There’s more than one path

Community colleges offer certificates, associate degrees, career education, and courses that prepare you to transfer to a four-year university. You can pick one path or combine them, and it’s fine if you’re still deciding.

College credit can start in high school

As a middle college high school, our students take college courses alongside their high school classes. Those credits can count toward a certificate, an associate degree, or transfer, depending on the courses you choose. Taking college courses in high school doesn’t change your status as a first-year applicant to a university, and your counselor can help you plan your schedule and report those courses correctly.

Transfer is an option

Some students finish a certificate or degree and go straight into a career, and others continue to a four-year university. If you want to transfer, there are clear pathways: nearly one-third of UC undergraduates transferred from a California community college, an Associate Degree for Transfer can lead to guaranteed admission to a CSU (with conditions such as choosing a similar major), and six UC campuses offer transfer admission guarantees. Cal-GETC is the general education pattern used for transfer, and ASSIST, a free tool, shows which community college courses count toward UC and CSU majors.

The cost is low, and sometimes free

At Folsom Lake College, California residents pay $46 per unit, and through the Los Rios Promise most students don’t pay tuition fees. Financial aid can also help with books and living costs, so it’s worth filling out the FAFSA or Dream Act application. Other community colleges have their own programs.

One application works across colleges

All California community colleges share a common application. You can apply to Folsom Lake College or any other college you’re interested in, and one application covers every college in the Los Rios district.