Community colleges with on-campus housing

Housing

One 192-bed apartment-style complex of four three-story buildings on the 280-acre Sierra-foothills campus. Two-bedroom / one-bath apartments (~750 sq ft) configured for 2 (single-occupancy) or 4 (double-occupancy) residents. Furnished bedrooms; full kitchen; utilities + internet included. Live-in residence life coordinator + 4 RAs.

Cost: ~$7,450 (double, ~10-month academic year) · ~$12,300 (single, same period). Per person, monthly: $745 (double) or $1,230 (single).

Meal plan: No mandatory meal plan — kitchens in every unit; students supply kitchenware.

Apply: Fall 2025-26 application opened April 7, 2025; move-in August 22, 2025.

Distinguishing programs

• Fire Technology / Fire Academy — one of only two CA community colleges that operates its own on-campus fire station (350+ calls/year via JPA with Tuolumne County Fire and CAL FIRE)
• Forestry & Natural Resources (recently expanded via Greater Valley CCC partnership)
• Hospitality (Mother Lode tourism)
• Equestrian arena on campus

Setting & climate

Sierra Nevada foothills, in the historic Mother Lode adjacent to Yosemite (Yosemite's north entrance ~80 mi east). Four mild seasons; occasional winter snow; hot dry summers; high wildfire season.

Travel

~155 mi from Aptos · ~2 hr 45 min – 3 hr · CA-152 → CA-99 → CA-108

Nearest airport: Sacramento (SMF) ~110 mi or Fresno (FAT) ~135 mi. On-campus general-aviation Columbia Airport (O22) is non-commercial.

Tuition: $46/unit CA resident; full-time ≈ $1,282–$1,380/year. Out-of-state ~$9,264/year.

Housing

Three properties: Hillside Dorms (apartment-style on main campus, 160 beds), The Meadows (downtown Quincy apartments, 28 beds), The Pines (traditional double-corridor dorm downtown, 50 beds). All bedrooms double-occupancy; utilities, internet, on-site laundry included. ~12% of students live on campus — among the highest residential percentages in the CCC system.

Cost: ~$5,000–$5,400 / 2-semester academic year. 2026-27 published rates: one-bedroom $2,625–$2,700 / sem; two-bedroom $2,500–$2,575 / sem. Plus $400 security deposit, $25 activity fee, $25–40 parking.

Meal plan: No meal plan offered — apartments have kitchens; The Pines has shared kitchenettes.

Apply: Rolling admission; apply early as housing fills first.

Distinguishing programs

• B.S. in Equine & Ranch Management — one of the FIRST 15 BACCALAUREATE PROGRAMS in CCC history (CCC Baccalaureate Pilot, fall 2016; permanent status confirmed 2022)
• B.S. in Ecosystem Restoration & Applied Fire Management (CCC Baccalaureate expansion cohort)
• Active rodeo team (NIRA, since 2002)
• Pre-vet, ranch management, performance horse focus

Setting & climate

Northern Sierra, surrounded by Plumas National Forest. Cold snowy winters (snow Dec–Mar), mild summers. Truly remote — nearest small city is Reno.

Travel

~310 mi from Aptos · ~5 hr 15 min – 5 hr 45 min · I-680 → I-80 → CA-70

Nearest airport: Reno-Tahoe (RNO) ~83 mi / 1 hr 30 min — far closer than Sacramento.

Tuition: $46/unit CA resident; full-time ≈ $1,380/year. B.S. upper-division: $130/unit (CCC Baccalaureate fee structure).

Housing

Two single-sex residence halls: Gordon Hall (~119 beds, men) and Ivans Hall (~50 beds, women). Double-occupancy rooms, furnished. Cable + Wi-Fi + computer lab + game room included. Doesn't cover winter/spring breaks.

Cost: ~$7,660–$8,354 / academic year (combined room + board). 14-meal/wk: $3,830/sem · 19-meal/wk: $4,177/sem. $125 deposit. 12-unit minimum + 2.0 GPA required.

Meal plan: MANDATORY meal plan — 14 or 19 meals/week (covers room + board combined).

Apply: Apply by July 1 (fall) / Dec 1 (spring).

Distinguishing programs

• Agriculture (crop production, ag business) with farm operation on-site
• Water Technology — Central Valley water-management focus, regionally vital
• Industrial Technology
• 70+ degrees and certificates
• No baccalaureate (associate-only)

Setting & climate

Western San Joaquin (Central) Valley, cold semi-arid (BSk). Hot summers averaging 100°F highs in July; cool winters; very low rainfall. Surrounded by oil fields and ag land.

Travel

~165 mi from Aptos · ~2 hr 45 min · US-101 → CA-198 → I-5

Nearest airport: Fresno-Yosemite (FAT) ~52 mi / ~1 hr east.

Tuition: $46/unit CA resident; full-time ≈ $1,380/year. Total annual on-campus cost-of-attendance estimate $15,127–$15,359 including room/board/books/personal.