College of the Sequoias

College of the Sequoias: Academics, Admissions & Tuition Info

Research College of the Sequoias in Visalia, CA. Learn about its admission info, degree and certificate programs and financial aid to make an informed education decision.

About College of the Sequoias

College of the Sequoias, also known as COS, is a 2-year, public college. The main campus is located in the city of Visalia, California, about 45 minutes south of Fresno, an hour north of Bakersfield and nearly 3 hours north of Los Angeles. College of the Sequoias has two additional campuses in the area: COS Hanford and the Tulare College Center.

Academics

College of the Sequoias offers 158 certificate and associate's degree programs through its 11 academic departments: math and engineering, science, agriculture, industry and technology, fine arts, language arts, social sciences, consumer/family studies, business, nursing and allied health, and physical education. Many of the programs are career-oriented, designed to prepare students for employment in the local region.

In 2010-2011, the most popular associate's degree programs were liberal arts and sciences and registered nursing; other popular programs included child care, biological and physical sciences, and criminal justice. Some popular certificate programs in 2010-2011 were nursing, child care, emergency medical technology, criminal justice, mechanical engineering, speech communication, fire sciences and paralegal studies.

Students who have excellent academic records may be eligible to join the honors program, which provides benefits such as smaller classes and assistance with transfer agreements to public universities. The PASEO (Promoting Achievement and Scholarships with Enrichment Opportunities) program provides support to low-income, Hispanic and first-generation students who are beginning studies in math or science. Math, engineering and science students facing financial hardship may be eligible to receive support through MESA CCCP (Math Engineering Science Achievement California Community College Program).

Admissions

In order to apply to College of the Sequoias, students must file the school's online application. Applicants under 21 years of age must submit high school transcripts, GED scores or California High School Proficiency Exam (CHSPE) results. Admission to College of the Sequoias is open to all high school graduates and applicants over 18, as well as to applicants who achieved satisfactory scores on the GED or CHSPE.

In fall 2011, 54% of students at College of the Sequoias attended part-time, and 46% attended full-time. The gender ratio was 44% male to 56% female, and the ethnic breakdown was 55% Hispanic, 31% white, 5% Asian, 3% African American, 3% of multiple races and 1% American Indian. In fall 2010, 99% of incoming students came from the state of California.

Tuition & Financial Aid

The enrollment fee at College of the Sequoias is $46 per unit. Non-residents of California must pay an additional tuition fee of $245 per unit. According to the National Center for Education Statistics, the total estimated expenses of a full-time student in 2011-2012 were $14,598 for in-state and $19,006 for out-of-state residents.

Students with academic need may qualify for the California Board of Governor's Fee Waiver. Students may also be eligible for various other state-run aid programs such as CalWORKS, EOPS, CARE and Cal Grants. In 2010-2011, no incoming, full-time students received aid directly from the college, but 76% received state or local aid; the average award was $1,047.

COLLEGE OF THE SEQUOIAS QUICK FACTS
School Type	2-year, public**
Degrees Offered	Associate's, certificates**
Religious Affiliation	None**
Academic Calendar	Semester*
School Setting	Midsize city**
Student Body	11,625 in fall 2011**
Student Housing	No on-campus housing available**
ACADEMICS
Schools and Programs	3 campuses containing 11 academic departments and 158 programs*
Student-Faculty Ratio	32 to 1**
Most Popular Fields of Study by Degree Level (Number of Recipients)	In 2010-2011: child care provider (86) and emergency medical technology (55) for less than 1 year certificate; criminal justice (49) and mechanical engineering (29) for 1-2 year certificate; liberal arts and sciences (505) and registered nursing (168) for associate's**
Undergraduate Graduation Rates	7% of students who started in 2008 graduated within the normal length of their program**
ADMISSIONS
Admission Rate	Open admissions**
Entering Class Size	2,926 in fall 2010***
First-Year Retention Rates	From fall 2010-fall 2011: 67% of full-time students, 39% of part-time students**
Application Due Date	No general application deadline; program-specific deadlines*
TUITION & FINANCIAL AID
Tuition (2012)	$46 per unit; additional $245 per unit for non-residents*
Financial Aid Sources Available (Percent of Students Receiving it)	For incoming, full-time students in 2010-2011: federal grants (67%), state/local scholarships or grants (76%), institutional scholarships or grants (0%), federal student loans (1%)**
Percent of Students Receiving Some Form of Aid	77% of incoming, full-time students in 2010-2011**

Sources: *College of the Sequoias, **National Center for Education Statistics - College Navigator, ***National Center for Education Statistics - IPEDS Data Center.

School Contact Information

Address: Admission and Records Office, College of the Sequoias, 915 South Mooney Boulevard, Visalia, CA 93277
Phone: (559) 730-3727
Website: www.cos.edu