Colleges in California

The state of California has the largest public post-secondary education system of all 50 US states. Vocational and technical training as well as science and liberal arts degree programs serve around 1.7 million students at 137 colleges in California annually. It is one of the strongest systems of public education in the world.

From the beginning of the United States as an independent nation, the provision of public education has traditionally fallen to the individual states. In fact, the words education and schooling aren't even mentioned in the US Constitution. The founding fathers did discuss the idea of a national university but it was dismissed. All states rely on executive, legislative and judicial branches that run parallel to the Federal government to meet the responsibilities of education.

Schools in California include three public systems of higher education in California: the University of California system, the California State University system and the California Community College system.

In 1973 the California Post Secondary Education Commission was formed for California colleges. Its function was to provide for the planning and coordination of public higher education. The CPSEC makes recommendations on matters of budget, proposed academic programs, admission and student aid policies to the governor and legislature. The commission is made up of 17 members. Nine of the 17 members represent the public and are chosen by the governor and legislative leaders. Two members, appointed by the governor, represent students. The remaining six represent both public and private institutions of higher education.

California schools include 71 community college districts. They operate 107 campuses state wide. These districts differ from the California State University and University of California systems in that they are administered by boards of trustees that are locally elected and statewide board of governors. They select the president of each college, approve curriculum and allocate funds to campuses in their jurisdiction.

A California community college can be a gate-way to higher education. After completing the two-year course requirements, students have the option to apply at a four-year college or university to earn a baccalaureate degree. The universities also offer advanced degree. The admission requirements for a freshman applying to the same institution would not apply to that student.

Among the largest and most notable California State University system colleges and universities are Stanford University, University of California at Berkeley, California State University at Los Angeles, California State Polytechnical University and the City College of San Francisco.

Online courses offered by companies through higher education institutes are gaining in number and popularity. They are convenient, affordable and sometimes free.

The economy of California is more like that of a separate nation than a state. It has the largest gross state product (GSP) of any other US state. In the fiscal year of 2011, the GSP was reported as being close to $2 trillion. The state makes up a little over 13 percent of the United State's total gross domestic product (GDP). There are only eight countries in the world that have a larger GDP than this state.

Jobs are most plentiful in California in the the areas of transportation, utilities, trade, government, professional services, business services, health services, education and hospitality and leisure.

Trade is important to the state's economy. About one-fourth of the economy relies on trade and international related commerce accounts. In 2008, $144 billion in goods were exported from California. Computers and electronic products were the number one export making up 42 percent of total exports.

Agriculture has traditionally been important to the state's economy. Citrus and other fresh produce and wines are popular exports from California. Since 1980 agricultural related sales more than quadrupled even though the acreage devoted to farming shrunk by 15 percent. This rise is attributed to more active use of existing farmland and technological improvements in farming. Agricultural product revenue was $43.5 billion in 2011 with grapes, shelled almonds, milk and cream bringing in the most revenue

California's per capita GDP ranked 11th in the nation in 2007 at $38,956. The state's coastal cities tend to have the nation's wealthiest per-capita areas. The high technology areas such as Silicon Valley are no longer considered to be in the recent economic downturn that was caused by the dot.com bust.

Industry is a large part of California's economy and provides a large percentage of jobs for the state residents. The majority of industries produce clothing, food products, electronic and electrical equipment, fabricated and industrial machinery and transportation equipment. The bulk of the manufacturing centers are located in the Los Angeles and San Francisco areas.

The state's largest publically owned corporations are aerospace and computer manufactures. Corporations such as Hewlett-Packard, Tandem Computers and Silicon graphics provide a huge variety and amount of jobs in the area south of San Francisco. Rockwell International, Northrop, Lockheed and Computer Sciences are manufactures that lead in Southern California's employment opportunities.

Several of California's private companies are among the states leading manufacturers. Companies such as Levi Strauss, Sunkist growers, Del Monte and Julio Gallo Winery contribute to the economy with many job opportunities.

The aerospace industry is another large sector of California's economy. It accounts for $28 billion in annual sales and provides jobs for around 117,000 Californians.

