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Fast Facts About the California Community College System
USINO | 2013-11-14 10:35
Size
o According to the California Community College Chancellor Office, the CCCS is the largest in the nation with 112 institutions, at the time of publication. These institutions enroll over 2.9 million students in 72 districts within the state. Eleven of the California community colleges offer on-campus housing to students, including College of the Redwoods, Sierra College, Taft College, Columbia College, Cerro Coso Community College, Lassen College, Reedley College, Shasta College, West Hills College Coalinga, College of Siskiyous and Feather River College.
Academic Programs
o The CCCS is designed to prepare graduates for either a career or continuing education opportunities. Sixteen associate degree programs are approved by the system that allow students to transfer to a four-year college. Some of the associate degree programs include theater arts, administration of justice, psychology, political science, geology and history. Vocational educational areas include fire science, food science, landscaping and many others.
Transfer
o The collegiate coursework at CCCS institutions prepares students for continuing educational opportunities at four-year universities. According to an article written in the "Los Angeles Times" in 2009, only 14,000 graduates of the CCCS went on to enroll in the University of California system and 55,000 into the California State University system. California also ranked 39th in the country in states where high school graduates earned a bachelor's degree six years after graduation.
Tuition
o CCCApply.org reports that at the time of publication, in-state students were required to pay $26 per credit in tuition. To be considered full-time, students must take 12 credits per semester, which will cost $312. Out-of-state tuition varies by the district but ranges in price from $190 to $220 per credit. Tuition exception is also available for those who qualify and meet certain income criteria, depending on the amount of people in a household. For example, for students who live in a household of two that makes $21,855 or less, or a household of four that makes $33,075 or less are able to apply for a fee waiver, as of the time of publication.
