El Camino Community College (ECC) District is a two-year community college located in Torrance, California - in the South Bay area of Los Angeles County. ECC offers affordable associate's degree programs, as well as transfer study programs for students planning to transfer to a four-year university to pursue a bachelor's degree. ECC is ranked among the top ten community colleges in California for its number of students who successfully transfer into the UC or CSU systems, and other four-year colleges.
ECC also offers technical and vocational career training programs. Community education and high school programs are available, along with study abroad opportunities. The college offers a total of 850 academic and career programs, many of which are offered online or through flexible scheduling.
History
El Camino Community College was founded in 1947. The words "El Camino" are Spanish for "the road," and refer to the State of California's first road - El Camino Real.
ECC was established with a winning vote among the governing boards of the South Bay, Inglewood and El Segundo Districts. It was decided the campus would be centrally located in Torrance, CA. The El Camino Community College District is comprised of five unified high school districts and twelve elementary school districts in nine cities: El Segundo, Manhattan Beach, Hermosa Beach, Redondo Beach, Torrance, Lawndale, Hawthorne, Lennox and Inglewood.
The first classrooms for ECC were portable WWII army barracks that were transported to the Torrance campus from Santa Ana Army Air Base in Orange County, CA. The first permanent building for classroom instruction was constructed in 1949. More permanent classrooms were planned and constructed over the years, as funding became available.
Academics
The academic calendar for El Camino Community College follows the semester format, with fall and spring semesters, and two shorter summer sessions.
Colleges and Schools
Because ECC is a two-year community college, it is not divided into colleges or schools, but into Academic Divisions and Programs. There are hundreds of Academic Divisions and Programs at ECC, ranging from Accounting and Anthropology, to Fashion and Film, or History to Horticulture, and Nursing to Political Science or Women's Studies. There is something for everyone at ECC.
Student Life
There are many activities and events to enjoy on the ECC campus, as well as student clubs and organizations. Many students enjoy performances at the Campus Theatre or Robert Haag Recital Hall. The El Camino College Center for the Arts is a top draw for entertainment in Southern California, attracting many headline performers and groups. El Camino College Art Gallery has six art exhibitions annually, including work by faculty, students and local artists.
The campus Planetarium is open to students and the general public, and is the meeting place for the South Bay Astronomical Society. The Anthropology Museum on campus holds annual exhibits with a regional focus, which are installed by students from ECC's Anthropology Department.
ECC's student-run newspaper, The Union, is released bi-monthly, and offers another opportunity for student involvement on campus.
Athletics
The El Camino College "Warriors" athletic teams compete in 21 intercollegiate sports, including:
Men's Sports:
- Badminton
- Baseball
- Basketball
- Cross Country
- Football
- Golf
- Pep Squad
- Soccer
- Swimming and Diving
- Tennis
- Track and Field
- Volleyball
- Water Polo
Women's Sports:
- Basketball
- Cross Country
- Golf
- Pep Squad
- Soccer
- Softball
- Swimming and Diving
- Tennis
- Track and Field
- Volleyball
- Water Polo
Satellite Campuses
In addition to its main campus in Torrance, California, El Camino Community College also offers distance learning programs through online courses, and vocational or workforce training at the following sites in Southern California:
- El Camino College Business Training Center (Hawthorne, CA)
- El Camino College Compton Center (Compton, CA)
- El Camino Fire Academy (Drill Centers throughout the South Bay area)
- El Camino College Inglewood Center (Hawthorne, CA)
Community Life
The El Camino Community College campus is open to the community, and many visit to enjoy the entertainment and culture offered by many venues and attractions on campus, such as the Center for the Arts, the Planetarium, or the Anthropology Museum. Community members may tour career and technical training classes, allied health careers programs, and more. The campus library is also open to the public as a resource.
Estimated Costs & Financial Aid
The average "out of pocket" cost of attendance, after any grants and scholarships are considered, is around $9,900. To calculate a more personalized cost visit the net price calculator. The figures listed below are for informational purposes only and do not represent current or future tuition, fees, and expenses.
