
Orange Coast College (OCC) is a two-year community college located near the coastline south of Los Angeles, in Costa Mesa, California. OCC has more than 130 academic and career training programs that lead to a certificate of achievement or an associate's degree. OCC prepares a significant number of its students for successful transfer into the University of California and California State University systems, as well as private colleges and universities nationwide.
OCC has state-of-the art classrooms with the latest technology, and the OCC faculty provides different teaching methods for different learning styles, as well as various lectures and labs. OCC offers both on campus and online classes.
Career and certificate programs at OCC range from accounting to airline service careers, aviation pilot training to jewelry design or Web design, computer programming to dental assisting, from early childhood education to emergency medical technician, and hotel management to professional mariner training, welding, and many more.
History
Orange Coast College was established in 1948 with 500 students enrolled. Over the years, it has grown into one of the nation's largest community colleges, with thousands of students enrolled each semester.
Academics
The academic calendar for Orange Coast College follows the semester format, with fall, spring and summer semesters. The fall and spring semesters are 16 weeks in length. OCC's summer session offers six and eight-week classes, which begin in June. A short winter intersession is also sometimes offered.
Colleges and Schools
The academic study areas at Orange Coast College are grouped into divisions, rather than into colleges and schools. The OCC academic divisions are:
- Business & Computing
- Consumer & Health Sciences
- Counseling Services
- Literature & Languages
- Mathematics & Sciences
- Physical Education & Athletics
- Social & Behavioral Sciences
- Technology
- Visual & Performing Arts
Student Life
Many student clubs are available at the OCC campus, as well as leadership opportunities through student government. The latest news and events on campus can be found in the "Coast Report," the student newspaper. Intramural and intercollegiate sports are available.
Student services and amenities at OCC include an assessment center, children's center, bookstore, counseling, special services for people with disabilities, student health, computing, a veterans office, student success center, and more.
There is no on-campus housing available, but several dining options are available.
Traditions
The OCC school colors are blue, white and orange (gold). The school mascot is the pirate.
Athletics
The Orange Coast College "Pirates" athletics teams compete in several intercollegiate sports, including:
Men's Sports:
- Baseball
- Basketball
- Crew
- Cross Country
- Football
- Golf
- Soccer
- Swimming
- Tennis
- Track and Field
- Volleyball
Women's Sports:
- Basketball
- Crew
- Cross Country
- Soccer
- Softball
- Swimming
- Tennis
- Track and Field
- Volleyball
- Water Polo
OCC has recently completed construction of a state-of-the-art, two-story Fitness Complex that boasts a multipurpose room/gymnasium, training facility for sports medicine, equipment and cardio rooms, fitness studios and classrooms.
Community Life
Orange Coast College is located near the beautiful beaches and harbors of Orange County in Southern California, and has a large community sailing program.
The Recycling Center located on the OCC campus accepts donated recyclables from the community, and donates profits to scholarships for OCC students.
Many of the facilities on the OCC campus may be rented to community groups for events.
Estimated Costs & Financial Aid
The average "out of pocket" cost of attendance, after any grants and scholarships are considered, is around $10,500. 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: $6,500-$7,805
- Part-time students are charged:
- In-State: $46-$55 per unit
- Out-of-State: $270-$330 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 | 55% | - |
Receiving Grants & Scholarships | 54% | $5,190 |
Receiving Student Loans | 2% | $3,998 |
Admissions, Academics, & Student Services
Student Services
To support students and graduates, Orange Coast College may provide services like those listed below:
- Online classes
- Night and weekend classes available
- Remedial instructional courses
- Academic counseling for students
- Employing students to lower education costs
- Employment search assistance
- Day 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 this school compares against other community colleges in Orange County and community colleges in California as a whole.
