduate Enrollment
5,117
Completions By Degree
2,171
Est. Online Degree Offerings
100%
Private Colleges & Universities Offering Degrees Near Salinas, California
There are at least 3 schools offering degrees near Salinas, California, and 3 are four-year private colleges or universities where about 5,130 undergraduate students were enrolled. In 2023, a total of 2,728 degrees were completed at private colleges and universities, including 2,255 that were offered online.
Avg. UG Tuition & Fees
School Type
Accredited
Non-Profit
Franklin offers more than 50 online bachelor's degrees, master's degrees and doctoral programs in the Salinas, California area. Franklin University is an institutionally accredited nonprofit 4-year school where most students attend classes part-time. Most of the students are adults and all programs completed were offered online. Bachelor's degrees are the most popular at Franklin University. In 2023, 1,429 bachelor's degrees were completed. In addition, 88 associate degrees, 616 master's degrees, and 38 doctoral degrees were earned.
Undergraduate Enrollment
5,117
Completions By Degree
2,171
Est. Online Degree Availability
100%
Avg. UG Tuition & Fees
School Type
Accredited
Non-Profit
Middlebury Institute of International Studies at Monterey is an institutionally accredited nonprofit 4-year school where most students attend classes full-time. Most of the students are adults and minimal programs completed were offered online. Master's degrees are the most popular at Middlebury Institute of International Studies at Monterey. In 2023, 357 master's degrees were completed. In addition, 0 associate degrees, 6 bachelor's degrees, and 0 doctoral degrees were earned.
Undergraduate Enrollment
13
Completions By Degree
363
Est. Online Degree Availability
23%
Completions by Program Area
Avg. UG Tuition & Fees
School Type
Accredited
Non-Profit
Five Branches University is an institutionally accredited for profit 4-year school where most students attend classes full-time. Most of the students are of traditional age and no programs completed were offered online. Doctoral degrees are the most popular at Five Branches University. In 2023, 147 doctoral degrees were completed. In addition, 0 associate degrees, 0 bachelor's degrees, 47 master's degrees, were earned.
Undergraduate Enrollment
0
Completions By Degree
194
Est. Online Degree Availability
0%
Completions by Program Area
Public Colleges & Universities Near Salinas, California
There are 3 four-year public colleges located near Salinas, California. About 23,631 students were enrolled in undergraduate programs, and about 8,885 degrees were completed at public colleges near Salinas. Tuition shown reflects in-state rates.
Avg. UG Tuition & Fees
School Type
Accredited
Non-Profit
California State University-Monterey Bay is an institutionally accredited public 4-year school where most students attend classes full-time. Most of the students are of traditional age and minimal programs completed were offered online. Bachelor's degrees are the most popular at California State University-Monterey Bay. In 2023, 1,977 bachelor's degrees were completed. In addition, 0 associate degrees, 298 master's degrees, and 0 doctoral degrees were earned.
Undergraduate Enrollment
6,129
Completions By Degree
2,275
Est. Online Degree Availability
17%
Completions by Program Area
Avg. UG Tuition & Fees
School Type
Accredited
Non-Profit
Naval Postgraduate School is an institutionally accredited public 4-year school where most students attend classes full-time. Most of the students are of traditional age and some programs completed were offered online. Master's degrees are the most popular at Naval Postgraduate School. In 2023, 1,153 master's degrees were completed. In addition, 0 associate degrees, 0 bachelor's degrees, and 12 doctoral degrees were earned.
Undergraduate Enrollment
0
Completions By Degree
1,165
Est. Online Degree Availability
59%
Completions by Program Area
Avg. UG Tuition & Fees
School Type
Accredited
Non-Profit
University of California-Santa Cruz is an institutionally accredited public 4-year school where most students attend classes full-time. Most of the students are of traditional age and no programs completed were offered online. Bachelor's degrees are the most popular at University of California-Santa Cruz. In 2023, 4,856 bachelor's degrees were completed. In addition, 0 associate degrees, 363 master's degrees, and 226 doctoral degrees were earned.
