Pierce College is a flourishing two-year public institution in Southern California providing opportunities for occupational training, transfer education and life-long learning.
Founded in 1947, Pierce is a comprehensive college with almost 100 disciplines being taught to more than 20,000 students each semester. It is one of the nine colleges of the Los Angeles Community College District, and is fully accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges, a nationally recognized accrediting agency.
Located on 426 acres in the western San Fernando Valley, nestled next to the thriving business district of Warner Center, Pierce College combines state-of-the-art technology and learning with the picturesque beauty of its rolling hills. The campus' setting among 2,200 trees, thousands of rose bushes, a nature preserve, botanical garden and a forest area boasting giant redwoods makes it unique in the Los Angeles metropolitan area.
True to its beginnings more than 60 years ago as an agricultural college, Pierce still maintains large sections of tillable and range land preserved as an enclave within a suburban environment. A 226-acre farm spans the west side of campus, featuring an equestrian center and sustaining small herds of cattle, sheep and goats.
Pierce College is setting the pace in community college education, preparing students to take their place or to retrain in industries at the forefront of technological advances. The creation of the 15-week semester plan led to higher enrollment, better learning and better retention. With two five-week summer sessions and one five-week winter session, students are enjoying the opportunity to move more quickly through the curriculum with greater academic success.
Many Pierce College students transfer to the University of California system, the California State University system, and private universities to earn bachelor's degrees.
Pierce College has one of the highest transfer performances in Southern California. Pierce Honors students have the enviable record of having never been turned down for admission to the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA). Pierce College students also transfer to California State University, Northridge (CSUN) in greater numbers than from any other college.
Pierce prepares its students for academic success after transferring to a university. A study by UCLA showed that Pierce students graduated from UCLA with a higher GPA than students from any other transfer college.
Pierce combines academic excellence with a friendly and helpful faculty and staff. It has a solid reputation for being a student-friendly institution, offering students high-quality and challenging education that will prepare them for university or vocational work. Pierce students benefit from smaller class sizes and lower tuition than a four-year university.
Currently the campus is going through a Renaissance of enrollment and construction. The college's fine College Services Building has given students a glimpse of what the future of Pierce College will be like, and the Center for the Sciences and Student Services Buildings are underway. .
Pierce College is proud to be recognized as one of the most respected community colleges and transfer institutions in California.
Los Angeles Pierce College, also known as Pierce College, Pierce', is a two-year community college that serves more than 20,000 students in Woodland Hills, a community within the San Fernando Valley district of the city of Los Angeles.
The college began with 70 students and 18 faculty members on September 15, 1947. Originally known as the Clarence W. Pierce School of Agriculture, the institution’s initial focus was crop cultivation and animal husbandry. Nine years later, in 1956, the school was renamed to Los Angeles Pierce College, retaining the name of its founder, Dr. Pierce, as well as his commitment to agricultural and veterinary study. (Pierce still maintains a 200-acre working farm for hands-on training.)
Pierce College offers courses on more than 100 subjects in 92 academic disciplines, and has transfer alliances with most of the universities in the state. The college boasts enviable transfer rates to UC and CSU schools.
In lieu of transfer, students can pursue any of the 43 Associate’s degrees or 78 Certificates of Achievement the school offers directly.
Pierce College comprises 426 acres (1.72 km²) amidst a dense metropolis, an area larger than many university campuses, including that of UCLA. The grounds are landscaped with more than 2,200 trees, thousands of roses and a 1.9 acre botanical garden. The Pierce College farm houses small herds of cattle, sheep, goats,pigs a small poultry flock, as well as a llama and an alpaca for its students to learn from.
Besides hosting, the Brahmas' football and women's soccer teams, John Shephard Stadium - current capacity 5,500 - has been host to the only outdoor professional sporting events in San Fernando Valley history.
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Full-Time vs. Part-Time
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Race/Ethnicity
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In State vs. Out-of-State
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| Percent of Students International: | 1% |
| Tuition & Fees (undergraduate) | In-State | Out-of-State | |
Published Tuition and Fees: |
$ 728 | $ 4,900 | |
Average Tuition for Full-Time Undergrads: |
$ 624 | $ 4,320 | |
Required Fees for Full-Time Undergrads: |
$ 36 | $ 36 | |
| Financial Aid | Avg. Amount Received | % of Students Receiving Aid | |
Federal Grants: |
$ 3,047 | 20% | |
State and Local Grants: |
$ 662 | 35% | |
Student Loans: |
$ 2,884 | 5% | |
Any Aid: |
38% |
