What Are Some Community Colleges In California

Whos Going To Community College

Today, as much as 45% of US undergraduates are enrolled at a community college, and community colleges are especially important for first-generation and minority students: well over half of all African-American, Native American, and Latino students are enrolled in community colleges, according to the American Association of Community Colleges Fact Sheet. Community colleges are central to social mobility, educational access, and entry into professional careers.

Community colleges are also crucial for working adults. The US economy has changed in major ways in the last couple of decades, with manufacturing and industrial jobs giving way to a professional and technical workforce, and community colleges have been the key force in educating and preparing working adults for the new world of work. For working adults already in a career, or who depend on their jobs too much to take time off for school, community colleges provide convenient, flexible courses in evenings, on weekends, or online.

University Of California Santa Barbara

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Thats right – another University of California campus has made the list. UC Santa Barbara isnt just on the Pacific Ocean, its surrounded by it on three sides. Needless to say, the campus includes its own beach as well as a sparkling lagoon and hiking trails when you want to unwind after a study session.

Best Colleges In California: Know About Best Universities In California For International Students

California is one of the world’s top economies and is a global hub for entertainment, information, education, and technology industries. California is a big contributor to the agricultural, aerospace, and manufacturing sectors on a national scale, which is why many institutions have developed high-quality, low-cost engineering and technology programs, among other things. There are some best colleges in California that not only attract Indians but students from other countries too.

Many international students have made California their top choice the University of Southern California enrols more international students than any other university in the United States. These top California state universities offer the best learning experience.

While tuition and living expenses may be higher in California compared to other US states, there are numerous options for obtaining substantial financial assistance packages. In addition, with the range of lifestyles and multi-person living circumstances that California students embrace, they can bring down the cost of living in California.

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Moraine Park Technical College

Wisconsins Moraine Park Technical College is an expansive college with three campuses and two regional centers.

This college offers more than 100 associate of applied sciences degrees, certificates, apprenticeships, or technical diplomas, which are provided in various formats in-person, online, or hybrid. Career clusters of programs include studies in finance, architecture, health sciences, hospitality and tourism, STEM, and manufacturing, among them. Boot camps provide certificates through the colleges Manufacturing Skills Academies, offering pathways for six areas.

MPTC believes college activities benefit students academic success and provide dedicated Student Life Specialists on each campus who coordinate activities. Students also have access to counseling services, tutoring, employment services, etc.

Of Note: Over 83% of graduates find employment within six months of graduation in their field

Why Study In California

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S: The Great Recession And Austerity

In the 2010s, funding for community colleges faced scrutiny as state budgets were tightened. Because higher education budgets are considered discretionary expenses, they have been more likely targets for cuts than Kâ12 education or Medicaid. In 2014, however, the state of Tennessee and the city of Chicago, Illinois began programs for free community college.

In 2015, President Barack Obama proposed making community college tuition free to many residents of the United States. The plan, called “Americaâs College Promise“, rekindled a nationwide conversation on community colleges and the funding of higher education in general. The proposed program would have had state contribute a portion of the funding and would have covered tuition only non-tuition items would not have been covered. However, key Republican lawmakers, including John Boehner and Mitch McConnell publicly opposed the legislation.

Tennessee currently has the Tennessee Promise, but this initiative does not receive its funding in the same way in which President Obama wanted to fund U.S. College Promise . Following in the footsteps of Tennessee and Oregon was Illinois. The Community College of Philadelphia and Harper College in Illinois announced plans to provide free two-year community college experiences to students .

Community Colleges In California

The California Community Colleges System consists of 121 community colleges in 72 community college districts. CCCS is the largest system of higher education in the world, serving more than 2.1 million students every year. The CCCS empowers students with the knowledge and skills necessary to compete in todays workplace.

With a wide variety of educational offerings, California community colleges provide certificate and degree programs to prepare students for the workplace or to transfer to four-year colleges.

At California community colleges, students can take courses in more than 175 different fields of study. These courses can lead students to an associates degree, transfer to a four-year college or university, or a Career Technical Education /vocational certificate.

Starting at a community college is a great and affordable way to complete general education courses and major preparation courses. Following which, students can transfer to a college or university for bachelor degree completion.

The new Associate Degree for Transfer program allows California community college students to more easily transfer to California colleges within the California State University system. The program allows students to opportunity to complete both the associates and bachelors degrees in only 120 units. See ADegreeWithAGuarantee.com for more information.

