Colleges Near Santa Cruz, California
Looking for information about the best colleges and universities serving Santa Cruz? Here's your guide to the top schools offering degrees to students in the area, including institutions located within 30 miles of Santa Cruz, California.
There are at least 11 colleges serving the area, including 3 private colleges and universities, 2 public colleges and universities, and 5 community colleges offering 2-year degrees.
The Best Adult Colleges & Careers Guide provides a breakdown of the colleges serving Santa Cruz, with details about cost, enrollment, student type and degree offerings. Click here to learn more about the guide.
Santa Cruz, California Colleges by the Numbers
Associate, bachelor's, masters, and doctoral degree completions at institutions near Santa Cruz, California have been growing over the past 5 years. In 2023, students completed 25,766 doctorates at colleges and universities near Santa Cruz. That was an increase of 8% 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 Santa Cruz, California
There are at least 3 schools offering degrees near Santa Cruz, California, and 3 are four-year private colleges or universities where about 11,220 undergraduate students were enrolled. In 2023, a total of 5,313 degrees were completed at private colleges and universities, including 2,612 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 Santa Cruz, 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%
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
Avg. UG Tuition & Fees
School Type
Accredited
Non-Profit
Santa Clara University is an institutionally accredited nonprofit 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 Santa Clara University. In 2023, 1,667 bachelor's degrees were completed. In addition, 0 associate degrees, 1,027 master's degrees, and 254 doctoral degrees were earned.
Undergraduate Enrollment
6,103
Completions By Degree
2,948
Est. Online Degree Availability
15%
Completions by Program Area
Public Colleges & Universities Near Santa Cruz, California
There are 2 four-year public colleges located near Santa Cruz, California. About 44,237 students were enrolled in undergraduate programs, and about 15,606 degrees were completed at public colleges near Santa Cruz. Tuition shown reflects in-state rates.
Avg. UG Tuition & Fees
School Type
Accredited
Non-Profit
San Jose State University 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 San Jose State University. In 2023, 6,894 bachelor's degrees were completed. In addition, 0 associate degrees, 3,228 master's degrees, and 39 doctoral degrees were earned.
Undergraduate Enrollment
26,735
Completions By Degree
10,161
Est. Online Degree Availability
27%
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 Santa Cruz, California
There are 5 community colleges near Santa Cruz, California where students can earn 2-year associate degrees. In 2023, about 37,099 students were enrolled in undergraduate courses at community colleges near Santa Cruz, and about 6,864 associate degrees were completed.
Avg. UG Tuition & Fees
School Type
Accredited
Non-Profit
San Jose City 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
6,245
Completions By Degree
666
Est. Online Degree Availability
0%
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
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
De Anza College is an institutionally accredited 2-year school where most students attend classes full-time. Most of the students are of traditional age and minimal programs completed were offered online.
Undergraduate Enrollment
14,294
Completions By Degree
1,992
Est. Online Degree Availability
1%
Completions by Program Area
Avg. UG Tuition & Fees
School Type
Accredited
Non-Profit
West Valley College is an institutionally accredited 2-year school where most students attend classes part-time. Most of the students are of traditional age and minimal programs completed were offered online.
Undergraduate Enrollment
5,480
Completions By Degree
1,769
Est. Online Degree Availability
7%
Completions by Program Area
2-Year Private For-Profit Schools Near Santa Cruz, California
There is at least 1 two-year private for-profit school offering associate degrees near Santa Cruz, California. According to 2023 data from Lightcast™, in 2023, a total of 154 associate degrees were completed at those institutions. Tuition shown reflects in-state rates.
Avg. UG Tuition & Fees
School Type
Accredited
Non-Profit
Carrington College-San Jose 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 Carrington College-San Jose. In 2023, 154 associate degrees were completed. In addition, 0 bachelor's degrees, 0 master's degrees, and 0 doctoral degrees were earned.
Undergraduate Enrollment
669
Completions By Degree
154
Est. Online Degree Availability
0%
Completions by Program Area
Affordable Colleges Near Santa Cruz, California
Wondering what you can expect to pay for a degree near Santa Cruz, California? According to undergraduate tuition data from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, the average tuition at Santa Cruz-area's 4-year nonprofit schools is $34,409. The average tuition at similar 4-year for-profit schools near Santa Cruz 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 Santa Cruz, 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 Santa Cruz, California is institutionally accredited? View a list of institutionally accredited colleges and universities serving Santa Cruz, California here. We've made it easy to find your school by breaking down the list by school type.
- Franklin University
- Santa Clara University
- San Jose City College
- Gavilan College
- Cabrillo College
- De Anza College
- West Valley College
- Five Branches University
Santa Cruz, California Job Market & Opportunities
What happens after you earn your college degree in Santa Cruz? What's the Santa Cruz, California job market outlook? Get a snapshot of jobs and careers, including annual job openings, median earnings and more.
In 2024, there were about 1,632,293 jobs in the Santa Cruz, California area. From 2023-2024, job growth in Santa Cruz was below the national average, at 0.6%. There were 191,969 job openings in the area. In terms of earnings, workers in Santa Cruz do better than the national average, with an average hourly pay of $30.22.