The film and television production industry also plays a large role in the state's economy. At the end of the 20th century the motion picture industry generated a yearly payroll of $13.4 billion providing jobs to 475,000 of the state's residents.

California is one of the world's most visited areas for tourists. The year-round warm weather,long coast line and multiple theme parks contribute greatly to the state's economy bringing in at least $60 billion in annual sales and providing approximately 700,000 jobs.

Found 1199 Post-Secondary Schools In California


Title City State Type Enrollment
American Academy of Dramatic Arts - West Los Angeles CA 2-year private, not-for-profit 215
American River College San Francisco CA 2-year private, not-for-profit No Data
California Technical University Los Angeles CA 2-year private, not-for-profit No Data
Cladic Seminary Los Angeles CA 2-year private, not-for-profit No Data
D - Q University Davis CA 2-year private, not-for-profit 172
Daniel Freeman Hospital School of Radiologic Techn Inglewood CA 2-year private, not-for-profit No Data
Deep Springs College Dyer CA 2-year private, not-for-profit 287
Don Bosco Technical Institute Rosemead CA 2-year private, not-for-profit 287
Foundation College San Diego CA 2-year private, not-for-profit 66
Gemological Institute of America Carlsbad CA 2-year private, not-for-profit 5928
Heald College - Concord Concord CA 2-year private, not-for-profit 554
Heald College - Fresno Fresno CA 2-year private, not-for-profit 735
Heald College - Hayward Hayward CA 2-year private, not-for-profit 1241
Heald College - Rancho Cordova Rancho Cordova CA 2-year private, not-for-profit 778
Heald College - Roseville Roseville CA 2-year private, not-for-profit 1048
Heald College - Salinas Salinas CA 2-year private, not-for-profit 669
Heald College - San Francisco San Francisco CA 2-year private, not-for-profit 1070
Heald College - San Jose Milpitas CA 2-year private, not-for-profit 1329
Heald College - Stockton Stockton CA 2-year private, not-for-profit 592
Humphreys College - Modesto Modesto CA 2-year private, not-for-profit No Data
Humphreys College - Sacramento Gold River Gold River CA 2-year private, not-for-profit No Data
Huntington Memorial Hospital School of Xray Techn Pasadena CA 2-year private, not-for-profit 7
Kelsey - Jenney College San Diego CA 2-year private, not-for-profit 311
Kelsey - Jenney College San Diego CA 2-year private, not-for-profit 679
Living Word Bible College Pasadena CA 2-year private, not-for-profit No Data
Lutheran Bible Institute in California Irvine CA 2-year private, not-for-profit No Data
Marymount College Rancho Palos Verdes CA 2-year private, not-for-profit 879
New Life Bible College Marysville CA 2-year private, not-for-profit No Data
Queen of the Holy Rosary College Fremont CA 2-year private, not-for-profit No Data
Rawhide Vocational College Bonsall CA 2-year private, not-for-profit No Data
Saint Johns Hospital School of Radiologic Techn Oxnard CA 2-year private, not-for-profit No Data
Southern California School of Evangelism Buena Park CA 2-year private, not-for-profit No Data
The Salvation Army College for Officers Training Rancho Palos Verdes CA 2-year private, not-for-profit No Data
Alexander Educational Center Teacher Training Prog Walnut Creek CA 2-year private, for-profit No Data
Alexander Training Institute of Los Angeles Santa Monica CA 2-year private, for-profit No Data
American Institute of Massage Therapy Inc Costa Mesa CA 2-year private, for-profit No Data
Brooks College Long Beach CA 2-year private, for-profit 1618
California College - San Diego San Diego CA 2-year private, for-profit 75
California Design College Los Angeles CA 2-year private, for-profit 279
California Paramedical and Technical College Long Beach CA 2-year private, for-profit 169
California Paramedical and Technical College Riverside CA 2-year private, for-profit 436
California Recording Institute San Francisco CA 2-year private, for-profit 55
California School of Culinary Arts Pasadena CA 2-year private, for-profit 681
Coastal Valley College Emeryville CA 2-year private, for-profit 15
College of Instrument Technology Bellflower CA 2-year private, for-profit No Data
