With over 450 higher education institutions in California, deciding on the best school for your needs can be difficult. Not only must you decide whether to attend a two-year or four-year college, but you must also sift through a massive amount of government data to find the schools that provide the best experience. However, in this article, we will talk about a list of community colleges in California, as well as the best community colleges in California.
Fun Facts About Community Colleges In Califonia
top Community Colleges in California comprise the country’s largest higher education system. In California, 116 community colleges serve approximately 2.1 million students. Community colleges are attended by students for a variety of reasons. Many people want to get an associate degree or a certificate in their field while saving costs so they opt to attend a community college for two years before transferring to a four-year university.
Many people in California have worked to raise awareness about the advantages of a two-year education and believe it should be available to all. Former students of top Community Colleges in California include actor and former Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, NFL star Aaron Rodgers, and writer Amy Tan. Continue reading to learn more about California community colleges and what they have to offer.
Top 20 Community Colleges in California
There’s a common misconception that students attend community colleges because they were rejected by four-year universities. The truth is that many students begin their post-secondary degrees in college to save money. Students take fewer loans and have a lower debt burden if they complete the first two years of a four-year degree at a community college. Many students (and parents) view community colleges as an excellent stepping stone.
This trend has not abated in recent years. If you want to attend a four-year university, the key is to pay attention to the community college’s graduation and transfer rates. These two rates reflect how well a student performs in school and their chances of transferring into the schools of their choice (it’s also important to consider which classes will transfer to the school of your choice—it helps).
Some schools have close ties to major universities and offer honours programs that act as a “backdoor” into these institutions. What matters most, in the end, is your academic performance. Just keep your head down and work hard, you will be fine.
What Exactly is a Community College?
Community colleges (also known as university colleges, technical colleges, or municipal colleges) are primarily public institutions of higher learning that provide diplomas and scholarships. Some community colleges also provide technical credentials, and many have comprehensive career-oriented transfer programs. Many community colleges provide long-term and ongoing education. The term “Community College” refers to the fact that universities primarily attract students from the surrounding community and are frequently supported by local taxes.
According to the American Association of Community Colleges (AACC), the United States’ 1,132+ community colleges enroll nearly half of all undergraduates or slightly more than 13 million students. Earning an associate degree is a stepping stone to higher education for many people, whether they transfer the credits to a four-year college or use it to get a better job.
Who Attends Community College?
According to the American Association of Community Colleges’ datasheet, community colleges now enrol up to 45% of college students in the United States, and community colleges are especially important to first-generation students: African students, Native American, and Latin American schools. Community colleges are critical for social mobility, educational access, and professional job opportunities.
What About Online Community Colleges?
Not all community colleges offer fully online degrees, which is often due to limited community college budgets. However, more colleges than ever before are offering online courses to help working adults take classes on their own time. Online courses enable students to tailor their education around their work schedules, attend classes and complete coursework at their leisure, and improve their credentials for promotion and advancement without making too many sacrifices.
Why should you study in California?
More than 200 programs are available at top Community Colleges in California. These programs provide students with options for achieving a variety of desired outcomes. Some students wish to obtain an associate degree. Others prefer to finish general education requirements before transferring to a four-year university. The system provides the Associate Degree for Transfer program for these students.
This ensures admission and a reserved spot at participating California universities. Another program, the College Promise Grant, exempts qualified students from paying enrollment fees. Many students in top Community Colleges in California receive financial aid to help with school expenses.
Ranking Community Colleges: How We Do It
Nonetheless, despite their importance, community colleges tend to overlook them. That is why value colleges exist. Our mission is to crunch the numbers and identify institutions that will provide the best return on your educational investment – not those that spend more on marketing. But those that combine affordability and quality so that graduates can be confident that their hard work and money will not be wasted.
List Of The 20 Best Community Colleges In California For 2020.
