15 Best Community Colleges in San Jose [Updated List]

Opened in 1971, Evergreen gives students a hands-on, collaborative education that prepares them to succeed in an ever-changing world.

This community college goes beyond majors and minors so students have the freedom to pursue their passions unrestricted and the flexibility to adapt their studies as their interests evolve. Narrative evaluations are written by faculty and take the place of traditional grades, giving students a real sense of what they’ve accomplished and the journey they’re on.

There are lots of ways to earn a bachelor’s degree here. Evergreen offers Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Science, and dual Bachelor of Arts and Science degrees, as well as select certificate programs.

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#3. San Jose City College

San Jose City is a public college located in San Jose, California in the San Francisco Bay Area. It is a small institution with an enrollment of 1,682 undergraduate students.

The San Jose City acceptance rate is 100%. Popular majors include Liberal Arts and Humanities, Cosmetology, and HVAC and Refrigeration Engineering Technician.

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#4. Orange Coast College

Orange Coast College is an institution that serves the educational needs of our diverse local and global community. The college empowers students to achieve their educational goals by providing high-quality and innovative programs and services leading to academic degrees, college transfers, certificates in career and technical education, basic skills, and workforce development to enable lifelong learning.

The college promotes student learning and development through fostering a respectful, supportive, participatory, and equitable campus climate of student engagement and academic inquiry.​

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#5. Santa Barbara City College

SBCC was named one of the best community colleges in the United States by College Consensus, which stated, “If you are looking to take a community college course online, this institution fits the bill.” They provide their students with a variety of online learning opportunities that span their academic offerings.

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#6. West Valley College

West Valley is an above-average public college located in Saratoga, California in the San Jose Bay Area. It is a small institution with an enrollment of 2,380 undergraduate students. The West Valley acceptance rate is 100%.

Popular majors include Liberal Arts and Humanities, Business, and Economics.

The West Valley-Mission Community College District unites have a shared vision of educational excellence where students representing diverse experiences and identities feel connected and supported in pursuit of their goals and aspirations.

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#7. Mission College

Mission College is a public community college in Santa Clara, California. It is part of the West Valley-Mission Community College District. The school accepts students from all backgrounds and gives credit for life experiences.

There are degrees and certificates available in 26 different subjects. Popular programs include Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services, Biological and Biomedical Sciences, and Health Professions and Related Programs.

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#8. Ohlone College

Ohlone College is a multi-campus college located in Fremont, California, also known as the East Bay of San Francisco. Many students are drawn to this college because of its proximity to top universities such as Stanford and UC Berkeley.

Ohlone College, in fact, is an extremely diverse college with students from 30 different countries. Ohlone is also well-known for its Center for Deaf Studies, an excellent program that assists deaf and hard of hearing students in obtaining an education.

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Foothill College is known for its fantastic, award-winning architecture and is located in Los Altos Hills, California.

This Silicon Valley institution provides a variety of programs and facilities to its community, including a Japanese Cultural Center, an Observatory, an all-weather track, and more.

Aside from its offerings, Foothill College is one of California’s most successful community colleges, with a transfer and success rate of 68.2 percent, ranking it among the top three community colleges in the state.

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#10. Chabot College

Chabot College is a dynamic, student-centered community college that serves the educational, career, job skill, and personal development needs of our community. The school provides culturally responsive, revitalizing, and sustaining learning and support services driven by a goal of equity.

The institution was ranked third best community college in California by Academic Influence, a college rankings system that uses artificial intelligence technology to search massive databases and measure the impact of work by individuals affiliated with colleges and universities around the world.

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#11. Diablo Valley College

Diablo Valley College is a public community college that was founded in 1949. Classes are also held on the San Ramon campus and at the Walnut Creek centre.

The College offers associate degree and certificate programs in applied & fine arts, biological & health science, business education, counseling & library, English, math & science, physical education, athletics & dance, physical science, computer information systems, letters & science, and social science.

More than 600 courses are available at the college. Every year, over 22,000 students enroll.

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#12. Pasadena City College

Pasadena City College is one of the largest community colleges in the United States, and it is consistently ranked in the top ten community colleges in California.

Because of its location in Los Angeles County, PCC students have easy access to schools such as UCLA, USC, and the prestigious Art Center College of Design.

Indeed, some argue that PCC is a direct route to the prestigious Art Center. The programs at Pasadena City College are among the best in the country for preparing students for future degrees in mathematics, ethnic studies, music, health care, product design, visual arts, publishing, and television and radio.

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#13. Napa Valley College

Napa Valley College, formerly Napa Junior College and Napa Community College, is a public community college in Napa, California. This Community Education is offered throughout the Napa Valley with administrative offices located in St. Helena at the Upper Valley Campus.

The school program is comprised of workshops, fee-based classes, noncredit (no-fee) classes, educational trips and tours, special events, and short-term vocational training programs.

Students enjoy a variety of classes to choose from in subject areas such as the arts, writing, culinary arts, gardening/outdoors, computer literacy, modern languages, and ESL.

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#14. Irvine Valley College

Irvine Valley College (IVC) is a community college that is ranked first in the state of California for university transfer! IVC is known for academic excellence, with over 84 majors in the Arts and Sciences, extensive support services, and modern facilities.

This school is a comprehensive community college with 15,000 students and over 550 international students from 40 countries.

IVC has a large library, a computer centre, a tutoring centre, a health centre, a performing arts centre, a dining hall, and a Student Life Office.

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#15. Cuesta College

Cuesta College is a well-known college on California’s central coast. This college, classified as a medium-sized community college, offers 76 associate’s degree programs in the sciences and arts, as well as 96 certificate programs in a wide range of subjects.

Students who attend this school frequently transfer to California State Polytechnic University. Cuesta College is an important part of San Luis Obispo County, and it cares about its residents’ future.

To that end, this college hosts summer career exploration camps for seventh and eighth graders, providing them with hands-on experience in business, health, welding, and information sciences.