West Los Angeles College
- West Los Angeles College is an accredited California Community College offering paths to university transfer, career education and courses for professional and personal growth. It occupies 70 park-like acres overlooking Culver City, Marina Del Rey and Greater West Los Angeles. On a clear day you can see the Pacific Ocean from the highest points on campus. Over the course of a year, West will serve between 16,000 to 19,000 students between our on-ground, online, and full-time and part-time students. But the college still retains the small, warm college feel as we have no more than about 5,000 students on campus at any one time.
- Our Dental Hygiene program is a national model and is one of only two California community college programs authorized to offer a Bachelor's degree. Our online degree program has been recognized as one of the best in California and the nation. Other unique programs include our Film / TV Production Crafts path preparing students for careers behind the scenes in entertainment and our Aviation Tech program. West also offers degree and certificate programs in Computer Science, Health Care, Business, Law Enforcement and Early Childhood Education.
- Students interested in transferring to universities to complete their Bachelor's degrees can select from 24 Associate Degrees for Transfer and get help with the transfer process from our Transfer Center and support organizations including EOPS, TRiO, Puente and Honors Transfer.
- West alumni can be found in every industry from the front lines to the executive ranks. Our college motto is: GO WEST. GO FAR.
School Highlights
West Los Angeles College serves 13,048 students (19% of students are full-time).
The college's student:teacher ratio of 30:1 is higher than the state community college average of 24:1.
Minority enrollment is 86% of the student body (majority Hispanic), which is more than the state average of 77%.
Quick Stats (2022-23)
- Enrollment: 13,048 students
- In-state tuition: $1,220
- Out-state tuition: $6,810
- Student:teacher ratio: 30:1
- Minority enrollment: 86%
- Source: Verified school update
School Overview
The teacher population of 436 teachers has grown by 124% over five years.
West Los Angeles College
(CA) Community College Avg.
Carnegie Classification
Baccalaureate/Associate's Colleges: Associate's Dominant
Associate's Colleges: Mixed Transfer/Vocational & Technical-High Traditional
Institution Level
Four or more years
At least 2 but less than 4 years
Institution Control
Public
Public
Total Faculty
436 staff
308 staff
School Calendar
Student Body
The student population of West Los Angeles College has grown by 22% over five years.
The student:teacher ratio of 30:1 has decreased from 50:1 over five years.
The West Los Angeles College diversity score of 0.69 is less than the state average of 0.70. The school's diversity has stayed relatively flat over five years.
Total Enrollment
13,048 students
8,365 students
Student : Teacher Ratio
30:1
24:1
# Full-Time Students
2,446 students
2,015 students
# Part-Time Students
10,602 students
6,350 students
Total Dormitory Capacity
n/a
140 students
% American Indian/Alaskan
n/a
n/a
% Asian
4%
12%
% Hispanic
48%
47%
% Black
22%
6%
% White
14%
23%
% Two or more races
4%
4%
% Non Resident races
1%
2%
% Unknown races
7%
6%
Diversity Score
0.69
0.70
College Completion Rate
16%
28%
Average Graduate Earnings (10 Years)
$33,700
$34,700
Tuition and Acceptance Rate
The public in-state tuition of $1,220 is less than the state average of $1,997. The in-state tuition has stayed relatively flat over four years.
The public out-state tuition of $6,810 is less than the state average of $7,123. The out-state tuition has declined by 9% over four years.
In-State Tuition Fees
$1,220
$1,997
Out-State Tuition Fees
$6,810
$7,123
% Students Receiving Some Financial Aid
67%
79%
Median Debt for Graduates
$10,400
$10,376
Median Debt for Dropouts
$9,500
$6,000
Acceptance Rate
n/a
89%
Sports
Total Sports Offered
9 sports
Sports
Baseball, Basketball, Cheering, Cross Country, Dance, Football, Soccer, Track and Field, Volleyball
Source: 2020 (or latest year available) Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) , School Administrators
School Notes
- West Los Angeles College (WLAC), located on a scenic hillside in Culver City, opened its doors in February 1969. One of the nine campuses of the Los Angeles Community College District, the college has approximately 11,000 student in day, evening and online classes. WLAC serves Baldwin Hills, Beverly Hills, Brentwood, Century City, Crenshaw, Culver City, LA Tijera/Windsor Hills, Marina del Rey, Mar Vista, Pacific Palisades, Palms, Playa del Rey, Venice, Westchester, West Los Angeles and Westwood. Students come from a rich mixture of nationalities and cultures. West is a leader in online education housing one of the largest programs in Southern California. Several of our degrees may be earned completely online. Partnerships with prestigious universities allow our students to transfer and complete their Bachelor's degree completely online as well. Students may also select just one or two classes online to augment their on campus courses. Our career-oriented Certificate and Associate degree programs include several that are unique in this area, including motion picture/television production crafts, aircraft electronics, aviation maintenance, dental hygiene, travel and hospitality, and the only paralegal program in the Los Angeles Community College District that is approved by the American Bar Association. Whether in academic or career-oriented subjects, our outstanding faculty members are experts in their fields. They have chosen to teach in a community college because they prefer to concentrate on teaching, and they value the smaller classes and greater opportunity for individualized instruction that colleges like West provide. Basic Skills Program to provide students with the necessary capabilities in mathematics, verbal and written language skills, and study skills to successfully complete a certificate, degree, or transfer program. The college is fully accredited by the Western Association of Colleges and Universities, and offers 25 transfer and 18 vocationally-oriented programs. The American Dental Association and the Federal Aviation Administration also recognize the vocational curricula offered here at West Los Angeles College.
Recent Articles
An In-Depth Guide to Financing Options for Community College
Attending college is expensive but there are options for financing beyond just student loans. Keep reading to learn more.
Do You Need to Take the GRE for Community College Applications?
No matter where you choose to go to college you'll have to take some kind of standardized test. The GRE is often required for graduate programs, but it may also benefit your community college application.
Tips for Minimizing Educational Debt While in School
Education becomes more expensive with each passing year so it is important to make smart use of your student loans and to minimize your debt while you are in school whenever possible.