These are the top 20 community colleges in California for earning an online associate degree or certificate. Many of these schools are also very affordable, with an average tuition of $1,413 per year. While each of these community colleges offers at least one fully online associate degree, such as an Associate of Arts in Art History or an Associate of Science in Management. It also offers a wide range of online degrees, such as an Associate of Arts in Anthropology, an Associate of Arts in Marketing, and others. Some of the community colleges with high transfer rates in Califonia include:
1. Cuesta College
Cuesta College is a well-regarded public college in California. It is a small college with a total enrollment of 3,372 undergraduate students. Cuesta has a perfect acceptance rate. Popular majors at the college include Liberal Arts and Humanities, Business, and Health Service Preparatory Studies. Cuesta graduates earn a starting salary of $29,500 and graduate 35% of their students. With a 100% acceptance rate and a net price of $9,418 per year, this is one of the Best Community Colleges in California for transfer students.
2. Mt. San Antonio College
Mt. San Antonio is an above-average public college in Walnut, California, which is part of the Los Angeles metropolitan area. It is a large university with a total enrolment of 10,226 undergraduate students. Mt. San Antonio has a 100% acceptance rate. Business, Physical Education Teaching and Coaching, and Psychology are popular majors. Mt. San Antonio graduates earn a starting salary of $25,900, accounting for 34% of all students. In addition, the school has a 100% acceptance rate and a net price of $4,890. This is also one of the best community colleges in California for international students.
3. West Valley College
West Valley is an above-average public college in Saratoga, California, which is part of the San Francisco Bay Area. It is a small college with a total enrollment of 2,149 undergraduates. The West Valley, on the other hand, has a 100% acceptance rate. Liberal arts and humanities, business, and natural sciences are popular majors. West Valley graduates earn a starting salary of $27,800, accounting for 40% of all students. West Valley College has an acceptance rate of 100% and a net price of $11,645. This is also one of the Best Community Colleges in California for transfer students for transfer.
4. Touro College
The WASC Senior College and University Commission has accredited Touro University Worldwide (TUW) is a non-profit university. TUW offers online degree programs ranging from the undergraduate to the doctoral levels. TUW has extremely low tuition and a university-wide scholarship program focused on student retention and graduation, lowering the student’s cost of learning and earning a degree significantly below that of most comparable institutions.
A comprehensive online library and resources are also included in the tuition, and there are no textbook costs for students. This college is regarded as one of the best community colleges in California for international students. Also with a 34% acceptance rate and a net price of $21,122.
5. Orange Coast College
Orange Coast College is an above-average public college in Costa Mesa, California, in the Los Angeles metropolitan area. It is a medium-sized university with a total enrolment of 8,375 undergraduate students. The Orange Coast has a 100% acceptance rate. Liberal arts and humanities, business, and psychology are popular majors. Orange Coast graduates earn a starting salary of $27,000, accounting for 44% of all students. This is also one of the Best Community Colleges in California for transfer students, with a 100% acceptance rate and a net price of $5,533.
6. Santa Rosa Junior College
Santa Rosa Junior is an above-average public college in Santa Rosa, California. It is a medium-sized university with a total enrollment of 6329 students. Santa Rosa Junior has a 100% acceptance rate. Police, forensic science, emergency medical technicians (EMT paramedics), and social science research methods are among the major specialities. Santa Rosa Junior graduates continue to earn a starting salary of $27,100, despite graduating 38% of students. This college is regarded as one of the best community colleges in California for international students. With a 100% acceptance rate and a net price of $8,770.
7. Canada College
Canada is a higher-than-average public university in the San Francisco Bay Area, located in Woodside, California. It is a small university with 999 undergraduate students. In Canada, the admission rate is 100%. Liberal arts, humanities, child care providers, and psychology are all popular fields. Graduates from Canada will earn a salary of $29,200, representing 28% of the students who graduated. This is also one of the Best Community Colleges in California for transfer students, with a 100% acceptance rate and a net price of $6,453.
