Santa Ana, California Colleges: Costs & Earnings (2026 stats)
TL;DR
Colleges in Santa Ana, California: median public in-state tuition $1,180 (-78.6% vs national median) median graduate debt $17,700 (+33.4% vs U.S.) 23,822 students enrolled statewide.
Key Facts
- Institutions in this profile: 7 campuses
- Total college enrollment: 23,822 students
- Median public in-state tuition: $1,180 (-78.6% vs U.S.)
- Median net price: $9,378 (-5.9% vs U.S.)
- Median student debt at graduation: $17,700 (+33.4% vs U.S. $13,271); regional median $11,537
- Average completion rate (institutions in state): 60.1%
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Overview
Colleges and universities in Santa Ana serve students across California with associate, bachelor's, and graduate pathways. 7 reporting campuses in this city profile, with about 23,822 students enrolled in federal data, and median in-state tuition near $1,180. Tables below compare costs, completion, earnings, and standout institutions against Santa Ana, California and U.S. medians from the College Scorecard.
Santa Ana vs California & national benchmarks
Medians aggregate institution-level College Scorecard fields unless noted. Enrollment is total undergraduate headcount summed across reporting campuses.
| Geography | In-state tuition | Net price | Median debt | Completion rate | Enrollment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Santa Ana, California | $1,180 | $9,378 | $17,700 | 60.1% | 23,822 |
| California (state median) | $1,350 | $8,343 | $11,537 | 59.0% | 2,134,322 |
| United States | $5,512 | $9,969 | $13,271 | 50.3% | 14,468,221 |
Earnings & employment outcomes: Santa Ana, California vs benchmarks
Scorecard does not publish formal job-placement rates. We use the share of the 8-year cohort reported as working and not enrolled (working ÷ working + not working) as a federal employment-outcome proxy. 2-yr and 3-yr default rates are federal cohort default shares (0–1 scale). We show 2-yr default as the primary benchmark; 3-yr default appears only when enough campuses report non-suppressed values (otherwise —). 3-yr repayment progress is the share of completers making progress on loans after 3 years. Sample: bachelor's-predominant institutions with enrollment ≥ 200. Medians pool campus-level values.
| Geography | Median earnings (10 yr) | Working & not enrolled (8 yr) | Retention (FT yr 1) | 2-yr default | 3-yr default | 3-yr repayment progress | Debt ÷ earnings |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Santa Ana, California | N/A | N/A | N/A | — | — | N/A | N/A |
| California (state median) | $65,668 | 90.0% | 83.8% | 3.7% | — | 74.1% | 0.28 |
| United States | $54,384 | 88.0% | 76.4% | 5.0% | — | 73.7% | 0.41 |
Other cities in California (3+ campuses)
Other cities in the same state with at least three reporting campuses.
| City | In-state tuition | Net price | Median debt | Completion | Enrollment | Earnings (10 yr) | Working (8 yr) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Santa Ana, California | $1,180 | $9,378 | $17,700 | 60.1% | 23,822 | N/A | N/A |
| Los Angeles | $16,900 | $21,711 | $18,375 | 71.7% | 120,534 | $74,165 | 87.7% |
| San Diego | $13,284 | $23,205 | $13,000 | 69.2% | 95,661 | $66,228 | 89.4% |
| Sacramento | $1,288 | $20,520 | $10,674 | 50.8% | 94,048 | $64,876 | 91.3% |
| Long Beach | $4,453 | $14,158 | $11,812 | 68.9% | 60,761 | $64,403 | 91.1% |
| Fullerton | $5,420 | $6,555 | $13,750 | 70.2% | 56,299 | $56,324 | 89.2% |
| Fresno | $7,350 | $20,190 | $10,976 | 53.5% | 54,532 | $60,070 | 91.2% |
| Riverside | $15,606 | $21,765 | $11,098 | 60.8% | 53,903 | $61,824 | 90.9% |
| Pasadena | $31,530 | $25,065 | $13,194 | 37.4% | 49,021 | $62,222 | 84.6% |
| United States | $5,512 | $9,969 | $13,271 | 50.3% | 14,468,221 | $54,384 | 88.0% |
In-state tuition: Santa Ana, California vs benchmarks
Sticker price
Santa Ana, California median in-state tuition is $1,180, -78.6% vs the U.S. median.
Student debt: Santa Ana, California vs benchmarks
Borrowing
Median debt at graduation in Santa Ana, California is $17,700 (+33.4% vs U.S. median $13,271). Regional median: $11,537.
Analysis & insights
EDsmart Data aggregates institution-level College Scorecard data for this profile. Highlights below compare local medians to U.S. and regional benchmarks.
Costs & borrowing
Santa Ana, California median public in-state tuition is $1,180, about -78.6% vs the national median. Versus the Far West region, tuition is -64.1%.
Median graduate debt is $17,700 (+33.4% above the U.S. median of $13,271). Low sticker prices do not always mean low borrowing—living costs, time-to-degree, and aid mix matter.
Completion & workforce context
Average institution-level completion rate across all sectors in Santa Ana, California is 60.1% (national institution average about 50.3%).
Frequently Asked Questions
How many colleges are in Santa Ana?
This city profile covers 7 campuses in Santa Ana, California with College Scorecard cost or outcomes data.
How much does college cost in Santa Ana?
Median in-state tuition in Santa Ana is $1,180 and median net price is $9,378. For California overall, medians are $1,350 and $8,343; U.S. medians are $5,512 and $9,969.
What do graduates earn in Santa Ana?
Median 10-year earnings for campuses in Santa Ana is N/A vs $65,668 for California and $54,384 nationally.
What is student debt like for Santa Ana colleges?
Median completer debt in Santa Ana is $17,700 vs $11,537 for California and $13,271 nationally.
Are there HBCUs, Hispanic-serving, tribal, or religious colleges in Santa Ana?
Among 7 campuses in Santa Ana, California, 5 campuses with at least 25% Hispanic enrollment in College Scorecard demographics—a common Hispanic-serving institution (HSI) eligibility proxy; examples include Santa Ana College, Career Networks Institute, and Santa Ana Beauty Academy; 1 religiously affiliated private nonprofit campus (IPEDS RELAFFIL); most common affiliations: Other Protestant (1).
Sources & related
- California college profile
- All college profiles
- National benchmarks
- U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard
- Download: JSON