Cerro Coso Community College

3000 College Heights Blvd
Ridgecrest, CA 93555
Top Ranked (2024): View Rankings
  • The mission of Cerro Coso Community College is to provide high quality degree and certificate curricula in lower division arts and sciences and in vocational/ technical/ occupational education. Essential to this mission is providing support services which enhance student opportunities for success. As part of this mission, the college will respond to the interests, aspirations, and capabilities of students while encouraging them to develop as useful, contributing members of society.

School Highlights

Cerro Coso Community College serves 5,159 students (18% of students are full-time).
The college's student:teacher ratio of 27:1 is higher than the state community college average of 21:1.
Minority enrollment is 54% of the student body (majority Hispanic), which is less than the state average of 74%.

Quick Stats (2024)

  • Enrollment: 5,159 students
  • In-state tuition: $1,290
  • Out-state tuition: $7,086
  • Student:teacher ratio: 27:1
  • Minority enrollment: 54%
  • Source: Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS)

Top Rankings

Cerro Coso Community College ranks among the top 20% of public schools in California for:

Category
Attribute

School Overview

The teacher population of 192 teachers has stayed relatively flat over five years.
Cerro Coso Community College
(CA) Community College Avg.
Carnegie Classification
Associates Colleges
Associates Colleges
Institution Level
Less than 2 yrs
At least 2 but less than 4 years
Institution Control
Public
Public
Total Faculty
192 staff
312 staff
This chart display total faculty of Cerro Coso Community College and community college average number of faculty in CA by year, with the latest 2020-21 school year data.

Student Body

The student population of Cerro Coso Community College has declined by 7% over five years.
The student:teacher ratio of 27:1 has decreased from 29:1 over five years.
The Cerro Coso Community College diversity score of 0.68 is less than the state average of 0.71. The school's diversity has stayed relatively flat over five years.
Total Enrollment
5,159 students
7,900 students
This chart display the total enrollment of Cerro Coso Community College and community college average number of enrollment of CA by year, with the latest 2020-21 school year data.
Student : Teacher Ratio
27:1
21:1
This chart display the student staff ratio of Cerro Coso Community College and community college average student staff ratio of CA by year, with the latest 2020-21 school year data.
# Full-Time Students
905 students
1,661 students
This chart display the total number of Full-time students enrollment of Cerro Coso Community College and average number of community college Full-time students enrollment of CA by year, with the latest 2020-21 school year data.
# Part-Time Students
4,254 students
6,239 students
This chart display the total number of Part-time students enrollment of Cerro Coso Community College and average number of community college Part-time students enrollment of CA by year, with the latest 2020-21 school year data.
This chart display the Full-time students and Part-time students enrollment breakdown of Cerro Coso Community College.
This chart display community college average Full-Time students and Part-Time students enrollment breakdown of CA.
# Enrollment Undergraduate
279 students
302 students
# Full-Time Undergraduate Students
905 students
1,646 students
This chart display the total number of Full-time undergraduate students enrollment of Cerro Coso Community College and average number of community college Full-time undergraduate  students enrollment of CA by year, with the latest 2020-21 school year data.
# Full-Time Graduate Students
n/a
54 students
# Part-Time Undergraduate Students
n/a
6,288 students
# Part-Time Graduate Students
n/a
10 students
Total Dormitory Capacity
n/a
140 students
% American Indian/Alaskan
2%
n/a
This chart display the percentage of American Indian/Alaskan students in Cerro Coso Community College and the percentage of American Indian/Alaskan community college students in CA by year, with the latest 2017-18 school year data.
% Asian
5%
13%
This chart display the percentage of Asian students in Cerro Coso Community College and the percentage of Asian community college students in CA by year, with the latest 2020-21 school year data.
% Hispanic
32%
45%
This chart display the percentage of Hispanic students in Cerro Coso Community College and the percentage of Hispanic community college students in CA by year, with the latest 2020-21 school year data.
% Black
3%
5%
This chart display the percentage of Black students in Cerro Coso Community College and the percentage of Black community college students in CA by year, with the latest 2020-21 school year data.
% White
46%
26%
This chart display the percentage of White students in Cerro Coso Community College and the percentage of White community college students in CA by year, with the latest 2020-21 school year data.
% Two or more races
7%
4%
This chart display the percentage of Two or more races students in Cerro Coso Community College and the percentage of Two or more races community college students in CA by year, with the latest 2020-21 school year data.
% Non Resident races
n/a
3%
% Unknown races
4%
4%
This chart display the percentage breakdown of students of all ethnic groups in Cerro Coso Community College.
This chart display the percentage breakdown of students of all ethnic groups in CA.
Diversity Score
0.68
0.71
This chart display the diversity score of Cerro Coso Community College and the community college average diversity score of CA by year, with the latest 2020-21 school year data.
College Completion Rate (Students who graduate in less than 4 years)
29%
35%
This chart display completion rates for First-Time of Full-time students of Cerro Coso Community College and community college average completion rates for First-Time of Full-time students of CA by year, with the latest 2020-21 school year data.
College Completion Rate (Students who graduate in 4 years or more than 4 years)
n/a
1.92%
Average Graduate Earnings (10 Years)
$31,200
$34,700
This chart display average graduate earnings (10 Years) of Cerro Coso Community College and community college average graduate earnings (10 Years) of CA by year, disaggregated by student subgroups with the latest 2012-13 school year data.