Orange Coast College | Orange County | California | |
---|---|---|---|
Graduation Rate | 37.1% | 29.4% | 24.3% |
Transfer-out Rate | 16.1% | 15.2% | 13.8% |
Specialized Programs & Accreditations
- Dental Assistant Program
- Accredited by the American Dental Association, Commission on Dental Accreditation (since 1963)
- Dietetic Technician Program
- Accredited by the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (since 1971)
- Radiology Technician Program
- Accredited by the Joint Review Committee on Education in Radiologic Technology (since 1974)
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 Orange Coast 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)
- Commerce (A)
- Bookkeeping (A, C)
- Hotel and Hospitality Management (A, C)
- International Business (A, C)
- Hospitality Administration and Management (C)
- Sales Manager (A, C)
- Tourism and Travel Services Marketing Operations (A, C)
- Retail Management
- Administrative Assistant
- Real Estate
- General Merchandising, Sales, Related Marketing Operations
Communication Technology
- Photographic and Film Technology (A, C)
- Audio and Video Production (A, C)
- Animation (A, C)
Communications and Journalism
- Communications (A)
- Media Studies (A)
- Journalism (A)
Computer and Information Sciences
- Computer Graphics (A, C)
- Computer Programming (A, C)
- Computer Science (C)
Construction Trades
Education
- Teacher Assistant (TA) (A, C)
Engineering
- Pre-Engineering (A)
Engineering Technology
- Refrigeration Technology (A, C)
- Computer Aided Design (CAD)
- Mechanical Drafting and Mechanical Drafting cad
English Language and Literature
- English (A)
Family and Consumer Sciences
- Child Care Provider (A, C)
- Foodservice Administration and Management (C)
- Apparel and Textiles Management (A, C)
- Apparel and Textile Manufacture (A, C)
- Child Care (A, C)
- Nutrition and Wellness Studies (A, C)
- Apparel and Textiles (C)
- Family and Consumer Sciences
- Family Studies
Foreign Languages and Literature
- Foreign Languages and Literatures (A)
Health and Clinical Professions
- Cardiovascular Technologist (A)
- Medical Assistant (A, C)
- Respiratory Therapy (A)
- Electrocardiograph Technology (C)
- Audiology and Speech Pathology (A)
- Dental Assistant (A, C)
- Health Services (A)
- Ultrasound Technician (A)
- Radiologic Technology (A)
- Medical Lab Technician (A)
- Dietetic Technician (A)
- Health Information and Medical Records Technology
- Electroneurodiagnostic, Electroencephalographic Technology
History
- History (A)
Interdisciplinary Studies
- Biological and Physical Sciences (A)
Liberal Arts and Sciences
- Liberal Arts (A, C)
- Humanistic Studies (A)
Mathematics and Statistics
- Math (A)
Mechanic and Repair Technology
- Aircraft Mechanic (A, C)
- Computer Repair Technician (C)
- Electrical Equipment Installation and Repair (A, C)
- Aircraft Powerplant Technology (C)
Personal and Culinary Services
- Cooking and Related Culinary Arts (A, C)
- Restaurant and Catering Management (C)
Philosophy and Religious Studies
- Philosophy (A)
Physical Sciences
Precision Production
Psychology
- Psychology (A)
Public Administration and Social Services
- Human Services (A, C)
Recreation and Fitness Studies
- Kinesiology And Exercise Science (A)
- Physical Fitness Technician (A, C)
- Sports Medicine
Social Sciences
- Political Science (A)
- Sociology (A)
- Economics (A)
- Geography (A)
- Social Science (A)
- Anthropology (A)
Transportation and Materials Moving
- Aviation and Airway Management (A, C)
- Airline Flight Attendant (A, C)
- Marine Transportation (C)
- Commercial Airline Pilot (C)
Visual and Performing Arts
- Art Studies (A)
- Interior Design (A, C)
- Cinematography And Film (A, C)
- Fashion Design (A, C)
- Music (A)
- Visual and Performing Arts (A)
- Commercial and Advertising Art (A, C)
- Dance (A, C)
- Drama and Theatre Arts (A)
- Photography (A)
- Theatre Design and Technology
Other Community Colleges Nearby
The list of nearby schools has been selected by researching which schools offer similar programs to Orange Coast College.
- Coastline Community College in Fountain Valley, CA (3 miles away)
- Golden West College in Huntington Beach, CA (6 miles away)
- Santa Ana College in Santa Ana, CA (6 miles away)
- Irvine Valley College in Irvine, CA (8 miles away)
- Santiago Canyon College in Orange, CA (11 miles away)