Diablo Valley College (DVC) is a two-year college in the Contra Costa Community College District. It is located on a 100-acre campus in view of Mt. Diablo, and just 20 miles from the University of Berkeley, California. Many students at DVC aim to transfer to UC Berkeley and other four-year institutions to complete their bachelor's degrees. DVC has an excellent transfer rate, and transfer agreements with the UC California and California State College systems.
DVC offers associate's degrees and vocational and professional training that leads to certificates of achievement and accomplishment. DVC offers academic study programs in 57 occupational specialties. Lifelong learning opportunities are also available without a degree or certificate, and many courses are available online through "DVC Online."
History
Established in 1949 as East Contra Costa Junior College, it originally operated out of rooms in local high schools, banks and churches. It got its own campus site in 1952, and the name was changed to Diablo Valley College in 1958.
Academics
The academic calendar for Diablo Valley College offers fall, spring and summer terms, with shorter sessions available at other times throughout the year.
Colleges and Schools
Academic units at DVC are organized into academic divisions. The nine academic divisions at Diablo Valley College are:
- Applied and Fine Arts
- Biological and Health Sciences
- Business Education
- Counseling/Library
- English
- Math and Computer Science
- Physical Education, Athletics and Dance
- Physical Sciences and Engineering
- Social Sciences
- At San Ramon campus, the divisions are:
- Applied Arts & Social Science
- Language Arts
- Math & Science
- Computer Information Systems (CIS)
Student Life
For students at Diablo Valley College who are seeking involvement beyond the classroom, there are a wide variety of student clubs and organizations available on campus. The focus of the 50-plus student organizations on campus ranges from academic to athletic, social, political, cultural, religious, artistic and special interest. Students who wish to start their own student club or organization may do so through the Associated Students of Diablo Valley College (ASDVC).
Art galleries featuring student art, musical, theatre and dance performances are also available. The student newspaper offers information about campus activities and offers more opportunities for student involvement.
Other student resources available through DVC include student health services, a student life office, student union, leadership, support resources, and a calendar of events, among others.
Traditions
DVC has a relatively new fight song called "Go Green," which is quickly becoming a new student tradition. The traditional school colors are green and white, with gold as an accent color. The school mascot is a Viking, and the athletic teams are nicknamed the Diablo Valley "Vikings."
Athletics
The Diablo Valley College "Vikings" athletic teams compete in several intercollegiate sports, including:
Men's Sports:
- Baseball
- Basketball
- Cross Country
- Football
- Swimming and Diving
- Tennis
- Track and Field
- Water Polo
Women's Sports:
- Basketball
- Cross Country
- Soccer
- Softball
- Swimming and Diving
- Tennis
- Track and Field
- Volleyball
- Water Polo
Satellite Campuses
In addition to its primary Pleasant Hill Campus in Pleasant Hill, California, Diablo Valley College also has the San Ramon Valley Center in the Dougherty Valley area of San Ramon, California. Classes are also taught at various locations throughout the community.
Community Life
Community resources for Diablo Valley College include an observatory that features a planetarium, and community access to theatre, dance and musical performances on campus.
Estimated Costs & Financial Aid
The average "out of pocket" cost of attendance, after any grants and scholarships are considered, is around $7,000. The figures listed below are for informational purposes only and do not represent current or future tuition, fees, and expenses.
Tuition & Fees Information
- Tuition estimates per year:
- State Residents: $1,300-$1,500
- Out-of-State: $7,500-$9,038
- Part-time students are charged:
- In-State: $46-$55 per unit
- Out-of-State: $270-$320 per unit
Financial Aid Details
The table below breaks down the types of financial aid, the percent of students receiving aid, and average amount of aid per student per year.
| Percent of Students | Average Amount | |
|---|---|---|
| Any Financial Aid | 33% | - |
| Receiving Grants & Scholarships | 33% | $4,393 |
| Receiving Student Loans | 1% | $3,841 |
Admissions, Academics, & Student Services
Student Services
To help support students, Diablo Valley College may provide services to students including:
- Online course work available
- Night and weekend classes available
- Remedial courses
- Career path counseling
- Employing students to lower education costs
- Assistance to find work
- Child care
Graduation & Transfer Rates
Many community colleges are not only a source of technical or career training but also a stepping stone for students to transfer-out to a 4-year college, therefore we have included both graduation and transfer rates below and how Diablo Valley, DVC compares against other community colleges in Contra Costa County and community colleges in California as a whole.
