Columbia College (Sonora)

11600 Columbia College Dr
Sonora, CA 95370

Tel: (209) 588-5100

Consistent with the mission of the California Community Colleges and the Yosemite Community College District, Columbia College is committed to offering a comprehensive range of transfer, vocational, cultural, and community education, and to facilitating community and economic development. The College provides educational programs and support services to assist students and the broader community in gaining access to higher education and achieving success in their chosen endeavors.

School Highlights

Columbia College (Sonora) serves 2,397 students (31% of students are full-time).
The college's student:teacher ratio of 30:1 is lower than the state community college average of 44:1.
Minority enrollment is 24% of the student body (majority Hispanic), which is less than the state average of 68%.
Columbia College (Sonora) is the only community colleges within Tuolumne County, CA.
The nearest community college to Columbia College (Sonora) is Modesto Junior College (43.1 miles away).

School Overview

The teacher population of 81 teachers has stayed relatively flat over five years.

The student population of Columbia College (Sonora) has stayed relatively flat over five years.
The student:teacher ratio of 30:1 has stayed the same over five years.
The Columbia College (Sonora) diversity score of 0.41 is less than the state average of 0.73. The school's diversity has grown by 5% over five years.

Total Enrollment	2,397 students	7,516 students

Student : Teacher Ratio	30:1	44:1

# Full-Time Students	755 students	1,613 students

# Part-Time Students	1,642 students	5,903 students


% American Indian/Alaskan	2%	-

% Asian	1%	13%

% Hispanic	11%	37%

% Black	1%	7%

% White	76%	32%

% Hawaiian	-	-

% Two or more races	4%	3%

% Unknown races	5%	5%

Diversity Score	0.41	0.73

College Completion Rate	23%	29%

Average Graduate Earnings (10 Years)	$30,300	$34,600

The public in-state tuition of $1,150 is less than the state average of $1,636. The in-state tuition has grown by 26% over four years.
The public out-state tuition of $6,406 is less than the state average of $6,797. The out-state tuition has grown by 10% over four years.

In-State Tuition Fees	$1,150	$1,636

Out-State Tuition Fees	$6,406	$6,797

% Students Receiving Some Financial Aid	73%	78%

Median Debt for Graduates	-	-
Median Debt for Dropouts	-	-

Source: 2016 (or latest year available) IPEDS

Located on 280 acres of forestland in California's historic Mother Lode, our college campus surrounds a peaceful 4½ acre lake and has been described as one of the state's most beautiful community colleges. The College actively promotes transformational learning through critical and creative thinking that is open to change and personal growth; civic, environmental, and global awareness and engagement; and individual and collective responsibility. At the heart of our mission is a desire to develop a zest for lifelong learning throughout the community, with the College serving as its educational and cultural center. Columbia College is fully accredited by the Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges of the Western Association of Schools and Colleges. The Career Center, located within the Manzanita Building adjacent to the Counseling area, offers materials and services to assist students with career information. The Center maintains a variety of resources including occupational publications, newsletters, college catalogs, and Eureka, a computerized vocational/educational information system. The Columbia College professional counseling staff provide essential academic advising, career counseling and life planning activities to continuing, new and returning students in order to enhance each students educational experience at Columbia.

The nearest community college to Columbia College (Sonora) is Modesto Junior College (43.1 miles away).

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Quick Stats (2020-21)

Did You Know?

For California public community colleges, the average tuition is approximately $1,636 per year for in-state students and $6,797 for out-of-state students. For private community colleges, the average yearly tuition is approximately $19,157 per year. Read more about average community college tuition costs across the country.

The average community college acceptance rate in California is 86%. Read more about national community college acceptance rates.

California community colleges have a diversity score of 0.73, which is higher than the national average of 0.65. The most diverse community college in California is Coastline Community College. Read more about community college diversity statistics in the USA.