Santiago Canyon College is a local community college that offers classes for transferable college credits and other courses and can help meet high school graduation requirements. There are courses for any type of student, including in-person classes on the campus and even online classes. Starting at a community college can help students find their passion in what they want to do later in life who might not have a specific idea. Not only that, but you can save thousands of dollars on college tuition because courses are free for all OUSD students. 

Early College Academy allows students to get two years of college credits while still being enrolled in high school.  There are fall and spring semesters, and you can sign up for the spring 2024 semester today. With over 50 areas of study available here, there is something for everyone’s interests. Looking at the areas of study, you can see if the course you would like to take is available for transferring credits for a later 4-year college. These eligible courses have a AA-T, associates degree of art for transfer, or an AS-T, associates degree of science for transfer. Some of these include biology, kinesiology, geography, and economics. All of these give the necessary credits to graduate with your degree of choice.

Not all courses offer transferable credits, but are useful in other ways. One of the courses is ASL, or American Sign Language, which will count for two years of language necessary for high school graduation. ASL is a growing need in California and interpreters can make upwards of $115,000 annually.  If you are interested in signing up for a course at SCC, there are tables with more information in the new quad during lunch on select days. The steps include: apply by filling out the online application, select your classes, fill out your Special Admit Form by getting it signed by a parent and your counselor and submit it to [email protected], attend orientation, and purchase necessary textbooks. Overall, community college is a great opportunity to get ahead of the curve and achieve your goals for success while saving money you would’ve spent on tuition.