Cabrillo College began in 1959 in an old high school with a total enrollment of 400 students. The school is named after Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo, a Portuguese explorer who led the first European expedition to explore the coast of California in 1542. The college currently enrolls more than 17,000 students and offers more than 70 programs, granting associate’s degrees and certificates.
| Overall Score (about) | 66.3 |
| Total Cost On-Campus Attendance | $3,016 |
| Admission Success rate | N/A |
| Student Ratio Students-to-Faculty | 18 : 1 |
| Retention (full-time / part-time) | 72% / 50% |
| Enrollment Total (all students) | 11,321 |
Cabrillo is two-year community college in Aptos, California with an enrollment of more than 17,000 students. The main campus overlooks Monterrey Bay. It is one of 110 public community colleges in California.
Academic programs include associate’s degrees and certificates in more than 70 fields of study, such as computer science, engineering, public safety, marine biology and the arts. It’s allied health school offers degrees in nursing, radiologic technology, dental hygiene and medical assistant.
The Career Technical Education program allows students to earn certificates in a number of different careers. For example, the journalism program prepares students for jobs that don’t require a bachelor’s degree, but give them the skills to find work. Other areas of study in this program include accounting, criminal justice and real estate.
The college is closely connected to the business world in Silicon Valley and the greater San Francisco Bay area, and the college offers basic skills courses and courses for business, professional and personal development to help students gain employment in those areas if they desire. A number of non-credit classes are available through the Extension program. Accreditation is granted by the Accrediting Commission of Community and Junior Colleges of the Western Association of Schools and Colleges.
There are two extension campuses. The Watsonville Center is located in southern Santa Cruz County and is set up for residents in the area to take classes without having to commute to Aptos. The Scotts Valley Campus is located in Scotts Valley, California. It is a satellite campus of the main school.
Admissions are open. Students have to complete six steps to gain admission. They must fill out the school’s application form, and there is no fee to do so. Next, they must apply for financial aid. Then, they must complete the online orientation. Next, the school administers assessment tests for the following areas: math, biology, chemistry and English. After a meeting with an academic advisor, the student is allowed to register for classes and pay their tuition and fees. The school will process an application within two weeks.
Students have a lot of options when applying financial aid. The school offers scholarships to students on a competitive basis each year with potential, achievement, and financial need used as criteria. The general scholarship program is funded through private donations. The awards range from $500-$2,500. The individual schools and departments also offer scholarships, including the Marguerite Blaisdell Nursing Scholarship, the Pajaro Valley Community Health Trust, and the Engineering Scholarhip. Many private citizens and community organizations have also endowed scholarships, and Santa Cruz County high school seniors are also eligible for special awards.
There are a number of different options available for students in terms of clubs and organizations on campus. The school has more than 30 clubs, including the Bike Cooperative, which provides bike tool access, mechanical training, work space, discounted parts and supplies to its members; and the Latina Leadership Network, which focuses on leadership development, education and advocacy while addressing concerns in values, culture and race.
The campus features the Robert E. Swenson Library, a collection of services for students that makes it the busiest learning center. The library has a large online database collection for research, a book collection covering all campus instruction, a reserve collection of textbooks and materials required for many classes.
Aptos, California is a city in Santa Cruz county that has a population of about 6,200. It features a number of outdoor recreation opportunities. The Forest of Nisene Marks State Park and Seacliff State Beach California state parks are located there. The Nisene Marks is well-regarded by hikers and mountain bikers. Being on the California cost, Aptos beaches are popular surfing and bodyboarding spots. Freeride biking and street skateboarding are also very popular there.
Aptos residents typical pursue entertainment options in nearby Santa Cruz. The Aptos Cinemas movie theater shows indie movies and the 30-year-old Erik’s DeliCafe is nearby. There are also several local bars like the Brittania Arms and Manuel’s Restaurant, which is a local landmark that has served Mexican food for over three decades. Other restaurants include Ma Maison, Bittersweet Bistro, Palapas, Sanderlings, and Cafe Sparrow.
There are a number of entertainment options in Santa Cruz. The downtown area is known for its shopping and local businesses. There are also a number of bars, restaurants and night clubs. The city is known for its outdoor recreational activities, including several state parks and beaches such as Lighthouse Field State Beach, Natural Bridges State Beach, Santa Cruz Mission State Historic Park, Twin Lakes State Beach, and Seabright State Beach. Santa Cruz has five greenbelt districts and the area is well-known for its sailing, diving, swimming, paddling and surfing opportunities.
The area is also well-known for its culture. Santa Cruz is home to the Santa Cruz Arboretum, Mission Santa Cruz, the Santa Cruz Museum of Natural History, the Santa Cruz Museum of Art & History and the Santa Cruz Surfing Museum. Musical and drama options include the Santa Cruz County Symphony, Shakespeare Santa Cruz, and the Santa Cruz Film Festival.
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