College of Oceaneering Wilmington CA 2-year private, for-profit 245
Concorde Career College North Hollywood CA 2-year private, for-profit 444
Court Reporting Institute San Diego CA 2-year private, for-profit 10
Educorp Career College Long Beach CA 2-year private, for-profit 487
Empire College School of Business Santa Rosa CA 2-year private, for-profit 363
Everest College - City of Industry City Of Industry CA 2-year private, for-profit 352
Everest College - Ontario Ontario CA 2-year private, for-profit 294
Everest College - West Los Angeles Los Angeles CA 2-year private, for-profit 318
Fashion Careers College San Diego CA 2-year private, for-profit 90
Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising - Los Angeles Los Angeles CA 2-year private, for-profit 2648
Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising - Orange County Irvine CA 2-year private, for-profit 292
Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising - San Diego San Diego CA 2-year private, for-profit 213
Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising - San Francisco San Francisco CA 2-year private, for-profit 663
High - Tech Institute - Sacramento Sacramento CA 2-year private, for-profit 338
Hollywood Art Center School Hollywood CA 2-year private, for-profit No Data
Institute of Psychostructural Balancing Los Angeles CA 2-year private, for-profit No Data
Iss Translators Inc Torrance CA 2-year private, for-profit No Data
ITT Technical Institute Lathrop CA 2-year private, for-profit 407
ITT Technical Institute Santa Clara CA 2-year private, for-profit 197
ITT Technical Institute Torrance CA 2-year private, for-profit 572
Lee Strasberg Theatre Institute Los Angeles CA 2-year private, for-profit No Data
Likie Fashion and Technology College Rosemead CA 2-year private, for-profit No Data
Modern Technology School Fountain Valley CA 2-year private, for-profit 85
Mti College Sacramento CA 2-year private, for-profit 1316
Mti College Orange CA 2-year private, for-profit No Data
Nakumura Institute of Oriental Medicine San Diego CA 2-year private, for-profit No Data
National Institute of Technology Long Beach CA 2-year private, for-profit 369
Nordstrom Business Institute San Diego CA 2-year private, for-profit No Data
Pacific College Costa Mesa CA 2-year private, for-profit 180
Pacific Fashion Institute San Francisco CA 2-year private, for-profit No Data
Platt College Cerritos CA 2-year private, for-profit 265
Platt College - Los Angeles Alhambra CA 2-year private, for-profit 167
Platt College - Newport Beach Huntington Beach CA 2-year private, for-profit 262
Platt College - Ontario Ontario CA 2-year private, for-profit 268
Platt College - San Diego San Diego CA 2-year private, for-profit 342
Professional Golfers Career College Temecula CA 2-year private, for-profit 104
Redstone College - Los Angeles Campus Inglewood CA 2-year private, for-profit 413
Sage College Moreno Valley CA 2-year private, for-profit 348
San Diego Golf Academy Vista CA 2-year private, for-profit 173
San Joaquin Valley College - Aviation - Fresno Fresno CA 2-year private, for-profit 123
San Joaquin Valley College - Bakersfield Bakersfield CA 2-year private, for-profit 742
San Joaquin Valley College - Fresno Fresno CA 2-year private, for-profit 669
San Joaquin Valley College - Visalia Visalia CA 2-year private, for-profit 627
Sierra Academy of Aeronautics Technical Institute Oakland CA 2-year private, for-profit 477
Sierra Valley Business College Fresno CA 2-year private, for-profit 113
Sonoma College Petaluma CA 2-year private, for-profit 45
South Coast College Orange CA 2-year private, for-profit 538
Theatre of Arts Los Angeles CA 2-year private, for-profit No Data
Trinity College San Francisco CA 2-year private, for-profit 134
Trinity College San Jose CA 2-year private, for-profit 63
Western Career College San Leandro CA 2-year private, for-profit 345
Western Career College Pleasant Hill CA 2-year private, for-profit 200
Western Career College Sacramento CA 2-year private, for-profit 574
Wyotech Fremont CA 2-year private, for-profit 1249

Source: Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System. https://nces.ed.gov/ipeds/

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