San José has two public community-college campuses inside the city: San José City College (SJCC) on Moorpark Avenue and Evergreen Valley College (EVC) in the eastern foothills. Both are part of the San José-Evergreen Community College District, but they are separate campuses with different course schedules, facilities, and student services. A student choosing between them should start with the program map and the class schedule—not assume every subject is taught at both locations.
SJCC began in 1921 as San José Junior College, first using classrooms at the local high school. It moved to its current west-side site in 1953, and the new Career Education Complex opened in 2026 with labs and modern learning space. Evergreen Valley College opened in 1975 on the district’s east-side property. Its 155-acre campus has since added science and student-service buildings, a fitness center, and sports facilities. The two locations reflect a shared district mission in two very different parts of the city.
At both colleges, the California-resident enrollment fee is $46 per unit. A 12-unit term starts at $552, before required health, transportation, activity, and representation charges, books, tools, or program-specific fees. For 2026–27, EVC publishes a nine-month cost-of-attendance estimate of $23,450 for a student living with parents and $36,981 for one living off campus; that budget includes housing, meals, transportation, books, and personal expenses, so it is not the college bill. Nonresidents pay $389 per unit in additional tuition, plus the $46 enrollment fee; international students must also budget for required health coverage. Ask each financial-aid office for an estimate based on residency, credits, and program.
The admission process is approachable but still involves several steps. Applicants submit the California Community Colleges online application, then complete orientation, review placement guidance, meet with a counselor, and register for classes. Certain programs—such as nursing—have additional prerequisites and application steps. Associate degrees for transfer generally require at least 60 transferable semester units; a two-year plan assumes full-time study and a workable sequence of required courses. Career certificates can be shorter or longer, depending on the field and schedule. Use the college’s program map to see the exact credits and sequence for a chosen award.
Financial aid can include the federal Pell Grant, California grants, work-study, college or foundation scholarships, and the California College Promise Grant. The Promise Grant can waive the $46-per-unit enrollment fee for eligible students, but it does not erase every charge. Start a FAFSA or, where eligible, the California Dream Act application early; the colleges use them to determine aid and may request follow-up documents. SJCC also lists donor-funded scholarships and work-study. EVC posts scholarship opportunities and a student-services finder for support such as laptop loans and basic needs.
Students who are still building English skills have practical options at both locations. SJCC offers five ESL levels, with credit and noncredit courses plus a language lab that can support students enrolled in other subjects. EVC uses Guided Self-Placement to match learners with one of five levels and offers both credit ESL and noncredit certificates in reading and writing or listening and speaking. Some lower-level, noncredit EVC classes are offered with San José Public Library partners. These are language-learning routes, not an automatic placement into regular college classes; an ESL advisor can help students plan the transition.
Campus choice also affects the daily trip. SJCC is on Moorpark Avenue near Bascom Avenue and Highway 280; VTA buses stop on nearby streets, and the college makes an Eco Pass available to students for buses and light rail. EVC is farther east at 3095 Yerba Buena Road, with vehicle entrances from Yerba Buena and San Felipe roads. Both campuses have parking lots and permit rules, so check the official campus map and current parking page before a visit. The San José City College Main Campus profile details its new career complex, transfer planning, and ESL support; the Evergreen Valley College profile covers its pathways, student services, sports facilities, and parking.
For a first step, apply directly through the college’s Admissions and Records office and submit financial-aid forms as early as possible. Compare the term schedule with the major map, ask whether required courses are available at the campus you can reach, and request a written estimate of tuition, fees, books, and equipment. The district office can help with district-wide questions, but enrollment and most campus services are handled by SJCC or EVC individually.
Check current details and choose according to your budget, time and way of travelling.
Options to compare
These options relate to the question. Read each profile and check current details before deciding.
San José City College — Main Campus
2100 Moorpark Avenue, San José, CA 95128
Opened in 1921 as San José Junior College, this campus began in borrowed high-school classrooms and moved to Moorpark Avenue in 1953. Today the Main Campus is the college’s principal teaching site in west San José, where a new Career Education Complex brings modern classrooms, career labs, and space
Career Education Complex, transfer pathways, and English-language study at a century-old San José campus.
