This is a great alternative rout to get your AA degree and to transfer to a 4 year University. I was able to do it and so can you! That came off like an Army commercial or something haha. If you live in west contra Costa then you should attend here if you're not going straight to a 4 year school right after high school. Use this college as a great resource. Middle college (high school) is also offered here. It's recently gone through some renovations: new library and new student services building. It's a small campus but it has a great vibe to it. There are plenty of businesses around the area to get something to eat and Hilltop mall isn't far away. It's right off the freeway and convenient. To advance your career, education or trying to get certified then take a class here. Like reading rainbow ..."Don't take my word for it!" read more

The campus is beautiful - lots of wildlife - the buildings are nice and clean - lots of places to do your work if you don't want to be in the library, and most of the teachers are pretty great. But the counselors are godawful. Many people I know who have attended CCC/are currently attending CCC have stories of how their counselors have screwed them over. They either withhold or just don't know really important information about things like requirements for graduation. They seem clueless and don't know how to help you. My very first semester I spoke with a counselor about picking classes for my schedule, as I didn't know the requirements for graduation, and she ended up giving me classes that had no correlation with my goals. It took me a year to figure out on my own that my first semester had been wasted on classes I did not need. Other students have similar experiences. These counselors do NOT know how to help you and they will misguide and lead you in the wrong direction. If you want to be successful at CCC, you're on your own. read more

Still a great college option- in the neighborhood spacious. Here daily for the drop off and pick up- campus is pretty secure with their own campus police and security read more

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I did not enjoy the terms I spent here in the music athletics and dance departments. For the most part the music department was unprofessional unpleasant and discouraging. The management in the athletics didn't seem to care about common safety issues. These issues also involve respect. I wouldn't recommend contra Costa college read more

I visited the campus in person during fall for the first time! This campus is beautiful, the staff was super helpful, and the students were friendly. Great vibe overall! read more

Contra Costa College - Colleges & Universities Near Me - San Pablo, California

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Please don't eat at contra college the food they serve is old I'm a former student and have pictures to prove the fda needs to be called asap read more

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Worst college. They don't care about you as a student. I reported a teacher for discrimination, and they never responded to me.

Horrible school. They don't care about the students, the teachers are lazy (Chemistry department) and refuse to give live lectures. They get angry if you ask them questions in lab, because that's the only time you see them in person. Most of the people in class are failing and yet they don't do anything. read more

Tried to reach out HR to report a matter on a math teacher, sent about 10 different emails, 0 response after 10 days.

I applied to many nursing schools before getting accepted here, and have been pleasantly surprised by the program. It is challenging, for sure, but the help and support you get from the faculty is invaluable. I have quite a commute, but I honestly don't mind considering how much I have gotten out of my education. The department consistently growing and developing, staying in the know regarding health care news, informatics, and everything that goes along with being in the ever-changing field of nursing. A shining star of the department is the simulation lab. They have a state-of-the-art mannequin and lab that allows the students to practice clinical situations before dealing with them in the live patient setting. I have gained so much knowledge and insight from the time I spent in the sim lab and found it invaluable in the progression of my clinical skills. As a student here, you will get out of it what you put it. Go through the time to get to know the faculty, and utilize the opportunity you're given in the small class size to connect with your fellow students. It's like a family, and I know I have support in nursing from everyone here. I highly recommend going through what may be viewed as 'extra' courses to apply here, as I would go back and do it all over again in a second. The department extension is: 4267 The direct link to the ADN page is: http://coast.contracosta.edu/websites/nursing/REGNURSE/Shared%20Documents/default.aspx read more

Contra Costa College - Colleges & Universities Near Me - San Pablo, California

I recently attended a training that was being held here. First impression: lots of parking = awesome. Granted, school isn't currently in session so I didn't have much competition. All the students lots have day pass machines readily available. I didn't have to pay the $3 charge because there is currently a "grace period" in between the spring semester and summer session. Bonus. The Contra Costa College campus is quite beautiful. Yes, the buildings are a bit outdated but the vast amount of trees and other nature accents made me feel like I was on an adventure while strolling from the parking lot to the Liberal Arts building. Being on a college campus always makes me a bit nostalgic. I am glad that my job allows me to continue to grow personally and professionally. read more

