• Year Established: 1935
• Location: San Francisco, California
• Number of Campuses: One urban campus, 11 smaller campuses
• Classification: Public community college
• Total Number of Enrollees: 43,255*

*Source: U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, 2005 Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System IPEDS, Spring 2006

A Brief Look into the History of The City College of San Francisco

"The light shall make you free" is the motto of The City College of San Francisco, which was established August of 1935. The best way to describe this educational institution is as a two-year community college. Five years after the city college was first opened, the Ocean Avenue campus was constructed.

This college played a distinct role in the development of women’s rights as it is the location of one of the first Women's Studies programs established in the country. The City College of San Francisco, amongst many other positive attributes, has the distinct honor of being the first college to offer training as aircraft mechanics to women.

Today, this historic city college is among the largest community colleges in the United States, employing more than 1,800 staff and an annual enrollment of more than 100,000 students, hence, it has the number 11 position in terms of enrollment numbers on our list.

How the Educational System Works

As a community college, The City College of San Francisco operates through district funds which are allocated from the California State Legislature. Other sources of the operational funds include local property taxes, the fees and tuition paid by the students, sales tax funds and even state lottery funds.

The campuses at this huge institution in San Francisco are divided into the following:

• Adult Learning & Tutorial Center
• Airport Campus
• Alemany Campus
• Castro/Valencia Campus
• Chinatown/North Beach Campus
• Downtown Campus
• Evans Campus
• Fort Mason Art Center
• John Adams Campus
• Mission Campus/El Colegio de la Misión
• Ocean Campus Main
• Southeast Campus

Program Listings

The programs offered by The City College of San Francisco include refresher courses, a comprehensive degree program, continuing education, distance learning and working adults program.

To have an idea about the programs that you can take, check out the following list of subjects segregated by school campus:

1. School of Applied Science and Technology
• Administration of Justice and Fire Science
• Aeronautics
• Automotive/Motorcycle Technology
• Environmental Horticulture and Floristry
• Fashion
• Labor Studies
• Skilled Trades

2. School of Behavioral and Social Sciences
• African American Studies
• Asian American Studies
• Asian Studies
• Behavioral Sciences
• Child Development
• Teacher Prep Center
• Disabled Students Programs and Services
• Interdisciplinary Studies - Multimedia Studies
• Latin American and Latino Studies
• Philippine Studies
• Social Sciences
• AmeriCorps
• Transitional Studies
• Women Studies
• Project SURVIVE

3. School of Business
• Culinary Arts / Hospitality Studies
• Paralegal-Legal Studies Program
• Real Estate

4. School of Health and Physical Education
• Consumer Education
• Dental Assisting
• Health Care Technology
• Health Education and Community Health Studies
• Metropolitan Health Academy
• HIV/STD Education
• Licensed Vocational Nursing
• Registered Nursing
• Nutrition Assistant Program
• Physical Education
• Radiologic Technology / DMI
5. School of International Education and ESL
• English as a Second Language (ESL)
• International Programs
• Study Abroad Program

6. School of Liberal Arts
• Art
• Broadcast Electronic Media Arts
• Cinema
• English
• Speech Communication Program
• Foreign Languages
• Gay, Lesbian & Bisexual Studies
• Graphic Communications
• Journalism
• Music
• Older Adults
• Photography
• Theatre Arts

7. School of Science and Math
• Architecture
• Astronomy
• Biology
• Chemistry
• Computer Networking and Information Technology
• Computer Science
• Earth Sciences
• Engineering and Technology
• Mathematics
• Physics

Advantages of Enrolling at The City College of San Francisco

So what are the benefits of studying at a community college such as this? Well, how about taking your pick from the diverse education programs that go beyond the usual community college based programs. They also have an intense internet-based system, if you would rather enroll in the distance learning education program.

When you check the Student's Reviews for this institution, the overall grade is a B-, with 67% of the student respondents saying that they would choose to return here.

A Glimpse at the San Francisco Weather

In this part of the country, you will expose you to moist, cool, ocean weather that tends to be very temperate. The temperature tends remain in a rather narrow range adding to your comfort level while attending classes. The best time to enjoy the weather conditions is in the fall, directly after the months of summer. There's somewhat of a drop in temperature during the winter months, and while it does not rain as much as the locations further north, it is best to always bring a light jacket with you no matter what the season due to the famous San Francisco wind that blows off of the bay.

Is There Any Downside to Enrolling at The City College of San Francisco?

Obviously, since this is a community college, you won’t be able to get a university education here. Due to the longevity of the school, the exterior of the buildings has suffered some wear and may be a little rundown. Another disadvantage of attending a community college in a major city such as San Francisco is the typical traffic jams in the mornings making it a challenge to get to class on time. Other than that, The City College of San Francisco is a great community college that will more than meet your expectations.

A Final Word about the Quality of Education Offered

You will find that as with many community colleges, the school attracts a lot of young students directly out of high school, so if you are looking forward to mingling and learning with this younger-sect, this is definitely the place to be. Also, you can avail yourself of the fact that this college is one of the largest community colleges in the United States with an enrollment of more than 100,000 students. All in all, The City College of San Francisco should be your number one pick if you live within or near the San Francisco Bay area and you have determined that a community college is the best educational option for you.