10 Best Colleges and Universities Near Costa Mesa, CA

Located 37 miles southeast of Los Angeles, the smaller city of Costa Mesa is full of cultural diversity, with a population of 54,000 that is half white, one-third Latino, and more than 8% Asian (based on the 2020 U.S. census).

The city's economy relies heavily on the income (and jobs) generated by the large South Coast Plaza shopping district, as well as by the electronics, pharmaceutical, and plastics industries.

As the area's largest single employer, the consumer credit reporting firm Experian is headquartered in the city.

Costa Mesa, in Orange County, is within an hour or so of hundreds of universities and colleges, so you can find a range of educational opportunities, both public and private, if you live in Costa Mesa.

In this article, we look at the best universities and colleges near Costa Mesa, CA. All are within 15 or 20 miles.

Featured Colleges near Costa Mesa, CA

In this section, we highlight the universities and colleges near Costa Mesa, CA, that offer bachelor's degrees or higher.

1. Bethesda University

Based in the nearby city of Anaheim, Bethesda University is a small private, Christian, not-for-profit university that awards bachelor's, master's, and professional doctorate degrees on its nonresidential campus.

The most recent enrollment data shows fewer than 200 undergraduate students, with a 15:1 student-faculty ratio. In 2021, bachelor's degrees were awarded in business administration, early childhood education, biblical studies, religious education, and music.

The 2023-2024 tuition is $8,700 per year. According to 2021-2022 financial aid data, 81% of first-year students received grant and scholarship awards averaging $2,786 and federal student loans averaging $3,112.

2. California State University - Fullerton

One of two of the Cal State campuses near Costa Mesa, Cal State Fullerton is a public university where you could earn a bachelor's, master's, or doctoral degree.

Its large suburban residential campus serves 35,432 undergraduates plus about 5,000 grad students. The student-faculty ratio is 24:1.

The largest number of degrees awarded in 2021 were in the fields of business and management, health professions, education, and communication.

Cal State Fullerton's yearly tuition is $7,007 for California residents and $18,887 for nonresidents. 80% of students qualify for financial aid, grants, and scholarships averaging $9,194 and student loans averaging $5,834.

3. California State University - Long Beach

The other Cal State campus near Costa Mesa is in Long Beach. It awards bachelor's, master's, and doctoral degrees.

This urban campus, which has campus housing, is the academic home of 33,000 undergrad students (plus about 6,000 grad students), with one faculty member for every 22 students.

With an annual in-state tuition of $6,884 (and out-of-state at $18,764), 80% of students received financial aid awards that averaged $9,478 in grants and scholarships and $5,404 in student loans.

The most popular degree fields are business, visual and performing arts, social sciences, health professions, family and consumer sciences, engineering, communication, and biology.

4. Chapman University

The non-profit private college Chapman University, based in the city of Orange and affiliated with the Disciples of Christ denomination, serves close to 8,000 undergraduates on its residential campus.

With one faculty for every 12 students, the school offers bachelor's, master's, and doctoral degrees.

Bachelor's-level tuition is $60,672 per year, although 89% of students receive grants and scholarships averaging $33,510 and student loans averaging $7,312.

Most-awarded-degree fields are in business administration, the visual and performing arts, communication, psychology, and health services administration.

5. Concordia University - Irvine

Concordia University is a private non-profit Lutheran university with branch campuses across the United States, including one in Irvine, CA.

Here, students can earn bachelor's, master's, or doctoral degrees. Tuition each year is $40,180, but all students receive financial aid awards averaging $24,623 annually.

Its large, residential campus is in an urban setting. With a 14:1 student-faculty ratio, Concordia at Irvine serves 1700 undergraduates plus another 2000 graduate students.

Few undergrads enroll in distance education. The most popular majors are nursing, business, psychology, the visual and performing arts, and exercise science and kinesiology.

6. Stanbridge University

Also in the city of Irvine, the non-profit and private Stanbridge University has a non-residential campus from which it serves more than 2000 undergrads earning associate and bachelor's degrees as well as a couple of hundred master's-level students.

All bachelor's degree students are in the nursing program. The student-faculty ratio is 15:1. Three of every four students is age 25 or older, and 80% are women.

Annual tuition at Stanbridge is $33,565, although 85% of the school's students receive an average financial aid award of $4,061 and student loans of $11,130.

7. University of California - Irvine

The large public University of California at Irvine is home to 28,662 bachelor's-level students and more than 7,000 master's and doctoral students.

The ratio of students to faculty is 18:1. The student population is predominantly Asian and Latino, plus 13% international students.

Annual tuition is $13,949 for California residents and $44,011 for out-of-state residents. Eighty percent of students receive financial aid grants or scholarships averaging $17,411 per student. Campus housing is available.

8. Vanguard University

Vanguard University is a residential campus in Costa Mesa that is private and nonprofit that offers bachelor's and master's degrees.

Student enrollment is just over 2000 students, with a 16:1 student-faculty ratio. The most numerous graduates are in the fields of psychology and nursing.

Vanguard has a 72% first-year retention rate, which is very healthy, and a 60% six-year graduation rate. 100% of students receive financial aid averaging $28,914 per student, offsetting the tuition cost of $38,700 per year.

9. Westcliff University

At the private, for-profit Westcliff University in Irvine, more than 1800 students are working toward bachelor's degrees, and almost 4,000 are enrolled in graduate programs (master's and doctoral).

The school offers no on-campus housing. However, it has an excellent 10:1 student-faculty ratio. Seventy percent of students are enrolled exclusively in online programs.

Annual tuition is $17,550. Only 21% of students (an unusually low percentage) qualify for financial aid in the form of grants or scholarships, with the average award at $8,145.

However, this is likely because six out of ten students are in foreign countries.

10. West Coast University - Orange County

You'll also find the Orange County branch of West Coast University in Anaheim. It's a for-profit private university awarding bachelor's, master's, and professional doctorate degrees on its non-residential campus.

However, all bachelor's degrees are in nursing and health professions.

With a ratio of one faculty for every 20 students, West Coast University in Orange County serves more than 3000 undergrads and 1450 grad students.

Demographically, the majority of undergraduate students are Asian and Latino, and most are women. More than half are over the age of 25.

Tuition is $22,889 per year, and 83% of students receive student loans averaging $7,353 per student. The school does not release grant and scholarship statistics.

What Is the Biggest School Near Costa Mesa, CA?

The largest college near Costa Mesa is California State University - Long Beach with 39,000 students, followed closely by the University of California at Irvine with more than 35,000 students.

How To Choose the Right College Near Costa Mesa, CA

When you're trying to choose the right college near Costa Mesa, CA, it will really come down to which school appeals to you based on several factors that you consider important.

Perhaps you're looking for a campus close to home so you can commute. However, if you're looking for a residential campus, you'll probably find that beautiful campuses appeal to you.

On the other hand, if you're desiring to study a particular subject, you'll want to look closely at the major degree programs the school offers.

Paying for Your Degree Near Costa Mesa, CA

Most students receive significant financial aid, so never turn away because of a school's 'sticker price.' Be sure to apply for financial aid using the FAFSA form, and consult with your school's financial aid office to maximize your aid.

Start Your Degree Near Costa Mesa, CA, Today

With the diversity of universities and colleges near Costa Mesa, CA, you're sure to find many opportunities for learning, personal growth, and an enjoyable lifestyle.