Santa Ana, Calif.–Recognizing its academic quality, graduation rate, cost, return on investment, and student resources, Santa Ana College was named one of the Best Community Colleges in California for 2023 by Intelligent.com, a higher education resource website.
“This prestigious honor reflects the dedication of our faculty, staff, and students,” said Dr. Annebelle Nery, president of Santa Ana College (SAC). “Thanks to our outstanding educators, programs, services, and academia, we are poised to provide our deserving students with high-quality education at an affordable rate, preparing the next generation of professionals and community leaders.”
Nery said SAC is committed to offering student-centered programs and services to all students. Student resources include financial aid, the Health & Wellness center, the Thrive Center, honors program and honors courses, MESA (Math, Engineering, Science & Achievement) program, and much more.
Founded in 1915, SAC offers associate degrees, certificate programs, and a university transfer program, as well as a baccalaureate degree in Occupational Studies. The college also offers fire and criminal justice academies, a paralegal and pathway to law school program, career education programs, and non-credit programs through its School of Continuing Education for students desiring to enhance their skills.
To prepare its 2023 list, Intelligent.com identified top schools in the state based on tuition costs, the number of credits required to graduate, and the online coursework delivery format. The higher education research guide implemented a unique methodology that ranked each institution on a scale from 0 to 100 across six categories. The scoring system compared each school’s tuition costs, admission, retention and graduation rates, faculty, reputation, and the student resources provided for online students. Santa Ana College earned a score of 80.28.
According to Intelligent.com, studies show that obtaining a degree increases income substantially, with graduates earning 84 percent more than those with only high school diplomas or those without a completed GED. The percentage difference in earnings continues to grow with higher learning degrees, such as master's, doctoral or professional degrees, with the unemployment rate decreasing to as much as 1.6 percent for those with a doctorate.
To access the complete ranking, please visit https://www.intelligent.com/best-community-colleges/california/#santa_ana_college. Questions about this release can be directed to Dalilah Davaloz, public information officer, Davaloz_dalilah@sac.edu.
About Santa Ana College
Santa Ana College (SAC), which turned 100 years old in 2015, serves about 20,000 students each semester. The college prepares students for transfer to four-year institutions and provides workforce training for business and industry. In addition, another 11,000 students are served through the college's School of Continuing Education located at Centennial Education Center. Ranked as one of the nation's top, two-year colleges awarding associate degrees to Latino and Asian students, the college is also recognized throughout the state for its comprehensive workforce training programs for nurses, firefighters, law enforcement and medical personnel. SAC is one of two comprehensive colleges under the auspices of the Rancho Santiago Community College District.
About Intelligent.com
Intelligent.com provides unbiased research to help students make informed decisions about higher education programs. The website offers curated guides that include the best degree programs as well as information about financial aid, internships, and even study strategies. With comprehensive, user-friendly guides and hundreds of program rankings, Intelligent.com is a trusted source among students and prospective students. To learn more, please visit https://www.intelligent.com/.