Undergraduate Enrollment
17,502
Completions By Degree
5,445
Est. Online Degree Availability
0%
Completions by Program Area
Community Colleges Near Salinas, California
There are 4 community colleges near Salinas, California where students can earn 2-year associate degrees. In 2023, about 24,027 students were enrolled in undergraduate courses at community colleges near Salinas, and about 4,267 associate degrees were completed.
Avg. UG Tuition & Fees
School Type
Accredited
Non-Profit
Gavilan College is an institutionally accredited 2-year school where most students attend classes part-time. Most of the students are a mixture of traditional and adult aged and no programs completed were offered online.
Undergraduate Enrollment
3,805
Completions By Degree
582
Est. Online Degree Availability
0%
Completions by Program Area
Avg. UG Tuition & Fees
School Type
Accredited
Non-Profit
Monterey Peninsula College is an institutionally accredited 2-year school where most students attend classes part-time. Most of the students are a mixture of traditional and adult aged and no programs completed were offered online.
Undergraduate Enrollment
5,347
Completions By Degree
736
Est. Online Degree Availability
0%
Avg. UG Tuition & Fees
School Type
Accredited
Non-Profit
Cabrillo College is an institutionally accredited 2-year school where most students attend classes part-time. Most of the students are a mixture of traditional and adult aged and minimal programs completed were offered online.
Undergraduate Enrollment
7,275
Completions By Degree
1,855
Est. Online Degree Availability
3%
Completions by Program Area
Avg. UG Tuition & Fees
School Type
Accredited
Non-Profit
Hartnell College is an institutionally accredited 2-year school where most students attend classes part-time. Most of the students are a mixture of traditional and adult aged and no programs completed were offered online.
Undergraduate Enrollment
7,600
Completions By Degree
1,094
Est. Online Degree Availability
0%
Completions by Program Area
2-Year Private For-Profit Schools Near Salinas, California
There is at least 1 two-year private for-profit school offering associate degrees near Salinas, California. According to 2023 data from Lightcast™, in 2023, a total of 4 associate degrees were completed at those institutions. Tuition shown reflects in-state rates.
Avg. UG Tuition & Fees
School Type
Accredited
Non-Profit
Central Coast College is an institutionally accredited 2-year school where most students attend classes full-time. Most of the students are a mixture of traditional and adult aged and no programs completed were offered online. Associate degrees are the most popular at Central Coast College. In 2023, 4 associate degrees were completed. In addition, 0 bachelor's degrees, 0 master's degrees, and 0 doctoral degrees were earned.
Undergraduate Enrollment
380
Completions By Degree
4
Est. Online Degree Availability
0%
Completions by Program Area
Affordable Colleges Near Salinas, California
Wondering what you can expect to pay for a degree near Salinas, California? According to undergraduate tuition data from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, the average tuition at Salinas-area's 4-year nonprofit schools is $28,302. The average tuition at similar 4-year for-profit schools near Salinas is N/A, while tuition at 2-year online colleges and universities is N/A.
4-Year Nonprofit
4-Year For-Profit
2-Year
Accredited Colleges Serving Salinas, California
Earning a college degree is an investment — and earning a degree from an institutionally accredited university is one of the best ways to ensure your education is of high quality. Institutionally accredited universities are held to rigorous standards by state and regional bodies and undergo regular reviews to verify that their processes and academic programs meet the proper standards.
Wondering if a certain college or university offering degree programs in Salinas, California is institutionally accredited? View a list of institutionally accredited colleges and universities serving Salinas, California here. We've made it easy to find your school by breaking down the list by school type.
- Franklin University
- Middlebury Institute of International Studies at Monterey
- Gavilan College
- Monterey Peninsula College
- Cabrillo College
- Hartnell College
- Five Branches University
Salinas, California Job Market & Opportunities
What happens after you earn your college degree in Salinas? What's the Salinas, California job market outlook? Get a snapshot of jobs and careers, including annual job openings, median earnings and more.
In 2024, there were about 1,901,335 jobs in the Salinas, California area. From 2023-2024, job growth in Salinas was below the national average, at 0.7%. There were 227,896 job openings in the area. In terms of earnings, workers in Salinas do better than the national average, with an average hourly pay of $27.26.