8. De Anza College
De Anza is a high-achieving public school in Cupertino, California, near the San Francisco Bay Area. It is a medium-sized university with a total enrollment of 9827 students. De Anza has a perfect admission rate. Business, research methods, social sciences, and natural sciences are the primary disciplines. Anza graduates continue to earn a salary of $31,800, despite graduating 67% of students. This college is regarded as one of the best community colleges in California for international students. With a total acceptance rate of 100% and a net price of $6,404.
9. San Mateo Community College
The College of San Mateo is a higher-than-average public school in San Mateo, California, in the San Francisco Bay Area. It is a small school with a total enrollment of 2,479 students. San Mateo has a perfect acceptance rate. Popular disciplines include liberal arts, humanities, business, and social science research methods. San Mateo graduates continue to earn a starting salary of $29,000, accounting for 41% of students. With a 100% acceptance rate and a net price of $4,384, this is one of the Best Community Colleges in California for transfer students.
10. Pasadena City College
Pasadena City College is a great public university with 10,422 university students and a 100% acceptance rate. Liberal arts, humanities, natural sciences, and business are all popular fields. Pasadena City College graduates continue to earn starting salaries of $24,400, even though 40% of students graduate. This college is regarded as one of the best community colleges in California for international students. It has a 100% acceptance rate and a net price of $8,030.
11. Taft College
Taft is a well-regarded public college in Taft, California, near Bakersfield. It is a small college with a total enrollment of 1,317 undergraduates. Taft has a perfect acceptance rate. Liberal Arts and Humanities, Child Care Provider, and Health Service Preparatory Studies are popular majors. Taft graduates earn a starting salary of $22,900, accounting for 41% of all students. With a 100% acceptance rate and a net price of $4,384, this is one of the Best Community Colleges in California for transfer students.
12. Ohlone University
Ohlone is a public college in Fremont, California close to San Francisco Bay Area. It is a small college with a total enrollment of 3,446 undergraduates. The Ohlone acceptance rate is one hundred%. Social Science Research Methods, Business, and Mathematics are popular majors. Ohlone graduates earn a starting salary of $30,300, accounting for 47% of students. This college is regarded as one of the best community colleges in California for international students. The college also has a 100% acceptance rate and a net price of $12,539 per year.
13. Las Positas College
Las Positas is a well-regarded public college in California. It is a small college with a total enrollment of 3,040 undergraduates. The acceptance rate at Las Positas is 100%. Liberal Arts and Humanities, Business, and Child Care Provider are popular majors. Las Positas graduates earn an average starting salary of $31,000, with 46% graduating. With a 100% acceptance rate and a net price of $5,932, this is one of the Best Community Colleges in California for transfer students.
14. Lake Tahoe Community College
Lake Tahoe is a public college in the Reno-Sparks area of South Lake Tahoe, California. It is a small college with a total enrolment of 599 undergraduates. Lake Tahoe has a perfect acceptance rate. Liberal Arts and Humanities, Social Science Research Methods, and Fire Science and Fire Fighting are all popular majors. Lake Tahoe graduates earn a starting salary of $20,700, accounting for 33% of all students. This college is also regarded as one of the best community colleges in California for international students. Also, the college has a 100% acceptance rate and a net price of $8,743.
15. Fullerton University
Fullerton College is a public university in Fullerton, California, in the Los Angeles metropolitan area. It is a medium-sized university with a total enrollment of 8,403 undergraduates. Fullerton has a 100% acceptance rate. Liberal arts and humanities, business, and sociology are popular majors. Fullerton graduates earn a starting salary of $25,200, accounting for 33% of all students. With a 100% acceptance rate and a net price of $6,208, this is one of the Best Community Colleges in California for transfer students.
