Barstow Community College (BCC) Introduction and Academics

Introduction

Barstow Community College (BCC) is a higher learning institution located in Barstow, California with two local satellite campuses. It was founded in 1959, and the present-day campus was completed in 1964. Centered in the Mojave Desert, BCC offers Associate of Arts and Associate of Science degrees along with certificates in a wide range of fields. Students have the option of enrolling for traditional on-campus classes, online classes, or can choose to design a hybrid model of both physical classes with online learning.

The school is always growing to meet the demands of the local community, and is developing career training programs to educate future employees for California’s businesses.

Information Summary

Ranks 304th in California and 3228th overall. See the entire top 2,000 colleges and universities list
Overall Score (about)	47.6
Total Cost On-Campus Attendance	$3,397
Admission Success rate	N/A
Student Ratio Students-to-Faculty	31 : 1
Retention (full-time / part-time)	65% / 29%
Enrollment Total (all students)	3,052

Academics

BCC is accredited by the Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges, a division of the Western Association of Schools and Colleges.

Associate’s degrees are offered in humanities, social science, and natural science as well as a number of different occupational majors.

The college also offers a variety of certificate programs, including courses of study in accounting, cosmetology, diesel technology, management, information systems management, and welding. A separate Certificate of Achievement (Low-Unit) is available after only 18 hours of studying the following subjects: family day care, manicuring, network administration, and residential carpentry.

The online classes and services program is highly regarded. A wide selection of courses is available, as well as online tutoring. For students who are currently working, this can be a great way to continue on the path towards a degree while maintaining a full-time job.

Most Popular Fields of Study

Gallery

Unique Programs

The Learning Resource Center assists students through four distinct services: the library, tutoring center, computer commons, and instructional media services. Open Monday-Thursday from 9-5 and until 1PM on Friday, the tutoring service is free for all students, and also offers online math and English tutoring. For students with children, the tutoring center offers free homework help for children in grades 6-12.

Staying true to the strong spirit of community, the college also sponsors the Desert Heritage Writing Contest each winter. Participants submit entries in fiction, nonfiction, and poetry that are judged by a panel. From humble beginnings, today the prize pool for winners comes to nearly 3,000 annually.

SARCity runs during the second weekend of October each year. It’s sponsored by the Barstow Desert Rescue Squad in conjunction with the San Bernardino County Sheriff. Search and rescue is the theme, and this is widely recognized as one of the premier events for disciples of that important subject.

Admissions

Admission is open to any high school graduate, as well as students who have passed the GED. Any person 18 or older who the college deems can benefit from instruction is eligible to attend classes.

Financial Aid

Along with the standard suite of federal and state loans, private scholarships are awarded and administered on a case by case basis. Additionally, veterans and their dependents may be eligible for waivers from fees.

Student Financial Aid Details

Secrets to getting the best scholarships and financial aid in California.

Students

The campus is currently undergoing a significant renovation project, including a brand-new student services center that was finished in 2009. A performing arts center is also on schedule to be completed.

There are plenty of clubs for students to choose from. For students taking cosmetology classes, the Bridges to Beauty club is there to support their ongoing education. The multicultural club, established in 2002, includes groups from every conceivable background. For students with a 3.25GPA or higher, Phi Theta Kappa, the national honor society for two year colleges, has a branch.

There is also a strong presence maintained by the student government.

Student Enrollment Demographics

Athletics

The Vikings proudly sport the maize and blue on a number of different playing surfaces. Students enjoy cheering on the men’s and women’s basketball, as well as baseball, softball, and cross country.

Local Community

The city of Barstow is a hardy outpost of about 25,000 people located right in the heart of the Mojave Desert, at the entrance to the Mojave National Preserve. Students enjoy shopping at the Tanger Outlet Center and Barstow Outlet, which together have more than 100 stores to choose from.

The area is also filled with incredible natural attractions that are literally right in a student’s back door – the Mojave National Preserve is an incredibly diverse landscape unlike anything else in America, and the perfect place for an afternoon or evening hike. Also nearby is the Old Woman Springs Meteorite, the second largest ever found in the U.S.

Alumni

Several notable alumni of the BCC baseball team include Congressman Joe Baca, as well as former professional players Justine Leone, Danny Norman, and Greg Martinez.

Barstow Community College