Evergreen Valley College — Main Campus
3095 Yerba Buena Road, San José, CA 95135
Evergreen Valley College opened in 1975 on land in San José’s eastern foothills. The 155-acre campus has grown from its first classes into a district hub for both transfer study and hands-on career training, with a newer Student Services Complex and buildings for science, language arts, and general
Six career pathways, a fitness center, veteran support, and athletics on a 155-acre eastern San José campus.
Sources & references
Sources for the information and reporting discussed in this guide.
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Official website of San José City College — Main Campus ↗
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San José City College · Accessed October 25, 2026
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Official website of San José City College — Main Campus ↗
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San José City College · Accessed October 25, 2026
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Official website of San José City College — Main Campus ↗
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San José City College · Accessed October 25, 2026
Primary source for identity, concept, menu, and contact details.
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Official website of San José City College — Main Campus ↗
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San José City College · Accessed October 25, 2026
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Official website of San José City College — Main Campus ↗
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San José City College · Accessed October 25, 2026
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Financial Aid and Scholarships ↗
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San José City College · Accessed October 25, 2026
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Official website of San José City College — Main Campus ↗
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San José City College · Accessed October 25, 2026
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Official website of San José City College — Main Campus ↗
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San José City College · Accessed October 25, 2026
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Official website of San José City College — Main Campus ↗
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San José City College · Accessed October 25, 2026
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Official website of San José City College — Main Campus ↗
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San José City College Marketing & Public Information · Accessed October 25, 2026
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Official website of San José City College — Main Campus ↗
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San José City College · Accessed October 25, 2026
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Official website of Evergreen Valley College — Main Campus ↗
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Evergreen Valley College · Accessed October 25, 2026
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Official website of Evergreen Valley College — Main Campus ↗
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Evergreen Valley College · Accessed October 25, 2026
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Official website of Evergreen Valley College — Main Campus ↗
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Evergreen Valley College · Accessed October 25, 2026
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Official website of Evergreen Valley College — Main Campus ↗
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Evergreen Valley College · Accessed October 25, 2026
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Admissions and Records ↗
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Evergreen Valley College · Accessed October 25, 2026
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financial-aid applications ↗
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Evergreen Valley College · Accessed October 25, 2026
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Official website of Evergreen Valley College — Main Campus ↗
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Evergreen Valley College Catalog · Accessed October 25, 2026
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Learn English (ESL) ↗
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Evergreen Valley College · Accessed October 25, 2026
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Official website of Evergreen Valley College — Main Campus ↗
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Evergreen Valley College · Accessed October 25, 2026
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Official website of Evergreen Valley College — Main Campus ↗
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Evergreen Valley College · Accessed October 25, 2026
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Official website of Evergreen Valley College — Main Campus ↗
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Evergreen Valley College · Accessed October 25, 2026
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Official website of Evergreen Valley College — Main Campus ↗
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Evergreen Valley College · Accessed October 25, 2026
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Official website of Evergreen Valley College — Main Campus ↗
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Evergreen Valley College · Accessed October 25, 2026
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Official website ↗
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San José City College · Accessed October 25, 2026
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Official website ↗
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Evergreen Valley College · Accessed October 25, 2026
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Official website ↗
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San José City College · Accessed October 25, 2026
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Official website ↗
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Evergreen Valley College · Accessed October 25, 2026
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Official website ↗
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San José City College · Accessed October 25, 2026
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Official website ↗
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Evergreen Valley College · Accessed October 25, 2026
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Official website ↗
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San José City College · Accessed October 25, 2026
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Official website ↗
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Evergreen Valley College · Accessed October 25, 2026
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Official website ↗
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San José City College · Accessed October 25, 2026
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Official website ↗
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Evergreen Valley College · Accessed October 25, 2026
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Official website ↗
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San José City College · Accessed October 25, 2026
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Official website ↗
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Evergreen Valley College · Accessed October 25, 2026
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Official website ↗
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San José City College and Evergreen Valley College · Accessed October 25, 2026
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Official website ↗
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San José-Evergreen Community College District · Accessed October 25, 2026
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