West Valley College

14000 Fruitvale Ave
Saratoga, CA 95070
Top Ranked (2024): View Rankings
  • West Valley College is a public community college whose primary purpose is to facilitate successful learning. It is committed to the education of the individual along with fostering the economic development of the communities it serves. West Valley College provides students with opportunities to participate in a wide spectrum of educational experiences designed to fulfill their academic and career needs. Encouraged to seek knowledge and wisdom as lifelong learners, our students are motivated to expand their human potential, enrich the quality of their lives, and develop the job skills and other competencies necessary to function in contemporary society.

School Highlights

West Valley College serves 7,513 students (32% of students are full-time).
The college's student:teacher ratio of 15:1 is lower than the state community college average of 21:1.
Minority enrollment is 56% of the student body (majority Hispanic), which is less than the state average of 74%.

Quick Stats (2024)

  • Enrollment: 7,513 students
  • In-state tuition: $1,186
  • Out-state tuition: $4,978
  • Student:teacher ratio: 15:1
  • Minority enrollment: 56%
  • Source: Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS)

Top Rankings

West Valley College ranks among the top 20% of public schools in California for:

Category
Attribute

School Overview

The teacher population of 507 teachers has stayed relatively flat over five years.
West Valley College
(CA) Community College Avg.
Carnegie Classification
Associates Colleges
Associates Colleges
Institution Level
At least 2 but less than 4 years
At least 2 but less than 4 years
Institution Control
Public
Public
Total Faculty
507 staff
312 staff
This chart display total faculty of West Valley 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 West Valley College has stayed relatively flat over five years.
The student:teacher ratio of 15:1 has stayed the same over five years.
The West Valley College diversity score of 0.69 is less than the state average of 0.71. The school's diversity has declined by 5% over five years.
Total Enrollment
7,513 students
7,900 students
This chart display the total enrollment of West Valley College and community college average number of enrollment of CA by year, with the latest 2020-21 school year data.
Student : Teacher Ratio
15:1
21:1
This chart display the student staff ratio of West Valley College and community college average student staff ratio of CA by year, with the latest 2020-21 school year data.
# Full-Time Students
2,380 students
1,661 students
This chart display the total number of Full-time students enrollment of West Valley 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
5,133 students
6,239 students
This chart display the total number of Part-time students enrollment of West Valley 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 West Valley College.
This chart display community college average Full-Time students and Part-Time students enrollment breakdown of CA.
# Enrollment Undergraduate
495 students
302 students
# Full-Time Undergraduate Students
2,380 students
1,646 students
This chart display the total number of Full-time undergraduate students enrollment of West Valley 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
5,133 students
6,288 students
# Part-Time Graduate Students
n/a
10 students
Total Dormitory Capacity
n/a
140 students
% American Indian/Alaskan
n/a
n/a
This chart display the percentage of American Indian/Alaskan students in West Valley College and the percentage of American Indian/Alaskan community college students in CA by year, with the latest 2017-18 school year data.
% Asian
14%
13%
This chart display the percentage of Asian students in West Valley College and the percentage of Asian community college students in CA by year, with the latest 2020-21 school year data.
% Hispanic
29%
45%
This chart display the percentage of Hispanic students in West Valley College and the percentage of Hispanic community college students in CA by year, with the latest 2020-21 school year data.
% Black
2%
5%
This chart display the percentage of Black students in West Valley College and the percentage of Black community college students in CA by year, with the latest 2020-21 school year data.
% White
44%
26%
This chart display the percentage of White students in West Valley 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
9%
4%
This chart display the percentage of Two or more races students in West Valley 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
1%
3%
This chart display the percentage of Non Resident students in West Valley College and the percentage of Non Resident community college students in CA by year, with the latest 2020-21 school year data.
% Unknown races
1%
4%
This chart display the percentage breakdown of students of all ethnic groups in West Valley College.
This chart display the percentage breakdown of students of all ethnic groups in CA.
Diversity Score
0.69
0.71
This chart display the diversity score of West Valley 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)
40%
35%
This chart display completion rates for First-Time of Full-time students of West Valley 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)
$37,700
$34,700
This chart display average graduate earnings (10 Years) of West Valley 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 $1,186 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 $4,978 is less than the state average of $7,120. The out-state tuition has stayed relatively flat over four years.
In-State Tuition Fees
$1,186
$1,993
This chart display tuition fees for an in-state student of West Valley 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
$4,978
$7,120
This chart display tuition fees for an out-of-state student of West Valley 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
66%
86%
This chart display the percent of students who is receiving some financial aid in West Valley 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 2007)
$3,500
$6,125
Median Debt for Dropouts
$6,542
$6,239
This chart display median debt for students who have not completed a certificate or degree in West Valley College and average median debt for community college students who have not completed a certificate or degree in CA by year, with the latest 2020-21 school year data.
Acceptance Rate
n/a
89%
Source: 2021 (or latest year available) Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS)

School Notes

  • West Valley College is a public California Community College located on the west side of Silicon Valley, in the foothills of the Santa Cruz Mountains, 50 miles south of San Francisco. Continuing a nearly 40 year tradition, West Valley College offers 18 dynamic career programs, professional certificates, and degree programs with exceptional preparation for transfer to four-year colleges and universities. Flexible course options including online and distance learning combined with many levels of support such as financial assistance, educational planning, personal counseling, child care and learning skills programs provide every student the opportunity for the highest academic and personal success. West Valley College is accredited by the Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges of the Western Association of Schools and Colleges, an institutional accrediting body recognized by the Commission on Recognition of Post-secondary Accreditation and the U.S. Department of Education.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does West Valley College cost?
West Valley College's tuition is approximately $1,186 for In-State students and $4,978 for Out-State students.
What is West Valley College's ranking?
West Valley College ranks among the top 20% of community college in California for: Least expensive tuition and Least debt for graduating students.

Recent Articles

Healthcare Careers Hub
Healthcare Careers Hub
Discover the opportunities in the healthcare field. Your community college offers the courses and training you need to fill a job in this field that always seems to have openings.
The Pros and Cons of On-Campus Housing for Community College
The Pros and Cons of On-Campus Housing for Community College
Can you really have an authentic college experience while living off-campus? This article explores the pros and cons of campus housing for community college students.
Community Colleges: A to Z
February 21, 2024
Community Colleges: A to Z
Explore the diverse landscape of community colleges with our comprehensive guide, 'Community CollegeS: A to Z.' From academic programs to student support services, this article provides a look at everything community colleges have to offer.

Quick Stats (2024)

  • Enrollment: 7,513 students
  • In-state tuition: $1,186
  • Out-state tuition: $4,978
  • Student:teacher ratio: 15:1
  • Minority enrollment: 56%
  • Source: Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS)

Related School Videos

Did You Know?

For Santa Clara County, CA public community colleges, the average tuition is approximately $1,336 per year for in-state students and $6,889 for out-of-state students. Read more about average community college tuition costs across the country.

Santa Clara County, CA community colleges have a diversity score of 0.69, which is lower than the national average of 0.70. The most diverse community college in Santa Clara County, CA is Foothill College. Read more about community college diversity statistics in the USA.

Quick Links