Santa Ana College (SAC) is known for its highly regarded academic programs as well as its top-ranked student services. A wide variety of courses are available in business, mathematics and sciences, arts and humanities, and career and technical education. SAC offers 253 degrees and certificates in credit programs. The college offers 31 Associate Degrees for Transfers. In fall 2017, SAC began offering a bachelor’s degree in Occupational Studies.
SAC turned 100 years old in 2015. In 1915, Santa Ana Junior College opened its doors to 26 students as an upper division branch of Santa Ana High School. The college began with 11 faculty members and 20 courses. It was the second junior college founded in Orange County and is the sixth oldest in all of California.
Highlights
Santa Ana College is one of 20 community colleges selected to participate in the California Guided Pathways Project, an initiative designed to substantially increase the number of students who earn a certificate or degree.
SAC was listed as No. 15 nationwide of Top 100 4-year schools for total enrollment for Hispanic students and No. 2 in Top 10 Schools by Major (Humanities) by
Hispanic Outlook on Education magazine in August 2019.
The SAC Foundation awarded nearly $545,000 in scholarships for the 2019-2020 academic year.
Through the Santa Ana Promise Program, SAC offers eligible SAUSD graduates free tuition for their first year of college.
The California Community Colleges Board of Governors selected SAC as one of 15 colleges to participate in a landmark pilot program allowing them to offer bachelor’s degrees in vocational fields. SAC offers a bachelor’s degree in Occupational Studies.
SAC is one of 24 community colleges statewide that participates in the Community Colleges Pathway to Law School initiative, providing students a smoother road to six of California’s top law schools.
SAC’s
Distance Education Program offers students the opportunity to earn their associate degree online in business administration, psychology and liberal arts. The college also is a Certified Peer Online Course Review Campus, a designation of the Online Education Initiative.
Thanks to the passage of Measure Q, a $198 million general obligation bond, SAC has undergone several renovation projects, such as the central plant and utility infrastructure. In addition, the new Johnson Student Center and a Science Center are being constructed.
The 2018-2019 Santa Ana College el Don student newspaper won the Associated Collegiate Press National Pacemaker Award.
Programs and Services
While Santa Ana College offers numerous concentrations or majors leading to the associate degree in science or arts, it also offers off-site programs for students seeking to improve their working, speaking, and math skills and proficiency in technology so they can pursue other goals.
Off-campus facilities
Centennial Education Center:
Home of one of the state’s largest continuing education programs, Centennial Education Center provides the full spectrum of adult education courses for adult learners. In addition to English as a Second Language courses, the center offers adult basic education, citizenship, high school completion, parent education and vocational training.
Remington Education Center (REC):
The center provides adult education courses including English as a Second Language, High School Equivalency and Career and Technical Education. The REC also includes a Child Development Center.
Orange County Sheriff’s Regional Training Academy:
Located in Tustin, this facility enables Santa Ana College and the Sheriff’s Department to serve more than 800 Academy cadets annually through expanded weekend and evening education and training opportunities for existing law enforcement officers in Orange County and around the state.
Joint Powers Fire Training Center:
This facility is used for fire technology and applied practice courses. Operated jointly by the college district and the City of Huntington Beach, it is used by both students enrolled in the Fire Academy as well as by fire professionals for continuing education purposes.
Digital Media Center (DMC):
A facility of both the college district and the college, the Digital Media Center houses one of the largest TV/video production studios in the community college system, digital graphic design labs, and classrooms. The facility also houses the county’s only business incubator for the digital media industry.
Santa Ana College is part of the Rancho Santiago Community College District serving the following communities:
Anaheim Hills, Orange, Santa Ana, Villa Park, and portions of Anaheim, Costa Mesa, Irvine, Fountain Valley, Garden Grove, and Tustin.
