Cupertino, CApublicdeanza.edu
Acceptance & SAT from Common Data Set / IPEDS; net price, earnings & graduation from the U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard. Figures lag ~1–2 years — verify with the school.
De Anza College is a powerhouse among California community colleges, known for its Silicon Valley adjacency, robust transfer pipeline to top universities, and an academic menu rivaling many four-year schools. With a 100% acceptance rate and a scrappy, diverse student body, it delivers exceptional value—evidenced by graduation rates that outpace national averages and a price tag that won't induce sticker shock.
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Outcomes & value
Earnings = median of students working ~10 years after entry; debt = median of graduates. Value divides 10-yr earnings by one year’s net price — read it as earnings per dollar of annual cost, not a full lifetime ROI; it favors lower-cost schools. Source: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard. Figures lag ~2 years and reflect all students, not your intended major.
Campus & location
On-campus criminal offenses classed as violent (murder/non-negligent manslaughter, rape, robbery, aggravated assault) for the most recent reported year. Source: U.S. Dept. of Education Campus Safety and Security (Clery Act). Counts reflect what’s reported to the school, and urban campuses often report more partly due to non-student incidents nearby — read alongside campus size and setting, not as a standalone safety verdict.
Pleasant days counts days per year with a mean temperature of 55–75°F, a high at or below 90°F, a low at or above 45°F, and little precipitation — a transparent comfort measure, not a weighting we invented. Computed from Open-Meteo ERA5 daily history (2019–2023). Natural-hazard risk is the county’s composite rating from the FEMA National Risk Index.
Institutional research volume and impact from OpenAlex. The h-index reflects large research universities and will be low for teaching-focused liberal-arts colleges — not a measure of undergraduate quality.
De Anza operates on an open-door policy—literally. The college accepts 100% of applicants who meet basic residency requirements, with no SAT/ACT scores or minimum GPA thresholds ([Niche](https://www.niche.com/colleges/de-anza-college/), [Admission Requirements](https://www.deanza.edu/apply-and-register/admission-requirements.html)). International students face slightly more structured timelines, with four annual intake periods ([ISP Admissions](https://www.deanza.edu/international/future-students/)).
De Anza’s academic arsenal is staggering for a community college: 84 associate degrees, 119 credit certificates, and a bachelor’s degree in Environmental Studies ([Academics](https://www.deanza.edu/academics/)). Its 1,800+ course catalog includes Silicon Valley-aligned credentials like six new AI programs ([New Programs](https://www.deanza.edu/academics/new.html)).
Top majors reflect both practicality and intellectual range:
Students praise the “insane” course variety and instructor quality, with many professors holding advanced degrees ([Quora review](https://www.quora.com/What-is-your-review-of-De-Anza-College)). The college’s quarter system accelerates progress—and workload.
This commuter school won’t mistake itself for a Big Ten campus, but it punches above its weight with 60+ clubs, DIII athletics, and events like hackathons ([Campus Life](https://www.deanza.edu/campus-life/)). The Office of College Life orchestrates everything from ID cards to cultural festivals ([OCL](https://www.deanza.edu/collegelife/)).
De Anza’s 61.2% completion rate crushes the national average for two-year colleges ([Chronicle report](https://www.deanza.edu/news/2018/20180829chronicle.html)). Other sources peg its 150% graduation rate even higher at 69.2% ([Higher Ed Outcomes](http://www.higheredoutcomes.com/report/graduation-rate-outcomes-summary?field_ins_sector_target_id_1=All&field_ins_state_target_id=All&title=&order=field_gr_100&sort=asc&page=143)).
At $46/unit for in-state students, De Anza is a bargain—but living costs in Cupertino sting ([Cost of attendanceThe full estimated yearly cost of a college: tuition, fees, housing, food, books, and other expenses, before any financial aid.](https://www.deanza.edu/financialaid/apply/cost.html)). The average financial aid package is $4,509/year ([Niche](https://www.niche.com/colleges/de-anza-college/scholarships-financial-aid/)).
De Anza is the community college that acts like a university, with research opportunities, NCAA teams, and academic rigor atypical for its sector. Its Cupertino location means tech internships at Apple or Google are a short bus ride away. The college’s secret sauce? Flexibility without fluff—open admissions paired with outcomes that defy expectations.