The best community college, hands down. After graduating high school in 2004, I attended College of Marin (COM), which didn't work out very well. After feeling lost and not finding my place, I dropped out of all my classes and began working full time. Fast forward to 2007 and it was time to get serious about school. I went to register and a gentlemen that worked in financial aid told me to fill out a Fee Waiver along with my registration. Along with a fee waiver; I was also told to apply to the EOPS program, which helps students maneuver through college with required meetings with counselors, free textbooks, and general assistance in making your experience in college a successful one. I credit the EOPS program and the help of my counselor (Dionne Perez) with my successful years at Contra Costa College. The college has significantly improved the past few years. A beautiful new library was recently built and is perfect for getting work done or hanging out between classes. The newest improvement being the Student Services Building, which holds all the administration and student services. Among those services are registration, EOPS, counseling, and college transfer lab. The best thing about Contra Costa College: the professors. These people are not only some of the brightest and nicest people I've ever met, but they WANT to be here. The professors aren't mediocre teachers, but grade A professors who want to be here and teach us. Furthermore, many have taught at the University level, but have decided it was not for them and find themselves better utilized at the community level. I strongly recommend the following professors: Dr. Joy Eichnerlynch (English) Dr. Fritz Pointer (English) Dr. Manu Ampim (History) L. Seereiter (Math) C. Stanton (Math) J. Cromartie (Sociology) I highly recommend Contra Costa College to EVERYONE looking to move up and get a higher education. I'm a strong advocate for this gem in the dirt. If you have any questions about CCC or the professors, you are welcome to message me. read more

The Culinary Department is wonderful. My sister, who already is a MSW, is going to become a Pastry Chef and if someone were to drop you right in the middle of the bakery you would swear you were in one of the best kitchens in an expensive restaurant. Great place for new and returning students. Didn't give it 5 stars because of the parking and anyone who goes there knows what I mean. read more

The counseling center is so great. The EOPS program was especially great and the counselors bent over backwards to make me feel welcome and make sure all the paperwork was properly filled out. Much love to EOPS!! read more

If you are a science major go here. I've had some of the best relationships with all of my science professors. The counselors can definitely lead you astray if you aren't careful. Go to a couple and get some different opinions about what you need to do to get out of there. read more

I'm nearing the end of my first semester at this school. After completing 4 years of school at San Francisco State University, transitioning to a community college is cake walk. There's something about community college I like. There are the elderly, middle-aged, and babies straight out of high school. Thugs. Ex-convicts (probably). Professionals. Post-bacs. No matter how different everyone is, everyone is on a level playing field in the classroom. They're united in one thing: to learn. And when people engage into one topic at hand, diversities emerge and are embraced, and you learn just a little bit more about people as a whole. Campus is small, a little outdated, but oh well. It gets the job done. I'm doing my prerequisites for the nursing program, and all my professors this semester are awesome. After my first experience at a community college, I definitely have more respect for two-year transfers. I see it now. Why rush into a costly 4 year university when you can take the same lower division classes at a community college for 12 bucks a unit? They did it right. read more

Teachers to take : History: Story or Ampim Anatomy: Barnes Math: Mead or Cruz or Anthro: Smithson (also at DVC) Computer classes: Watkins or Murphy Philo: Houston (weird but okay) PE: Kinnard or wait for a machine in "Personal Growth in Fitness" Physics: WONG Socio: Cromartie (ANAL but do ALL the work & you'll get an A) Speech: Guisto or Diestler Psych: heard Luckey was okay (DVC has short term take Fournier) ADJUS: Martin, Ramos, Keck, Gibson Drama: Davis Work Exp: Haneefa Shaibe ECHD: Moore, Sharref, Dr. B. Polsc: Landeros Three Season Cafe: Can't beat the prices! 3-10 for food Burgers are always on point Zucchini Bread MmM! AVOID AT ALL COSTS!!!!!! Math: Feldman and Baptise PE/HED: Goehring Shambrook Soong My overall experience has been with all 3 colleges. If you stay ontop of things, ignore and avoid the drama CCC is exactly what it should be a stepping stone into getting a certificate or degree. As far as the visual aspect College of San Mateo is way better and CCC needs a facelift. read more

Surprise! High quality college education located in San Pablo? YES! And I have a BA from SFSU and a teaching credential from CSUEastBay, so I've had a lot of college... but alas, I'm going here for my nursing prereqs now and I feel truly fortunate to be here. I've had terrific instructors and have learned a lot. The work is challenging and relevant. I've got to give a shout out to Dr. Debra Barnes (Anatomy and Physiology) - probably the best professor around! Bonus: Tues, Weds, Thurs. you can get a cheap gourmet lunch at the Culinary School restaurant. read more

