California Community College Student Wearing Cap and Gown and Celebrating on Graduation Day

We Believe in You

California community colleges give you limitless opportunities to improve your life. From workforce training to transfer opportunities, we are the backbone of higher education in California. Take a clear path to the career you want through the education you deserve.

About California Community Colleges

Simply the Best

There's no better way to kick off your higher education than attending a California community college. Nearly 80,000 students transfer from community colleges to guaranteed saved spots at UC, CSU, HBCU and private, not-for-profit campuses every year. We are the nation's leading workforce training provider, and our degree and certificate programs offer a gateway to the career you always wanted.

Notable Former Students

Did you know that some of the most successful scientists, entrepreneurs, athletes and artists of our time started at a California community college? Learn more about our most famous alumni and how community college prepared them for greatness.

James C. Ramos

California Assemblymember
Victor Valley College

George Lucas California Community Colleges Former Student Modesto Junior College
George Lucas

Film Director and Producer
Modesto Junior College

Gabrielle Union Actress Cuesta College Former Student
Gabrielle Union

Actress
Cuesta College

Amy Tan California Community Colleges Former Student San Jose City College
Amy Tan

Best-selling Author
San Jose City College

Adriana Ocampo Planetary Geologist Pasadena City College Former Student
Adriana Ocampo

Planetary Geologist
Pasadena City College

Beverly Cleary Best-Selling Children's Author Chaffey College Former Student
Beverly Cleary

Best-Selling Children's Author
Chaffey College

Aaron Rodgers California Community Colleges Former Student Butte College
Aaron 
Rodgers

Super Bowl-Winning NFL Quarterback
Butte College

Annette Bening California Community Colleges Former Student San Diego Mesa College
Annette Bening

Award-Winning Actress
San Diego Mesa College

Arnold Schwarzenegger California Community Colleges Former Student Santa Monica College
Arnold Schwarzenegger

Actor and Former Governor
Santa Monica Community College

Adam Steltzner NASA Jet Propulsion Labs lead engineer College of Marin Former Student
Adam Steltzner

NASA Jet Propulsion Labs Lead Engineer
College of Marin

Rep. Anna G. Eshoo U.S. Congresswoman Cañada College Former Student
Rep. Anna G. Eshoo

U.S. Congresswoman
Cañada College

Antonio Villaraigosa Mayor of Los Angeles Los Angeles City College Former Student
Antonio Villaraigosa

Mayor of Los Angeles
Los Angeles City College

Bruce Fabrizio Co-Inventor of Simple Green Mt. San Antonio College Former Student
Bruce Fabrizio

Co-Inventor of Simple Green
Mt. San Antonio College

Courtney Force-Rahal National Hot Rod Association Funny Car Driver Santiago Canyon College Former Student
Courtney Force-Rahal

National Hot Rod Association Funny Car Driver
Santiago Canyon College

Dolores Huerta Co-Founder of United Farm Workers San Joaquin Delta College Former Student
Dolores Huerta

Co-Founder of United Farm Workers
San Joaquin Delta College

Ernest Gaines Author Solano Community College Former Student
Ernest Gaines

Author
Solano Community College

Eugene Dong Heart Transplant Doctor, Professor and Lawyer Hartnell College Former Student
Eugene Dong

Heart Transplant Doctor, Professor and Lawyer
Hartnell College

Florence Hyman USA Volleyball Olympian and Activist El Camino College Former Student
Florence Hyman

USA Volleyball Olympian and Activist
El Camino College

Frank Cruz Co-Founder of Telemundo East Los Angeles College Former Student
Frank Cruz

Co-Founder of Telemundo
East Los Angeles College

Fred Ruiz Founder and Chairman Emeritus of Ruiz Foods College of the Sequoias Former Student
Fred Ruiz

Founder and Chairman Emeritus of Ruiz Foods
College of the Sequoias

Gaddi Vasquez Former Peace Corps Director and U.S. Ambassador Santa Ana College Former Student
Gaddi Vasquez

Former Peace Corps Director and U.S. Ambassador
Santa Ana College

Guy Fieri Chef and Television Personality College of the Redwoods American River College Former Student
Guy Fieri

Chef and Television Personality
College of the Redwoods/American River College

Jackie Robinson Hall of Fame Baseball Player and Civil Rights Pioneer Pasadena City College Former Student
Jackie Robinson

Hall of Fame Baseball Player and Civil Rights Pioneer
Pasadena City College

Jan Dehesh Director of Business Development UCSD Jacobs School of Engineering San Diego Miramar College Former Student
Jan Dehesh

Director of Business Development, UCSD School of Engineering
San Diego Miramar College

J. Craig Venter Entrepreneur and Genomic Researcher College of San Mateo Former Student
J. Craig Venter

Entrepreneur and Genomic Researcher
College of San Mateo

Jenni Rivera Singer and Businesswoman Long Beach City College Former Student
Jenni Rivera

Singer and Businesswoman
Long Beach City College

Jeremy Renner

Actor
Modesto Junior College

Jessica Chastain Actress Sacramento City College Former Student
Jessica Chastain

Actress
Sacramento City College

Jim Sinegal Co-Founder of Costco Wholesale Corporation San Diego City College Former Student
Jim Sinegal