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Best Online Community Colleges In California

Each year, millions of students enroll in California’s community colleges for occupational training, associate degrees, and transfer credits. Our ranking list of the best online community colleges in California includes annual tuition rates to allow students to compare costs and programs when considering enrollment. California community colleges are collectively the state’s largest workforce training provider, preparing students with diverse industry-specific skills through certificate and two-year degree programs that satisfy education goals and meet employer needs. On this page, we also answer frequently asked questions, provide an overview of California’s online community colleges, discuss the cost of attending college, and include information about careers in the Golden State.

View our methodology for more details or learn more about OnlineU.

Cerro Coso Community College

• Annual Tuition: $1,380
• Locations: Ridgecrest
• Accreditation: WASC ACCJC

Students attending Cerro Cosa Community College in Ridgecrest, California, will find multiple online associate degree and certificate programs. Some of the most notable options include an Associate of Arts in Anthropology, an Associate of Science in Cyber Security Technology, a Data Analyst Certificate, and a Paralegal Studies Certificate. All distance learners are provided with online academic resources, including tutoring, as well as career guidance and transfer assistance. For online courses, some classes require proctor testing at an approved location, while others utilize the Proctorio system.

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Los Angeles City College

Los Angeles City College has an impressive student success record. This college offers up to 71 degrees and 42 certificate options at an average rate of $46 per credit hour charge to in-state students. With supportive career services and high transfer rates, this college boasts a recorded 100 percent transfer success rate to USC and 85 percent for UCLA.

Financing Your College Degree

Funding a college degree requires a significant investment that most students cannot pay out of pocket. Fortunately, students have multiple funding options, beginning with federal financial aid.

The FAFSA is a free application form that determines if students qualify for grants and loans. Grants do not require repayment, and the government provides these awards based on need.

Students begin repaying loans within six months after graduating unless they enroll in another program. Learners may also apply for private student loans offered through banks and financial organizations, which tend to have more expensive interest rates than federal loans.

The best community colleges also offer federally funded work-study opportunities. During these programs, students work on campus, often in a field that reflects their career goals.

Students should also consider scholarships, which do not require repayment. Colleges and universities typically provide merit-based or need-based scholarships. These scholarships are often offered by community organizations and large corporations, which identify a target population to support and provide fundings for people in that population.

Featured Online Associate Degree Programs

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Best Community Colleges In California

Want to attend a community college in the state of California? Read on to learn more about the educational opportunities, costs, trends, job outlooks and more.

Published on September 1, 2021 · Updated on April 26, 2022

BestColleges.com is an advertising-supported site. Featured or trusted partner programs and all school search, finder, or match results are for schools that compensate us. This compensation does not influence our school rankings, resource guides, or other editorially-independent information published on this site.

West Hills College Coalinga

At West Hills Colleges Coalinga campus in the San Joaquin Valley, one on-campus residence hall can accommodate up to 121 men. An additional on-campus dorm can house up to 56 female students in single-occupancy rooms. A microwave oven is in each hall. Students can eat at an on-campus cafe open during breakfast, lunch and dinner hours.

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Opting For A Fast Path To Work

Anevay Martinez started at College of the Desert in Palm Desert right after graduating from high school in 2020, hoping higher education would kick start a career in medicine. Her plan was to take courses there for two years and then transfer to a four-year university.

But Martinez struggled to learn without the structure of in-person classes. She started dreading going to school. She didnt want to sit through general education classes that had nothing to do with her major. Instead, she wanted to jump right into her career.

After just a couple of weeks, she dropped out.

I know if I want to do things by myself, she said, its gonna cost money.

Through Mayfield, she got an externship at an internal medicine office in Palm Desert, taking patients blood pressure and temperature, going over their medications with them, and prepping for X-rays and MRIs. That eventually turned into a full-time job once she got her medical assisting certificate. On the weekends, she works at a retirement home.

Eventually, she said, she wants to return to community college and become an ultrasound technician. But shes unsure when that might happen.

I wanted to just start doing something so I can start living on my own and get my life started faster, she said. I dont want to rely on my parents more than I have to.

Emma Hall

The Methodology And System Used To Rank The Schools

Ranking the schools on our list of the top community colleges in Southern California, we used a basic point system. The methodology uses two factors that each account for one half of the total score, and that eliminates biases predicated on sole considerations. The points for each factor were tallied and the total point values were assigned to the corresponding schools, which were then ranked accordingly.

We aim to provide information that is useful, informative, and most of all helpful to our readers. Our readers, however, should be aware that the information provided is based on data that is constantly changing. That also means that readers should view this information as approximations, and as with any school being considered, further research about those schools is required.

If you notice any errors or information that needs to be updated, please contact us, so we can continue to provide the most accurate and recent data available. We also welcome any questions or comments regarding any of the schools or programs on our lists, and good luck in all of your educational pursuits.

