Welcome to Our Colleges
Dear Prospective Students:
Located in the San Francisco Bay Area, the Colleges of Contra Costa (Contra Costa College, Diablo Valley College, and Los Medanos College) are accredited, public community colleges that enroll more than 700 international students from over 50 countries. These students from around the world greatly enrich our colleges.
With an annual tuition of around $10,512 (24 units), the Colleges of Contra Costa offer one of the most affordable, high quality, and likely paths to excellent four-year institutions. Each year, over 200 international students transfer to four-year colleges and universities, with Diablo Valley College being the #1 international student transfer institution to UC Berkeley!
Join the 10,000+ global alumni who have enrolled at Contra Costa College, Diablo Valley College, or Los Medanos College and transferred to a four-year college or university to earn a Bachelor’s Degree.
In the meantime, we encourage you to contact us via email or social media and schedule a visit!
Sincerely,
Steven Hales
Dean of International Education
Location
The Colleges of Contra Costa provide the opportunity to live in a vibrant area of the United States while also serving as a gateway to one of California’s prestigious colleges or universities.
The colleges are all located in the San Francisco East Bay, known for its proximity to San Francisco and convenient public transportation. From each of the campuses, students have easy access to the U.S. train system (Amtrak) and the public transportation system (BART). The average distance from the colleges to San Francisco is 55 km.
The San Francisco Bay Area is also known for its mild coastal climate and options for outdoor activities.
- Rainy season from November - March; Dry season (sunny) from April – October
- Easy access to San Francisco, Silicon Valley, the California coast, and Napa Valley
- Travel time to Yosemite, Lake Tahoe, Muir Woods, and Point Reyes of 2-4 hours
Value
The Colleges of Contra Costa offer a quality curricular and co-curricular experience at lower tuition.
Options
With the Colleges of Contra Costa, students have options regarding academic programs and the campus(es) on which they study.
- No SAT/ACT required for admission
- TOEFL/IELTS waiver available
- 125+ academic degree programs
- Top 10 majors: Accounting, Architecture, Biology, Business (Business Administration), Computer Science, Early Childhood Education, Economics, Engineering, Mathematics, Psychology
- 133 student organizations
- Apartment or homestay accommodation
- Transfer guarantees to schools in the California State University (CSU) and University of California (UC) systems
- Transfer articulation agreements to public and private colleges and universities throughout the United States