This school has the best teaches I have ever met (Professors Hyangsug and Schaller, especially), however that is where the positivity stops. The students here are the worst behaved people I have ever seen. Disobedient, disrespectful, dishonest, disruptive, I could go on. The faculty and staff will not stop pushing their race politics. Black Lives Matter has recently been responsible for at least a half dozen murders (against blacks) and over a million dollars is property damages. The CCC staff has homemade BLM posters in their offices and promote joining this movement. I personally was in a class with three BLM members and they disrupted the class all time, even going so far as to stand on a desk and demand that all the white students not speak. One of them would scream at the teacher and try to rally the other students behind her against the staff. I have personally seen black students being encouraged to antagonize white students by staff. I spoke with the head of the math department (he sat down to talk to me about an altercation I witnessed) and I have never met a person who was more dismissive of safety. I really care about the safety of the teachers and the students at this school, and at others. Promoting racial segregation is not the way to do it. It has never once worked in our nation's history. read more

No comprehensive review needed. As a former student and current patron of it's social programs I can say that this college has and continues to be a invaluable resource for the community. After graduating from here I was able to attend UC Davis and find my current job. If I lived closer I would likely still be taking classes there for self enrichment alone. I encourage everyone to experience this place for themselves before forming an opinion. My opinion is that this is a great place to begin higher levels of education. read more

Contra Costa College - Morning clinic. - Colleges & Universities Near Me - San Pablo, California

I know I have only been in school for one week, and i am only a part time student, and this is my first semester here at CCC, but I have to admit, this GHETTO community college seems to me, like its going to be cool. I know I am only taking a few culinary courses, and a computer arts course, but the feel of the campus, students and teachers has already made an impact on me. When I walk onto campus, I am surrounded by people of color. Not the typical surroundings of any type of college. So far my teachers have required very few books, and are utilizing online resources to keep costs at a minimum, taking into consideration the fact that schooling is expensive, and for the students at CCC, buying books could deter a student from taking classes. I just think that the school and staff are making every possible effort to make a higher education attainable for everybody. And i think that the students who put in the effort to tap into this resource are grateful, and are better off for it. read more

I attend CCC 1999-2003. It was high school all over again because of Middle College. I wasn't impress with a few instructors that I had. The counselors were horrible but after I left it gotten a little better. The library improved. I would give it a 4 stars but I am using exprience. read more

Super photojournalism department! top notch. Great school. Not flawless, but pretty good.

Nothing like an urban education. Use the resources and pursue your dreams, your reality, your life. read more

Contra Costa College - Colleges & Universities Near Me - San Pablo, California

Currently enrolled in the PACE program and all the classes and teachers are great. Campus is a little dated but it does it's job! read more

The college offers excellent remote classes during Covid 19 pandemic. The professors are exceptional and caring.

Did the culinary program here a few years ago and loved it. But there was a different staff then (better, at least in my opinion). I think some parts of it (the program) have gone down but they've upgraded a couple of things. read more

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CCC is a good school, but I feel like they are lacking in some areas. If you are interested in computer programming, than this is a great place to go. If you are interested in computer networking; like Cisco training, than look somewhere else. I went to CCC back in 2006 as a undeclared major since they didn't have computer networking; they have PC repair, but the only thing they have in computers are programming and web-design. I tried programming (didn't like it) and I did web-design before (I thought it was cool, but it didn't feel right for me). I will admit that most of the teachers actually care about the students; you have people from all walks of life; thugs, ex-con's, geeks, nerds, etc... The only reason I knocked down a star was because of the neighborhood the college is in; if you work during the day, and go to school at night....I would suggest you find another school to go too. The parking lot at night is very dark and kind of dangerous; there are bushes and trees everywhere and a lot of dark areas on the campus. Keep an eye on your surroundings if you need to go CCC at night. Either than that, this is an awesome school. read more

I just wanted to say the teachers I have had at this college have been some of the most caring, amazing instructors. Throughout my college career, I never had professors I felt like REALLY cared. I feel blessed to have gone through Anatomy, Physio and interpersonal communication at this college. I even had a professor purchase me books off amazon to help me with a major family fallout. I really cannot day enough good things about the professors I had here. read more

