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Woodland Hills, CApublicwww.lapc.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.
Los Angeles Pierce College is a sprawling, open-admission community college in Woodland Hills with a 93% acceptance rate and a strong transfer pipeline to UC and CSU campuses. Known for its agricultural science program (complete with a working farm) and robust student life, it serves a diverse population of over 17,000 students with affordable tuition and extensive financial aid options.
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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.
Pierce College operates on an open admissions policy, accepting 93% of applicants (2,088 out of 2,238 applicants in recent data). The school enrolled 16,906 students in a recent cycle, with a gender split of 41% male and 59% female. Transfer success is a key focus: Pierce students transferring to UC Berkeley had a 35% admit rate with an average GPA of 3.85, while UCLA transfers saw a 43% admit rate (GPA 3.79). No SAT/ACT scores are required, aligning with California community college policies.
Pierce offers 60+ associate degrees and certificates, with standout programs in Agricultural Science (featuring a campus farm), Hospitality Management, and Media Arts. The college organizes its curriculum into , including:
Popular majors include Liberal Arts (general studies), Business Administration, and Biological Sciences. The campus emphasizes hands-on learning, with facilities like a botanical garden and media production labs.
The 1,426-acre campus (one of California’s largest community colleges) blends urban access with rural charm, featuring a farm, botanical garden, and fitness center. Student life thrives through:
International students praise the supportive culture, while the Fitness Center and outdoor spaces encourage an active lifestyle. The campus hosts events like farm-to-table dinners using produce grown on-site.
Pierce reports a 45% graduation rate and 31% transfer-out rate, with strong pipelines to UC and CSU systems. Key stats:
Transfer success is a highlight: 75% admit rate to CSU Los Angeles (avg GPA 3.16) and 77% to UC Merced.
Tuition is $46/unit for California residents ($11,880 annual total cost including fees, books, and living expenses). Financial aid is widely available:
The Net Price Calculator helps estimate costs after aid. Over 60% of students receive some form of assistance, including fee waivers and work-study.
Pierce combines open access with strong outcomes, particularly for transfers to top UCs. Its Agricultural Science program (with a student-run farm selling produce at farmers' markets) and Media Arts facilities offer rare hands-on training at the community college level. The Caring Campus program builds an unusually supportive culture, while the massive, greenery-filled campus defies urban college stereotypes. For Angelenos seeking affordable pathways to four-year degrees or career training, Pierce delivers both rigor and community.