16. Santa Barbara City College
Santa Barbara City College is a public university in Santa Barbara, California. It is a medium-sized university with 6509 students enrolled. The city of Santa Barbara has a 100% admission rate. Liberal arts, humanities, natural sciences, and psychology are popular fields. Graduates from the city of Santa Barbara will earn a starting salary of $26,900, accounting for 41% of students. This college is regarded as one of the best community colleges in California for international students. In addition, the college has a 100% acceptance rate and a net price of $11,082.
17. City College of San Francisco
City College of San Francisco, abbreviated as CCSF, is a public university in San Francisco, California. It is a medium-sized university with 7,084 students enrolled. The CCSF has a perfect acceptance rate. Liberal arts and humanities, as well as research methods in the social sciences and natural sciences, are popular disciplines. CCSF graduates earn a starting salary of $ 26,800, accounting for 36% of all students who graduate. This is one of the Best Community Colleges in California for transfer students, with a 100% acceptance rate and a net price of $5,479.
18. Santa Barbara City College
Santa Barbara City College is a public university in Santa Barbara, California. It is a medium-sized university with 6509 students enrolled. The city of Santa Barbara has a 100% admission rate. Liberal arts, humanities, natural sciences, and psychology are popular fields. Graduates from the city of Santa Barbara will earn a starting salary of $26,900, accounting for 41% of students. The school has a 100% acceptance rate and a net price of $11,082 making it one of the best community colleges in California for international students.
19. Santiago Canyon University
The Santiago Canyon University is a public university in Orange, California, near Los Angeles. It is a small school with only 2928 students. Santiago Canyon has a perfect admission rate. Liberal arts, humanities, natural sciences, and business are all popular fields. Graduates 44% of students, Santiago Canyon graduates continue to earn a starting salary of $26,700. This is also one of the Best Community Colleges in California for transfer students, with a 100% acceptance rate and a net price of $6,079.
20. Barstow Community College
Barstow College is a public college in Barstow, California. It is a small college with a total enrollment of 1,252 undergraduate students. The acceptance rate in Barstow is 100% making it one of the best community colleges in California for international students. Social Science, Research Methods, Business, and Liberal Arts and Humanities are popular majors. Barstow graduates earn an average starting salary of $19,900, accounting for 18% of all students. The college has a 100% acceptance rate and a net price of $8,608 per year.
Conclusion
Many students (and parents) view community colleges as an excellent stepping stone. This trend hasn’t been abated in recent years. If you want to attend a four-year university, the key is to pay attention to the community college’s graduation and transfer rates.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Community College Free In California?
In California, community college may not be entirely free. However, California now offers free tuition for the first two years of community college for first-time, full-time students. Governor Gavin Newsom signed this legislation into law to help the California college program cover 33,000 more students for the second year of tuition-free college.
In California, How Many Community Colleges Are There?
The total number of community colleges in California is 114. It does, however, have many additional campuses spread across the state. There are 23 California State University campuses included in this total.
What Are The Best California Colleges?
According to US News, the University of California is one of California’s best colleges. With several campuses and an enrollment of approximately 19,907 students, and a tuition fee of $43,176 for out-of-state students and $14,184 for in-state students. Californian University is notable.
In California, How Many Community Colleges Are There?
California has 116 community colleges. These colleges enrol 25% of all community college students in the United States.
What Is The Cost Of Attending A Community College In California?
California community colleges have the lowest tuition rates in the country, with in-state students paying $46 per credit. For full-time students taking 30 credits, this equates to $1,380 per year. Books, parking, and room and board may be extra costs. In 2021, out-of-state students paid approximately $7,730 in annual tuition.
Is Community College Free In California?
Top Community Colleges in California provide financial assistance, including tuition waivers for income-eligible students and full-time, first-time students.
In California, How Do I Pay For College?
California community colleges provide a variety of financial aid options, including funds to help pay for tuition, books, and even rent. Furthermore, grants, scholarships, and work-study programs may be available. Students must fill out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid to be considered (FAFSA). Federal student loans can also be used to help with college costs.
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