Tuition and Acceptance Rate

The public in-state tuition of $1,290 is less than the state average of $1,993. The in-state tuition has stayed relatively flat over four years.
The public out-state tuition of $7,086 is less than the state average of $7,120. The out-state tuition has stayed relatively flat over four years.
In-State Tuition Fees
$1,290
$1,993
This chart display tuition fees for an in-state student of Cerro Coso Community College and the public community college average tuition fees for an in-state student of CA by year, with the latest 2020-21 school year data.
Out-State Tuition Fees
$7,086
$7,120
This chart display tuition fees for an out-of-state student of Cerro Coso Community College and the public community college average tuition fees for an out-of-state student of CA by year, with the latest 2020-21 school year data.
% Students Receiving Some Financial Aid
72%
86%
This chart display the percent of students who is receiving some financial aid in Cerro Coso Community College and the percent of community college students who is receiving some financial aid in CA by year, with the latest 2020-21 school year data.
Median Debt for Graduates (Year 2008)
$6,787
$6,625
Median Debt for Dropouts
$3,500
$3,500
This chart display median debt for students who have not completed a certificate or degree in Cerro Coso Community College and average median debt for community college students who have not completed a certificate or degree in CA by year, with the latest 2007-08 school year data.
Acceptance Rate
n/a
89%
Source: 2021 (or latest year available) Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) , School Administrators

School Notes

  • Cerro Coso Community College was established in 1973 as a separate college within the Kern Community College District. Cerro Coso has five instructional sites (Eastern Sierra Center Bishop & Mammoth, Indian Wells Valley, Kern River Valley, and South Kern), which together form the largest geographical service area (18,000 square miles) of any community college in California and which serve a population of approximately 85,000. A leader in online education, Cerro Coso has been offering online classes since 1997 and offers 9 Associate's degrees entirely online and as many as 100+ classes online each year, with approximately 100 sections per semester. The 320-acre Indian Wells Valley Campus is located in the upper Mojave Desert in the community of Ridgecrest, with a population of 28,000. Ridgecrest is located 130 miles northeast of Los Angeles and 120 miles east of Bakersfield. Cerro Coso Community College is accredited by the Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges, Western Association of Schools and Colleges. The college and its programs are also approved by the California Community College Board of Governors, the California Board of Licensed Vocational Nurse and Psychiatric Examiners, and the California Department of Education for the enrollment of veterans. The University of California and other universities and colleges give full credit to appropriate lower division courses completed at Cerro Coso Community College. CCOnline, Cerro Coso Community College's virtual campus, currently offers associate degrees online, the general education courses necessary to meet transfer requirements to a four year institution, and student support services. CCOnline has an international reputation for excellence and provides an extraordinary opportunity for those too distant from a community college or too involved in business or family to pursue higher education during traditional hours.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does Cerro Coso Community College cost?
Cerro Coso Community College's tuition is approximately $1,290 for In-State students and $7,086 for Out-State students.
What is Cerro Coso Community College's ranking?
Cerro Coso Community College ranks among the top 20% of community college in California for: Least debt for graduating students.

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Quick Stats (2024)

  • Enrollment: 5,159 students
  • In-state tuition: $1,290
  • Out-state tuition: $7,086
  • Student:teacher ratio: 27:1
  • Minority enrollment: 54%
  • Source: Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS)

Related School Videos

Did You Know?

Kern County, CA community colleges have a diversity score of 0.61, which is lower than the national average of 0.70. The most diverse community college in Kern County, CA is California Aeronautical University. Read more about community college diversity statistics in the USA.

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