| Diablo Valley, DVC | Contra Costa County | California | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Graduation Rate | 39.5% | 31.0% | 24.3% |
| Transfer-out Rate | 16.6% | 14.5% | 13.8% |
Specialized Programs & Accreditations
- Dental Assistant Program
- Accredited by the American Dental Association, Commission on Dental Accreditation (since 1961)
- Dental Hygienist Program
- Accredited by the American Dental Association, Commission on Dental Accreditation (since 1964)
- English Language Program
- Accredited by the Commission on English Language Program Accreditation (since 2011)
Programs Offered
The program list below is organized by areas of study. The programs that have a link will direct you to the program's profile page where you can learn more about education requirements and career pathways.
Get more information about the programs offered by Diablo Valley College by clicking the request information to the right.
(C) Certificate or Award | (A) Associate's | (B) Bachelor's | (M) Master's Degree | (D) Doctorate (PhD,...)
Agriculture Operations
- Horticulture (C)
- Landscaping (C)
- Plant Nursery Operations and Management (C)
Architecture
- Architectural Technology (A, C)
Biological and Biomedical Sciences
- Biology (A)
Business and Marketing Studies
- Business Administration (A, C)
- Commerce (A, C)
- Bookkeeping (A, C)
- Administrative Assistant (C)
- Hospitality Administration and Management (A)
- Small Business Management (C)
- Sales Manager (C)
- Banking and Financial Services (C)
- Real Estate (C)
Communication Technology
- Audio and Video Production (A, C)
- Animation (A, C)
Communications and Journalism
- Communications (A, C)
- Journalism (A)
- Radio and Television (A, C)
Computer and Information Sciences
- Computer Programming (A, C)
- Data Entry and Microcomputer Applications (A, C)
- Computer Support Specialist (A, C)
- Computer Networking (A)
Construction Trades
Education
- Special Education (A, C)
Engineering
- Pre-Engineering (A)
Engineering Technology
- Energy Management (A, C)
- Computer Aided Design (CAD) (C)
- Civil Drafting and Civil Engineering cad (A)
- Mechanical Drafting and Mechanical Drafting cad
English Language and Literature
- English (A)
Family and Consumer Sciences
- Child Care Provider (A, C)
- Child Care (C)
Foreign Languages and Literature
Health and Clinical Professions
- Health Preparatory Programs (A, C)
- Dental Hygienist (A)
- Substance Abuse and Addiction Counseling (A, C)
- Dental Assistant (A, C)
- Dental Laboratory Technology (A, C)
- Athletic Training (A)
- Medical Lab Technician (A)
History
- History (A)
Interdisciplinary Studies
- Biological and Physical Sciences (A)
Liberal Arts and Sciences
- Liberal Arts (A, C)
- Humanistic Studies (A)
Library Science
- Library Assistant (A, C)
Mathematics and Statistics
- Math (A)
Mechanic and Repair Technology
- Electrical Equipment Installation and Repair (A, C)
Natural Resources and Conservation
Personal and Culinary Services
- Cooking and Related Culinary Arts (A, C)
- Restaurant and Catering Management (C)
Philosophy and Religious Studies
- Philosophy (A)
Physical Sciences
Psychology
- Psychology (A)
Recreation and Fitness Studies
- Sports Medicine (A)
- Physical Fitness Technician (A, C)
- Sports Management (A, C)
Security and Protective Services
- Police Science (A, C)
- Corrections Officer (C)
- Forensic Science (C)
Social Sciences
- Political Science (A)
- Sociology (A)
- Anthropology (A)
- Geography (A, C)
Visual and Performing Arts
- Art Studies (A)
- Music (A)
- Drawing (C)
- Visual and Performing Arts (A)
- Dance (A)
- Graphic Design (A)
- Drama and Theatre Arts (A)
- Theatre Design and Technology
- Ceramic Arts
Other Community Colleges Nearby
The list of nearby schools has been selected by researching which schools offer similar programs to Diablo Valley College.
- Los Medanos College in Pittsburg, CA (12 miles away)
- Berkeley City College in Berkeley, CA (13 miles away)
- Merritt College in Oakland, CA (14 miles away)
- Contra Costa College in San Pablo, CA (15 miles away)
- Laney College in Oakland, CA (16 miles away)