I love this school. It may be deceiving from the outside (hence, ghetto area), but the professors (or at least the ones I had) are very helpful and approachable! I know this school is great for their Culinary, Journalism, and Nursing. I know a lot of my friends who achieved higher in each of these 3 majors. There might be more good majors, but I'm not familiar to which ones. And I'm darn proud to be a Nursing student here. Go Comets!! read more

Ghetto, yes. But CCC has a very good crown jewel - a real auto tech department that has the best collision repair department in the Bay Area, and possibly the state and is one of I-CAR's testing facilties. I'm taking night courses there. The auto mechanics program needs some work - no pun intended, but for $20 a semester, it beats WyoTech and their USC-like tution. read more

Fantastic place for an evening walk around the field. Or maybe even a swim the library is great and the restaurant is highly rated. The school is fantastically redone bring it up to the new future for the education of the children. Recommend it to all read more

I feel like this college campus gets a bad rep. I have attended two other community colleges and I have to say this one tops all of them. The location is not in the greatest area, however, the faculty/staff are so welcoming and helpful. A lot of the teachers will go above and beyond to help students succeed in courses. There are also a lot of opportunities for tutoring for those students who need the extra help. The library is huge and very resourceful. There is a gym as well where you can work out. Overall, I love the campus. read more

The college, in general, may be doing well, but the Drama department is way below standard, even for a community college. If you want to learn something about theater, you'll be much better off volunteering for a local community theater production than paying tuition and fees to spend several weeks with incompetent, bored and occasionally hostile instructors. Avoid the part-time evening faculty at all costs. read more

Contra Costa College is one of the more diversified and socially conscious junior college institutions that I have attended and had the pleasure of learning from its professors. Like most, maybe even all, colleges, there are wonder professors, and professors that make you question their very existence and transition into becoming a person who could hold such a respectable title. CCC has it's pluses, and negatives. Nevertheless, its positives, in my honest belief, hold more true and outweigh the negatives it holds to its image. I have taken many classes so far, ranging in almost every subject except for the sciences (not necessarily required for Comm Studies major) and computer science classes. I am happy to be transferring from here to SF State next Fall, and feel that it took just a handful of teachers to show me a path that works for me as an upper-division transfer student. Although I have attended other community colleges, I feel a closer relationship with this school mainly because of family ties: my parents have attended here as new immigrants after leaving Thailand. My cousins have come here and gone. My friends from high school have come and gone, some lucky enough to transfer to UC's such as Berkeley, LA, Davis, and the like. I would, however, must point out that the social community here is lackluster at best. There is very little involvement from the student body relative to its size that actually remains aware of campus activities, nor is there a diversity notable from my perspective for students and alike to learn or be exposed to. The school is underfunded, though the newly constructed library is a sight for sore eyes. Professor Brightman, though not a previous professor of mine, has retired and yet remains a legend among tall tales given by professor Cromartie and professor Ampim and others alike. The college football/basketball/volleyball teams have not won many matches during their respective seasons, but show signs of improvement from previous years. Uplifting still, to hear news of improvement in team-based sports on this campus. The Art department is underfunded, having little resources like computers capable of full-on digital editing in photo and film mediums for all of its Art majors to utilize. John Diestler, Art Dept. chair, is a wonderful and well-versed professor, however. He is a practicing photographer and has many mind-boggling Youtube videos for his students in American Cinemas class (I recommend taking this class in the summer for an easy A/interesting experience). I can go on about the Advocate, the Culinary program, or even the automotive technologies program hosted on campus, but that can be discussed/shared by another student. Overall, the staff here is willing and helpful to students that are passionate about pursuing their goals an are adamant in solidifying their roles as responsible and hard-working students who want to succeed in life and in their careers. The one thing I still don't like, and surprised that it doesn't really irk many others, is the dehumanizing snickering of fellow students to females who "show too much" on campus. Some girls enjoy the attention, while others definitely seem to hate it, yet no one says a word, and pretends like the world just keeps ticking without stopping for a second to pause, turn around, and tell that snickering guy to STFU and to have more respect. It also bothers me that the school has such a long history and diverse student body that there is little to do in terms of social club/event activity besides the few that do exist. I expect this to change as the future student bodies that take over become more socially aware and voice their interests on campus. The admissions staff, who are also every undercut via budgets and under-staffed, are also helpful and never seem to fail in finding an answer or scheduling a counselor's appointment for me. An effective and responsive Admissions department is key for determining a responsible college that actively helps take care of its student body and is genuinely interested in higher education. read more

