Evergreen Valley College — Main Campus

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 education shaping its current expansion.

EVC groups programs into six Career and Academic Pathways: Arts and Media, Behavioral Sciences, Business, Health and Human Services, Industrial Technology and Transportation, and STEM. Its catalog lists associate degrees, transfer degrees, and achievement certificates; the map for each major shows which classes to take and in what order. Associate transfer routes normally require at least 60 transferable semester units, while certificates have requirements that vary by field.

California residents pay $46 per unit in enrollment fees. At 12 units, that is $552 before term charges, books, tools, and any program-specific expenses. EVC’s 2026–27 nine-month cost-of-attendance estimate is $23,450 for a student living with parents and $36,981 for one living off campus; these figures include housing, food, transportation, books, and personal costs, not just what the college bills. Nonresident tuition is additional, and F-1 students should request the full international-student estimate.

To apply, submit the California Community Colleges online application, then complete orientation, review placement, meet with a counselor, and register through the student portal. Nursing and some other pathways have added prerequisites or application steps. FAFSA or the California Dream Act application can open access to grants, work-study, and the California College Promise Grant; eligible students may have the per-unit enrollment charge waived. EVC also posts scholarships and assistance with laptops and basic needs through its student-services directory.

English learners can begin with Guided Self-Placement and choose among five ESL levels. The college offers credit ESL and noncredit courses, including certificates focused on reading and writing or listening and speaking; some lower-level noncredit classes are offered with San José Public Library partners. This gives students a way to strengthen English before or alongside a broader study plan, while an advisor helps match the level, class schedule, and academic goal.

The campus sits east of central San José, at 3095 Yerba Buena Road near San Felipe Road. Daily parking permits are available at pay stations or through the payment app; semester permits can be purchased through the student portal, and the campus map shows entrances and parking areas. Registered students have access to a VTA Eco Pass. The college’s facilities include a fitness center, Veterans Freedom Center, sports complex, courts, theater, and outdoor study areas.

A first stop at the Welcome Center can help students identify the right office, program, and service before they cross campus. For an application, use Admissions and Records; for aid, start with financial-aid applications; and for language placement, check Learn English (ESL). The term schedule determines which program classes actually meet at EVC.