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Anne Arundel Community College

Marylands Anne Arundel Community College receives high marks from the nations ranking services and professional organizations.

Students can choose credit or noncredit programs from the colleges 11 Fields of Interest in Health and Human Services, Law and Criminal Justice, Business, Science, Technology, and more. Classes are taught by doctorally prepared faculty members with real-world experiences. Students have access to support services, college organizations and clubs, internships, athletics, and study abroad programs.

AACC is a consortium member with four universities, allowing students to earn their bachelors and masters degrees at Anne Arundel Community College.

Of Note: ACCC is Marylands largest single-campus community college with a student enrollment of over 35,000

Discover Our States Unique Regions

There are 15 colleges in the North/Far North Region spreading their influence from Woodland at their southern end and all the way north to the Oregon border. Colleges in this region serve a mostly rural student population, and have large successful programs focused on Agriculture, Forestry, and Construction trades among others.

Priority Sectors

• Agriculture, Water & Environmental Technologies

• Business & Entrepreneurship

• Information & Communication Technologies /Digital Media
• Retail/Hospitality/Tourism

STRONG WORKFORCE REGIONAL PLAN OVERARCHING GOALS

Colleges in this Region

• Information & Communication Technologies /Digital Media
• Retail/Hospitality/Tourism

STRONG WORKFORCE REGIONAL PLAN OVERARCHING GOALS

• Regional Leadership & Communication Cultivate and develop regional leadership and support structures that improve outcomes in the regions priority sectors.
• Regional Planning Intentional planning and deliberate collaboration to prepare students to enter the workforce educated for tomorrows jobs in pathways supported by labor market data in the CRCs industry sectors that offer living wage and higher paying, middle-skill jobs.
• Curriculum, Programs and Pathways Build and Clarify the Path.
• CTE Student Support Services Enter the Path, Stay on the Path and Ensure Learning, Employment Preparation and Transition to Work.
• Research and Data Foster the use of data , inquiry, and evidence to achieve SWP metrics and Vision for Success.

Colleges in this Region

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Best Community Colleges In California 2022

Start Your Degree Here

The best community colleges provide an effective springboard into higher education, offering students high-quality two-year degree programs in a wide range of disciplines. The top-rated community colleges in California offer a broad selection of associates degrees, affordable tuition rates, and strong partnerships with public four-year schools so that students can easily transfer their credits into accredited bachelors degree programs.

Los Angeles Pierce College

Opened in 1945, Los Angeles Pierce College is situated in the San Fernando Valley on 426 acres. The school is proud of its suburban campus environment with a forest of 2,000 trees , a nature preserve, as well as a botanical garden. The school is also true to its agricultural college roots and maintains a 200 acre farm in the city.

This school offers 85 academic degree programs in 145 disciplines for its over 20,000 students and has an increasing roster of non-credit and free certificates. Pierce College has one of the highest transfer performance rates in Southern California. Through the Los Angeles College Promise, Pierce College guarantees admission for first-year, fulltime students and waives tuition fees.

Of Note: Pierce College has an impressive 87% acceptance rate of its honors students to UCLA in 2021

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Fox Valley Technical College

Located in Appleton, Wisconsin, Fox Valley Technical College has been open for over a century and now provides over 200 programs of high-tech occupational training designed for todays workplace.

Along with academic associate degree programs, FVTC offers diplomas and certifications. Whether youre looking to train for a career in culinary arts and hospitality, management and finance, health sciences, manufacturing, engineering, etc., youre apt to find it at this community college. The college also provides apprentice programs in various trades . Going a step further, this college supports the Venture Center, offering seminars and training programs for business startups.

Of Note: Uniquely, this top community college offers an Aeronautics pilot training program

Cost Of Online Community Colleges In California

California has the lowest community college tuition rate in the U.S. As of the 2021-22 school year, in-state tuition averaged $1,430, compared to $3,800 nationally and as much as $8,600 in Vermont. In addition, a 30% boost in funding per full-time enrolled student since 2009 may have been a contributing factor to college affordability in California. As a result, students in California may also carry less student loan debt than students in other states.

California has the lowest community college tuition rate in the U.S.

Tuition for online programs is also generally cheaper than those on campus. Some schools waive campus fees or charge flat tuition rates regardless of state residency for online students. There are also other ways to help mitigate higher education expenses in California. High school students may opt to dual enroll in a community college program, so classes count towards high school diplomas and college credits, potentially saving time and money. Military veterans may use their GI Bill benefits to help pay for school, while others may work for employers who provide tuition assistance to their staff. Applying for private scholarships can also reduce the expense of distance education.

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