Pasadena, CA, located about 20 miles from downtown Los Angeles, gets some of the national limelight every January for its Tournament of Roses Parade, which precedes one of the nation’s top college football games each year, The Rose Bowl. “The Rose Bowl” is also the name of the stadium, and though UCLA plays most of its home football games there, the college itself isn’t located within the city limits of Pasadena.
There are, however, several other universities and colleges located in Pasadena, a clean, friendly city of about 140,000 people. Here’s a look at the whole college landscape in Pasadena, CA.
Universities in Pasadena, CA- 4-Year Colleges and Online
Most of the colleges and universities in Pasadena have a focus on a given industry, such as Kaiser Permanente’s Bernard J. Tyson School of Medicine, The ArtCenter College of Design, the Fuller Theological Seminary, and the Los Angeles College of Music. There are also a few colleges that offer a wider range of degree options, and they are:
- The California Institute of Technology
- Pacific Oaks College
- Providence Christian College
- University of The People (primarily online university)
Community Colleges in Pasadena, CA
Pasadena City College is the primary option for students in Pasadena looking for a 2-year degree program, but there are also some other colleges that offer associate’s degrees and certifications:
- Integrity College of Health
- Institute of Culinary Education
- Capstone College
- American Fitness and Nutrition Academy
Get to Know Pasadena, CA
Most people think of beaches and palm trees when they think of Los Angeles, but there are several other landscapes near the city, including the San Gabriel Mountains, which Pasadena rests at the foothills of, known as the San Rafael Hills. The hills make Pasadena’s backdrop very beautiful… but also add to the already-high cost of living, a deterrent for many students looking to go to college in Southern California. Like any major city, though, there are pockets you can find that are more affordable than others, and public transportation in Los Angeles County frequents Pasadena, so it’s readily accessible from anywhere else in the city.
| Institution Name | City | State | Website | Degree Levels Offered | Modality | Profit Status (CNTLAFFI) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| American Fitness and Nutrition Academy | Pasadena | CA | afna.edu | Certificates |
Campus | No |
| Art Center College of Design | Pasadena | CA | www.artcenter.edu | Bachelors Masters |
Campus | No |
| California Institute of Technology | Pasadena | CA | www.caltech.edu | Bachelors Masters Doctorate |
Campus | No |
| Capstone College | Pasadena | CA | www.capstonecollege.edu | Certificates |
Campus | No |
| Fuller Theological Seminary | Pasadena | CA | www.fuller.edu | Masters Doctorate |
Hybrid | No |
| Institute of Culinary Education | Pasadena | CA | www.ice.edu | Certificates |
Campus | No |
| Integrity College of Health | Pasadena | CA | www.integritycollegeofhealth.net | Certificates |
Campus | No |
| Los Angeles College of Music | Pasadena | CA | www.lacm.edu | Certificates Associates Bachelors |
Campus | No |
| Pacific Oaks College | Pasadena | CA | www.pacificoaks.edu | Bachelors Masters |
Hybrid | No |
| Pasadena City College | Pasadena | CA | pasadena.edu | Certificates Associates |
Campus | No |
| Paul Mitchell the School-Pasadena | Pasadena | CA | paulmitchell.edu | Certificates |
Campus | No |
| Providence Christian College | Pasadena | CA | www.providencecc.edu | Bachelors |
Campus | No |
| Saybrook University | Pasadena | CA | www.saybrook.edu | Masters Doctorate |
Online | No |
| University of the People | Pasadena | CA | uopeople.edu | Associates Bachelors Masters |
Online | No |