A guide to colleges in California

In keeping with its literate, healthy, well-to-do image, California (CA) has an expansive education system. This is not only at primary and secondary level, but also at the further and higher education levels (often called ‘post-secondary’ level in California) as there are many colleges in CA. This article will you you an overview of same.

The three-tier system and CSU

The three-tier system California has a three-tiered system of public post-secondary education. Included in this system are the ten campuses of the research-based University of California (UC), CSU -California State University and the California Community Colleges System which focuses on providing skills and workforce training. California State University (CSU) The California State University is the largest college system in the States, playing host to a whopping 450,000 students. As opposed to UC’s focus on research, CSU’s 23 schools focus on undergraduate teaching. For better or for worse, this means that USC receives much less state funding, with some individual UC institutions earning more than the USC system as a whole. In this system, there is the oldest California college in continuous operation - Fullerton Community College.

UC, CCCS and the University of Southern California

UC The University of California started life when its first campus, UC Berkeley, was built in 1868. At present day, it has ten sites, 1,340,000 living alumni and 191,000 students and is considered the leading public California University, in solely educational terms at least. It is also commonly regarded as one of the top public university systems in the world, being placed near the top of many a top universities list. Reputation and fees Of American Unviersities, eight of its nine undergraduate campuses (UC Hastings is an independently administered postgrad law school), are ranked in the top 100, six in the top 50 and two among the top 25 (as ranked by U.S News and World Report). Quality education does not come cheap though, with your normal California student paying out over $16,000 for tuition alone. The California Community Colleges System The California Community Colleges System (CCCS) is a goverment-funded network of 112 community colleges. These are located over 72 community college districts and offer a range of educational and vocational teaching and training. Typically, CCCS courses run for two years and award certificates, diplomas and associate’s degrees. After completion, graduates generally go into either the workplace or a four-year course in a liberal arts college, alike those detailed above. University of Southern California The University of Southern California (occasionally wrongly referred to as Southern California University and South California University) is an extremely high-achieving (academically and athletically), prestigious private University. This excellence though comes at a price; a staggering annual amount of $55,578 (including room and board).