Very well maintenance school. Most staff I dealt with from varies departments are super sweet and helpful. Looking forward to attending another semester. read more

I enjoy being a student at Contra Costa College. The teachers are nice and caring. I will be transferring next year to either SF State, Berkeley or East Bay State - to these Universities just because I choose to. read more

I don't know where to begin with this institution of "higher" learning. I suppose I'll start with the positives: The campus is pretty. It has grass, trees, trails, and lots of wild turkeys. It feels like a real college campus with quads and so forth, rather than just a couple of square blocks cut out of a gridline development. The faculty - There are some excellent instructors at CCC. Specifically, I recommend Dr. Barnes for anatomy & physiology, and Dr. Ledbetter (AKA Dr. Shorts) for chemistry. There are some other instructors I had that were very good as well, but alas, they have retired. Now for the bad... Location & safety - Let's avoid euphemisms and hinting around the point - this is a ghetto school. There's plenty of people at CCC that I would not want to meet in a dark alley (or just about anywhere else). I have never had a problem at CCC, but there are incidents of violence (including a shooting back in 1996). The bus stop is the most notorious area on campus. If you are taking night classes, be aware of your surroundings, walk in well lighted areas, and stay alert. Staff & administration - This is by far (by massive leaps and bounds, I mean the size that Superman would take) the worst aspect of CCC. The staff and much of the administration is completely incompetent. Ignorance of policies, procedures, and just about every other aspect of running a college is the standard. If you ask someone that has been working there for 20 years to do their job, it's like dealing with a first day employee with no training. Be prepared to learn everything you need to know about getting through college completely on your own, or with the help of friends/family that know how to maneuver through dysfunctional bureaucracies. In addition to the incompetence, be prepared to encounter a serious attitude when trying to get something done, especially anything even remotely out of the ordinary. If you have any expectations whatsoever of a functional institution, leave them behind or choose another campus (such as DVC). Faculty - I realize that I already addressed this subject, but there is a flip side to the positive aspect that I already mentioned. Along with the staff & administration, there are some extremely poor instructors as well. If you are considering taking classes, I'd look up the instructor's name on ratemyprofessor.com and teacherreviews.com. If you really want to know what a professor is like, check the current schedule and sit in on one of their classes. Nothing is worse that being stuck with a bad professor, so please, do your homework before enrolling. A word to the wise - Once you are able to register at CCC, you can also do so at the two sister campuses in the district (DVC & LMC). If the location and timing is doable (for example, a weekly night class at DVC), you might wish to consider the sister campuses also. read more

I've had nothing but terrible experiences here. The college campus is small but that is what I like, so that wasn't a problem. The parking here can get a bit crazy and paying for parking and permit passes can be a hassle. Finding your classes is easy but can be confusing if it's your first time here. I did take a couple of classes here and they were terrible. The teacher had no idea what she was taking about and all the students acted like snobs. The campus is old and there a lot of things that aren't unkept, like certain classrooms and locker rooms. The staff here are a complete joke. They all seem to hate their job and take their sweet time helping you. Financial aid people are even worse, they insist that you have an appointment and don't help you very much at all. The campus itself is located in San Pablo, borderline Richmond so you will have occasional people wandering around campus or around the parking lot areas. That being said, be careful at night here if you are taking night classes - guys and girls! I wouldn't recommended going here, if you can go to DVC instead, way better staff, classes, students and the area it's in is way better, nicer and safer. read more

Overall, my academic experience was ok but dealing with their Admission and Records was a nightmare. First, they charge me out of state tuition even though I am a California resident. After filling out all the necessary paperwork, they still gave me the run around about my refund which is over $800. This paperwork sat on someone's desk since September 2013. I have since taken classes the following 2 semesters and paid in state fees. After going back and forth consistently everyday for the last 2 weeks, making phones calls, emailing everyone, and standing in long lines, they final approved my refund. Just when I thought it was over, I am told that they do not process refunds in the office and it will be mailed to me in 10 business days that doesn't include Friday because they are closed. Now that's convenient for them. Their entire system is a joke and not designed to be convenient for the student or anyone that doesn't take control. You will have to be annoying and in everyone's face to get any result. Do not give them any time to do something make them live up to their 24 hour assurance line which is a load of crap. read more