There are many good reasons to complete the first two years of your bachelor's degree at a California Community College (CCC). The most popular are 1) Academics and 2) Money.
Academics
The CCC system (and DVC in particular) makes a priority of offering high quality lower division courses transferable to bachelor's degree programs at the University of California (UC) and the California State University (CSU). Each transferable course is reviewed by UC/CSU educators to determine university equivalency and ensure that their academic standards are met.
CCC faculty and staff have a specific commitment to supporting students to learn, develop, and succeed. Student support services at DVC include counseling, tutoring, college prep courses, and learning labs. Smaller class sizes also contribute to student success. Most DVC courses have fewer than 40 students, compared to hundreds of students enrolled in an equivalent university class.1
High school students often find their academic focus at the community college and go on to great careers at major universities. CCC alumni include mayors, governors, members of Congress, CEOs, Oscar winners, astronauts, and a Nobel Laureate. Notable DVC alumni include U.S. Congressman George Miller; Major League Baseball player Willie McGee, actress Katherine Ross; and Olympic swimming star Natalie Coughlin.
California's 110 community colleges provide the most direct access to the University of UC and CSU campuses for students who do not attend from high school. DVC is #1 in sending transfer students to UC Berkeley and UC Davis and offers transfer pathways to public and private four-year institutions not only in California, but in locations all over the country.
Money
With current fees at just $26 per unit and a reputation for academic excellence, CCCs are arguably the best value in U.S. higher education. A full-time CCC student pays less than $1000 per academic year, compared to annual fees of $10,000 in the UC system and tuition exceeding $30,000 at many private institutions. By attending a CCC to complete lower division degree requirements you can save thousands of dollars!
Beginning an undergraduate education at a CCC is the right choice for many Californians. Selecting DVC in an excellent choice.
1. Spring 2010 DVC Math 183 (34 enrolled) and UC Berkeley Math 16A (429 enrolled).
