2024 Best Online Community Colleges in California

Santa Barbara City College (SBCC) offers 12 online associate degrees and online certificate programs. These programs span across various subjects, including computer information systems, health information technology, film and media studies, and business. One of the school's most notable programs is the associate degree in health and medical administrative services.

Why we like them: By attending online courses at SBCC, you’ll get the chance to interact directly with your instructors and classmates. Despite learning in a virtual environment, you’ll be able to connect with your instructors if you have questions or concerns about coursework, as well as work with your classmates by engaging in bulletin boards and chat rooms. SBCC does an excellent job in creating an interactive and comfortable learning environment.

Saddleback College (SC) features dozens of fully online degrees — including associate degrees, transfer degrees, certificates, and occupational skills awards. Some examples of degrees you can pursue include an Associate of Science for Transfer in Business Administration and an Associate of Arts in English Literature. There are many other subjects to pick from, such as web design, retail management, early childhood education, and anthropology.

Why we like them: SC offers a variety of specialized programs to provide resources that can help you succeed. The community college offers Veterans Education and Transition Services (VETS), Disabled Students Programs & Services, and California Work Opportunity & Responsibility to Kids (CalWORKs). We believe this shows SC truly wants to help students and address their unique needs.

Allan Hancock College (AHC) has several 100% online associate degrees, hybrid-learning associate degrees, online certificates, and online transfer degrees you can pursue. AHC’s degrees cover business and finance; creative arts; health sciences; hospitality, recreation, and fashion; people, cultures, and languages; public service; and science/technologies. Some programs may require completing in-person activities, such as internships and cooperative work experiences.

Why we like them: AHC offers a Basic Needs Center, a centralized hub to support students’ academic success. For students living near the community college, the Basic Needs Center provides on-campus and community resources such as food, housing, health, technology access, childcare, and more. We believe this initiative shows that AHC strives to support its students beyond the classroom.

Rio Hondo College (RHC) offers several online associate degree programs. The college has three associate degree programs that you can complete fully online. The two-year programs cover subjects like business administration, business marketing, and international business. In addition, you can also pursue online certification programs, such as those teaching retail management and small business management.

Why we like them: RHC enhances online students’ learning experience by providing high-quality and accessible technology. The school uses the learning management system Canvas to deliver courses asynchronously and uses other tools, such as Zoom, VLC, and Adobe Creative Cloud, to facilitate virtual learning. We believe this shows RHC’s efforts to create an online learning environment comparable to traditional college education.

San Joaquin Delta College (Delta) has over 60 online degrees and certificates. Each major is part of a track that makes up the school's Transfer and Career Pathways, which includes Agriculture; Business and Law; Arts, Humanities, and Multimedia; Communication and Languages; Health and Fitness; and many more. Some examples of specific programs the school offers are an Associate of Arts in Business, an Associate of Arts in Computer Science, and a Certificate of Achievement in Real Estate.

Why we like them: Delta provides every online student with a resource specialist. Resource specialists can walk you through all of the available resources on their learning management system, Canvas, as well as other student services, like counseling, tutoring, and disability support.

Pursue your online education with one of the five online associate degrees at Santa Ana College (SAC). These accelerated programs allow you to graduate within two years and easily transfer to a four-year university. The online majors you can apply for include business administration, communication studies, political science, psychology, and sociology. By attending SAC’s online programs, you’ll get flexible class schedules, a structured approach to online learning, and timely graduation.

Why we like them: SAC offers Open Educational Resources (OER) and the Zero Textbook Cost (ZTC) Degree Program. OER are course materials that can used at no cost. The ZTC program involves courses that don’t require students to purchase textbooks and instead, use alternative forms of instruction in their curriculum. Paying for course materials can financially burden many students, so we like that SAC offers programs like OER and ZTC.

Citrus College (CC) offers most of its classes online. However, the college doesn’t have any online-specific degree programs. At CC, critical thinking, effective communication, creativity, and cultural awareness are prioritized through rigorous academic study and experienced instructors. The two-year traditional associate degree programs cover fields such as history, environmental management, design, and healthcare.

Why we like them: At CC, students use the learning management system Canvas to access their coursework, which is mostly online and asynchronous. Coursework is completed through email, discussion boards, and chat rooms. We like that CC has a “students first” approach by providing its students with an easy-to-access virtual learning platform and resources to support their academic journey.

You can easily transfer to a four-year university in California by attending one of the four online associate transfer programs at Merced College. The community college offers online degrees in the following disciplines: administration of justice, business administration, early childhood education, and psychology. These programs are delivered entirely online, so they don’t contain any in-person requirements.

Why we like them: If you qualify, you may be eligible for free tuition at Merced College. The MCFree program makes the first two years tuition-free if you meet eligibility requirements, which range from California residency and enrolling in 12 credit hours. The community college also offers a generous amount of financial aid packages for eligible students. To apply for the MCFree program or general financial aid, you must submit a FAFSA or Dream application to be considered.

San Joaquin Valley College (SJVC) offers seven online associate degrees and two bachelor’s degrees you can pursue. A few examples of online associate degrees at SJVC include an Associate of Science in Business Administration, an Associate of Science in Human Resources Administration, and an Associate of Science in Medical Billing & Coding. Some of the online programs at SJVC can be completed in as little as 15 months.

Why we like them: If you’re not ready for a two-year program, SJVC also has several online certification programs. These programs can be completed in as few as seven months. Most of the online associate programs at SJVC are offered as certificates, so you can still pursue a field of interest in a shorter time span.

Lake Tahoe Community College (LTCC) offers several online associate degrees in fields such as anthropology, psychology, and cybersecurity. The community college offers fully online, hybrid, and enhanced virtual education courses. These programs typically take three years to complete and require 95 credit hours. In addition to online associate degrees, LTCC has online certificates of achievement and employable skills certificates.

Why we like them: LTCC has an open admission policy. If you complete an application to enroll in the school’s online programs, you will be guaranteed admission. LTCC’s open admission policy shows its commitment to providing further education for students who may not have the GPA or admission test scores to enroll in certain community colleges.

Laurus College (LC) is a private institution that offers a number of online associate and bachelor’s degree programs. The school’s online associate’s degrees cover majors like audio video production and medical coding. The online bachelor’s degree programs — which cover fields such as business, computer science, and design — typically take four years to complete with a full-time schedule.

Why we like them: At LC, students use the MyLaurus learning management system to access their coursework, which is 100% online and synchronous. Online students attend live, virtual classrooms to interact with each other and instructors in real time. We believe that LC emphasizes the importance of instructor-teacher communication and encourages frequent interaction.

Fremont University offers accelerated online degrees to help you excel in the profession of your choice. The university has two online pathways you can choose from: business and healthcare. Some of the majors available at Fremont University include healthcare management, healthcare information technology, and business leadership. These programs are delivered entirely online, so you won’t have to worry about visiting campus to attend classes.

Why we like them: If you’re not looking to spend two years completing your degree, consider attending Fremont University. The university’s approach to online learning equips you with the knowledge and skills to graduate in as little as 15 months. By the time you graduate, you’ll be a well-rounded professional. We know that college education can be time-consuming, so we appreciate that Fremont University offers a fast method to your next role.