Tuition & Fees Information
- Annual tuition estimates are:
- State Residents: $1,100-$1,300
- Out-of-State: $5,600-$6,768
- Part-time students are charged:
- In-State: $46-$55 per unit
- Out-of-State: $240-$280 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 | 66% | - |
| Receiving Grants & Scholarships | 66% | $5,113 |
Admissions, Academics, & Student Services
Student Services
To help students and recent graduates, El Camino College may provide services like:
- Online classes
- Night and weekend classes available
- Remedial courses
- Academic counseling for students
- Work study style employment
- Assistance to find work
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 this school compares against other community colleges in Los Angeles County and the community colleges in California as a whole.
| El Camino College | Los Angeles County | California | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Graduation Rate | 30.0% | 22.2% | 24.3% |
| Transfer-out Rate | 11.3% | 12.0% | 13.8% |
Specialized Programs & Accreditations
- Radiology Technician Program
- Accredited by the Joint Review Committee on Education in Radiologic Technology (since 1971)
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 El Camino 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 (A, C)
Architecture
- Architectural Technology (A, C)
Biological and Biomedical Sciences
- Biology (A)
Business and Marketing Studies
- Business Administration (A, C)
- Bookkeeping (A, C)
- Sales Manager (A, C)
- Real Estate (A, C)
- Office Management and Supervision
- Retail Management
- Administrative Assistant
Communication Technology
- Photographic and Film Technology (A, C)
Communications and Journalism
- Communications (A)
- Radio and Television (A, C)
- Journalism (A, C)
Computer and Information Sciences
- Information Technology (A)
- Computer Science (A, C)
- Web Design (C)
Construction Trades
Education
- Technology Teacher Education Teacher Education
Engineering
- Pre-Engineering (A)
Engineering Technology
- Refrigeration Technology (A, C)
- Computer Aided Design (CAD) (A, C)
- Manufacturing Engineering Technician (A, C)
English Language and Literature
- English (A)
Ethnic Cultural and Gender Studies
- Ethnic Studies
Family and Consumer Sciences
- Child Care Provider (A, C)
- Apparel and Textiles Management (A)
- Apparel and Textiles
Foreign Languages and Literature
- Sign Language Interpretation and Translation (A, C)
- Japanese Language and Literature (A)
- French Language and Literature (A)
- Spanish Language and Literature (A)
Health and Clinical Professions
- Nursing (A)
- Health Preparatory Programs (A)
- Radiologic Technology (A)
- Respiratory Therapy (A, C)
- EMT & Paramedic (A, C)
- Medical Lab Technician
History
- History (A)
Interdisciplinary Studies
- Biological and Physical Sciences (A)
Legal Professions and Studies
- Paralegal (A, C)
Liberal Arts and Sciences
- Liberal Arts (A, C)
- Humanistic Studies (A)
Mathematics and Statistics
- Math (A)
Mechanic and Repair Technology
- Auto Mechanic (A, C)
- Computer Repair Technician (A, C)
- Auto Body (A, C)
- Electrical Equipment Installation and Repair (C)
- Industrial Electronics Technology (C)
Personal and Culinary Services
- Cosmetology (A, C)
Philosophy and Religious Studies
- Philosophy (A)
Physical Sciences
Precision Production
- Machinist (A, C)
- Welding (A, C)
- Cabinetmaking and Millwork (C)
Psychology
- Psychology (A)
Recreation and Fitness Studies
- Sports Medicine (A)
- Parks and Recreation (A)
Security and Protective Services
- Police Science (A, C)
- Fire Prevention (A, C)
- Fire Science (C)
Social Sciences
- Sociology (A)
- Economics (A)
- Political Science (A)
- Anthropology (A)
- Geography (A)
Visual and Performing Arts
- Art Studies (A)
- Music (A, C)
- Drama and Theatre Arts (A)
- Theatre Design and Technology (C)
- Fashion Design (C)
- Graphic Design (C)
- Dance
Other Community Colleges Nearby
The list of nearby schools has been selected by researching which schools offer similar programs to El Camino College.
- Los Angeles Southwest College in Los Angeles, CA (4 miles away)
- El Camino College - Compton Center in Compton, CA (7 miles away)
- Los Angeles Harbor College in Wilmington, CA (7 miles away)
- West Los Angeles College in Culver City, CA (9 miles away)
- Los Angeles Trade Technical College in Los Angeles, CA (11 miles away)