Community Colleges in California: All 140+ Schools

Community colleges are in the spotlight now more than ever — especially since the First Lady of the United States teaches at one. And if you’re living in the Golden State, it’s important you know about community colleges in California.

Luckily, you’ll have plenty of schools to choose from. With over 140 community colleges, California is full of opportunities for aspiring, current, and returning students.

Whether you’re looking for a convenient, affordable way to start earning credits toward your bachelor’s degree, planning to get an associate degree, or aiming to earn a professional certificate, community colleges in California have a lot to offer.

Here’s an overview of some of the most popular community colleges in California. We chose these schools based on overall reputation and academic quality.

We’ve created a complete list of all two-year nonprofit community colleges in California. This list includes four-year schools that primarily offer associate degrees. You can use the table below to compare data on student population, average net cost, acceptance rate, and number of applicants.

The following school data comes from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES). Note that community colleges that enroll fewer than 100 undergraduates were not included in this list.

According to NCES, public community colleges in California cost anywhere from around $1,300-$8,500 in tuition and fees per year. In general, you’ll save more money if you’re a California resident attending an in-state community college.

If you’re a college student, you may be on a tight budget. It’s important, therefore, to understand that the cost of living in California is high.

In fact, California has the fourth-highest cost of living of any U.S. state or territory, according to the Missouri Economic and Research Center. It falls behind only Hawaii; Washington, D.C.; and Massachusetts.

While this means you’ll need to watch your expenses carefully, you can still save money overall by attending an in-state community college instead of directly enrolling in a four-year university.

California is a large state, and its cost of living can vary significantly from region to region. As a whole, housing costs in California are quite high. As a result, expect to spend more money on day-to-day living expenses in California than you would in other states.

There are over 140 nonprofit community colleges in California. In addition, the state is home to over 200 two-year for-profit schools.

Which community college you choose to attend will ultimately depend on several factors, including your location and living situation, what you want to study, and your budget.

In terms of four-year transfer rates, some of the best community colleges in California include Irvine Valley College, De Anza College, Pasadena City College, and Cypress College.

Which California community college is best for you will depend on what you want to study, where you live, your budget, and what type of career you want to pursue.

In California, community colleges don’t have a minimum GPA requirement. That means you can get into any community college you apply to, regardless of your high school performance. There are also no standardized testing requirements for community colleges in California.