Co-Founder of Costco Wholesale Corporation
San Diego City College

J. Mario Molina President and CEO of Molina Healthcare Inc. Long Beach City College Former Student
J. Mario Molina

President and CEO of Molina Healthcare Inc.
Long Beach City College

John Madden NFL Hall of Fame Coach and Broadcaster College of San Mateo Former Student
John Madden

NFL Hall of Fame Coach and Broadcaster
College of San Mateo

Jose Montoya Poet, Professor, Artist and Activist San Diego City College Former Student
Jose Montoya

Poet, Professor, Artist and Activist
San Diego City College

Julian Nava Professor and First Mexican American Ambassador to Mexico East Los Angeles College Former Student
Julian Nava

Professor, First Mexican American Ambassador to Mexico
East Los Angeles College

Ken Grossman Founder and Owner of Sierra Nevada Brewing Co. Butte College Former Student
Ken Grossman

Founder and Owner of Sierra Nevada Brewing Co.
Butte College

Larissa Miyachi Award-Winning Scholar and Stanford University Medical Student Yuba College Former Student
Larissa Miyachi

Award-Winning Scholar and Stanford University Medical Student
Yuba College

Lindsay Pearce Actress and Singer Modesto Junior College Former Student
Lindsay Pearce

Actress and Singer
Modesto Junior College

Margarita Colmenares Engineer and Clean Energy Advocate Sacramento City College Former Student
Margarita Colmenares

Engineer and Clean Energy Advocate
Sacramento City College

Michael Fincke United States Astronaut El Camino College Former Student
Michael Fincke

United States Astronaut
El Camino College

Michele Serros Author and Television Comedy Writer Ventura and Santa Monica Colleges Former Student
Michele Serros

Author and Television Comedy Writer
Ventura and Santa Monica Colleges

Octavia Butler Science-Fiction Author Pasadena City College Former Student
Octavia Butler

Science-Fiction Author
Pasadena City College

Phil Lopes Politician, Professor and Peace Corps Volunteer West Hills College Coalinga Former Student
Phil Lopes

Politician, Professor and Peace Corps Volunteer
West Hills College Coalinga

Reyna Grande Award-Winning Author and Instructor Pasadena City College Former Student
Reyna Grande

Award-Winning Author and Instructor
Pasadena City College

Rick Tigner President Jackson Family Wines Modesto Junior College Former Student
Rick Tigner

President Jackson Family Wines
Modesto Junior College

Robin Williams Academy Award-Winning Actor and Comedian College of Marin Former Student
Robin Williams

Academy Award-Winning Actor and Comedian
College of Marin

Steve Jobs Co-Founder of Apple Inc. De Anza College Former Student
Steve Jobs

Co-Founder of Apple Inc.
De Anza College

Tani Cantil-Sakauye Chief Justice of California Sacramento City College Former Student
Tani Cantil-Sakauye

Chief Justice of California
Sacramento City College

Teri Hatcher Actress De Anza College Former Student
Teri Hatcher

Actress
De Anza College

Timothy P. White Chancellor of California State University Diablo Valley College Former Student
Timothy P. White

Chancellor of California State University
Diablo Valley College

Tom Hanks Academy-Award Winning Actor and Director Chabot College Former Student
Tom Hanks

Academy-Award Winning Actor and Director
Chabot College

Warren Moon NFL Hall of Fame Quarterback West Los Angeles College Former Student
Warren Moon

NFL Hall of Fame Quarterback
West Los Angeles College

California Community College Student Checking Equipment in a Career Education Program

A Better Life Awaits You

California community colleges play an essential role in ensuring access for all people to improve their quality of life. Our career education programs provide the training students need to secure jobs with good pay and create bright futures for themselves, their families and their communities.

Our Commitment to Diversity and Inclusion

Learn More About Our Call to Action . External page

What is a Land Acknowledgement?

A land acknowledgment is a formal statement that recognizes and respects the Indigenous peoples as traditional stewards of this land, the enduring relationship that exists between Indigenous peoples and their traditional lands. The California Community Colleges have formally adopted the use of a Land Acknowledgement statement that recognizes the original Tribal Nations of the land where our colleges are located. We honor and are grateful for the land we occupy and are committed to pursuing continuous collaborations with the Tribal Nations of California.

California Community Colleges Students in Blue Caps and Gowns Holding Diplomas and Smiling at Graduation Ceremony

Vision for Success

Our vision is simple: ensure that students from all backgrounds succeed in reaching their goals and making a better life for themselves and their families.

Contact Us

California Community Colleges Chancellor's Office

1102 Q St., Sixth Floor
Sacramento, CA 95811


(916) 445-8752
info@cccco.edu

CCCApply Application Online

Technical Support

If you are experiencing technical issues with the CCCApply application or website, contact the Student Help Desk at:

Online: ccchelp.info
Phone: (877) 247-4836
Email: support@openccc.net
TTY: (877) 836-9332

Media Inquires

PRESS RELEASES

For specific media inquiries, please contact: Paige Marlatt Dorr, Director of Communications and Marketing California Community Colleges pdorr@cccco.edu.

View Press Releases . External page

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