About the California Community Colleges

A community college is a publicly-supported and locally-oriented college that provides programs to: help you transfer to a four-year college, pursue career education programs, take remedial or "catch-up" programs, and offers coursework for cultural growth, life enrichment, and skills improvement.

Is a California Community College Right for You?

The California Community Colleges are one educational option among many. In California, some students apply to the University of California or the California State University or independent universities and colleges. The California Community Colleges, though, offer many students huge advantages through a greater variety of programs.

A community college is a good choice for any one who may want to attend a four-year school later but who is not yet academically, personally, or economically ready to begin study at a university. In the California Community Colleges, you can work toward an associate (two-year) degree in hundreds of academic and technical fields (which will enable you to transfer to a college or university to complete a baccalaureate degree); or, you can complete a one- or two-year training or certificate program in a choice of occupational fields, various health professions, and/or high-technology job fields.

How Much Does It Cost to Attend a Community College?

An enrollment fee is charged to every student who takes courses for credit. The current resident fee is $20 per unit. There are also additional expenses — for books, supplies, housing, food, transportation, parking, health services, transcripts, and child care if applicable. If you have a disability, you may have additional expenses. Talk to your college financial aid office or check with the admissions office if you need help paying your expenses.

What about Transferring from a California Community College?

A California community college is a great place to begin your four-year degree. Beginning the path to a four-year degree at a California Community College has two big benefits:

Admission Priority

• Upper division transfer students from the California Community Colleges have the highest admissions priority of all students applying to the UC and CSU. Plus, many of the community colleges have transfer agreements to help you make a smooth transition.
• All California Community Colleges offer courses that meet lower-division (freshman and sophomore) requirements of the UC and CSU.

Cost Savings

• If you complete your first 60 units of transferable credit at a California community college and your upper division classes at UC, CSU or an independent college, you can save thousands of dollars in tuition and fees.

Transfer Facts

• During the 2006-2008 school year over 65,000 students transferred from a California Community College to the University of California and California State University combined. For the class of 2005, approximately 23% of the students starting California Independent Colleges had transferred from a California Community College.

Can I Complete my High School Diploma Requirements at a Community College?

Yes. Most community colleges offer adult basic education courses to meet high school requirements. In some regions these courses are provided to adults at a local high school in the evenings. Most high schools will accept regular community college courses for credit toward the high school diploma. However, no course taken to fulfill high school requirements may be counted toward an Associate in Arts (AA) or Associate in Science (AS) degree at a community college.

Can I Complete my First Two Years of Undergraduate Study at a Community College?

Yes. All California Community Colleges offer courses that meet the lower-division (first two years) requirements of a four-year college or university. Counselors in transfer centers and counseling offices can help you plan your community college program to make sure that the courses you select are transferable. You should also check the requirements of the college or university to which you plan to transfer, especially in your major subject. Many community colleges offer written transfer guarantee programs to specific universities. Be sure to contact the transfer center or counseling office for more help.

What Occupational Training is Offered in Community Colleges?

The California Community Colleges can help students get the training needed to qualify for a well-paying job with room for advancement. Career education vocational programs are offered in hundreds of areas that employers need. Areas of vocational (occupational) education include health occupations, electronics and computer sciences, business and finance, agriculture, police and fire science, food science, building and landscaping trades, technical and industrial trades, and many others. Community colleges have up-to-date equipment and facilities and vocational instructors who are experts in their fields. Depending on the occupation you select, training may take from six months to two years. Associate degrees and certificate (shorter-term) programs are available for many fields.

Can I Take Online or Correspondence Courses Through the Colleges?

There are a number of California Community Colleges offering courses or programs via distance education. Other courses and programs are offered through a mixed format (hybrid) of traditional, online and television. A variety of courses and programs are offered either through correspondence, online, mixed format, or via television. To find information about distance education courses and programs in California you can view a Distance Education Catalog on the California Virtual Campus website.

More Information

• See a directory of key California Community Colleges campus offices
  
• View a map of California Community Colleges campus locations