Colleges Near Santa Maria, California
Looking for information about the best colleges and universities serving Santa Maria? Here's your guide to the top schools offering degrees to students in the area, including institutions located within 60 miles of Santa Maria, California.
There are at least 10 colleges serving the area, including 4 private colleges and universities, 2 public colleges and universities, and 2 community colleges offering 2-year degrees.
The Best Adult Colleges & Careers Guide provides a breakdown of the colleges serving Santa Maria, with details about cost, enrollment, student type and degree offerings. Click here to learn more about the guide.
Santa Maria, California Colleges by the Numbers
Associate, bachelor's, masters, and doctoral degree completions at institutions near Santa Maria, California have been growing over the past 5 years. In 2022, students completed 18,180 doctorates at colleges and universities near Santa Maria. That was an increase of 19% from completions reported in 2018.
Schools with Degree Completions
Est. Total Completions in 2022
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
4,444
Completions By Degree
1,820
Est. Online Degree Offerings
100%
Private Colleges & Universities Offering Degrees Near Santa Maria, California
There are at least 4 schools offering degrees near Santa Maria, California, and 4 are four-year private colleges or universities where about 4,543 undergraduate students were enrolled. In 2022, a total of 2,025 degrees were completed at private colleges and universities, including 1,840 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 Maria, 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 2022, 1,011 bachelor's degrees were completed. In addition, 94 associate degrees, 676 master's degrees, and 39 doctoral degrees were earned.
Undergraduate Enrollment
4,444
Completions By Degree
1,820
Est. Online Degree Availability
100%
Completions by Program Area
Avg. UG Tuition & Fees
School Type
Accredited
Non-Profit
Santa Barbara Business College-Santa Maria is a non-accredited for profit 4-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 Santa Barbara Business College-Santa Maria. In 2022, 4 associate degrees were completed. In addition, 1 bachelor's degree, 0 master's degrees, and 0 doctoral degrees were earned.
Undergraduate Enrollment
99
Completions By Degree
5
Est. Online Degree Availability
0%
Avg. UG Tuition & Fees
School Type
Accredited
Non-Profit
The Colleges of Law at Santa Barbara is an institutionally accredited nonprofit 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 The Colleges of Law at Santa Barbara. In 2022, 10 doctoral degrees were completed. In addition, 0 associate degrees, 0 bachelor's degrees, 0 master's degrees, were earned.
Undergraduate Enrollment
0
Completions By Degree
10
Est. Online Degree Availability
0%
Completions by Program Area
Avg. UG Tuition & Fees
School Type
Accredited
Non-Profit
Fielding Graduate 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. Master's degrees are the most popular at Fielding Graduate University. In 2022, 101 master's degrees were completed. In addition, 0 associate degrees, 0 bachelor's degrees, and 89 doctoral degrees were earned.
Undergraduate Enrollment
0
Completions By Degree
190
Est. Online Degree Availability
11%
Completions by Program Area
Public Colleges & Universities Near Santa Maria, California
There are 2 four-year public colleges located near Santa Maria, California. About 44,171 students were enrolled in undergraduate programs, and about 13,352 degrees were completed at public colleges near Santa Maria. Tuition shown reflects in-state rates.
Avg. UG Tuition & Fees
School Type
Accredited
Non-Profit
University of California-Santa Barbara 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 Barbara. In 2022, 6,839 bachelor's degrees were completed. In addition, 0 associate degrees, 530 master's degrees, and 366 doctoral degrees were earned.
Undergraduate Enrollment
23,081
Completions By Degree
7,735
Est. Online Degree Availability
0%
Completions by Program Area
Avg. UG Tuition & Fees
School Type
Accredited
Non-Profit
California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo 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 California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo. In 2022, 4,987 bachelor's degrees were completed. In addition, 0 associate degrees, 630 master's degrees, and 0 doctoral degrees were earned.
Undergraduate Enrollment
21,090
Completions By Degree
5,617
Est. Online Degree Availability
0%
Completions by Program Area
Community Colleges Near Santa Maria, California
There are 2 community colleges near Santa Maria, California where students can earn 2-year associate degrees. In 2022, about 14,350 students were enrolled in undergraduate courses at community colleges near Santa Maria, and about 4,431 associate degrees were completed.
Avg. UG Tuition & Fees
School Type
Accredited
Non-Profit
Allan Hancock College is an institutionally accredited 2-year school where most students attend classes part-time. Most of the students are of traditional age and some programs completed were offered online.
Undergraduate Enrollment
7,389
Completions By Degree
1,802
Est. Online Degree Availability
41%
Completions by Program Area
Avg. UG Tuition & Fees
School Type
Accredited
Non-Profit
Cuesta 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
6,961
Completions By Degree
2,629
Est. Online Degree Availability
1%
Completions by Program Area
Affordable Colleges Near Santa Maria, California
Wondering what you can expect to pay for a degree near Santa Maria, California? According to undergraduate tuition data from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, the average tuition at Santa Maria-area's 4-year nonprofit schools is $9,577. The average tuition at similar 4-year for-profit schools near Santa Maria is $11,558, 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 Maria, 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 Maria, California is institutionally accredited? View a list of institutionally accredited colleges and universities serving Santa Maria, California here. We've made it easy to find your school by breaking down the list by school type.
- Franklin University
- Fielding Graduate University
- The Colleges of Law at Santa Barbara
- Allan Hancock College
- Cuesta College
Santa Maria, California Job Market & Opportunities
What happens after you earn your college degree in Santa Maria? What's the Santa Maria, California job market outlook? Get a snapshot of jobs and careers, including annual job openings, median earnings and more.
In 2022, there were about 475,197 jobs in the Santa Maria, California area. From 2021-2022, job growth in Santa Maria was below the national average, at 3%. There were 65,221 job openings in the area. In terms of earnings, workers in Santa Maria do better than the national average, with an average hourly pay of $21.57.