Ventura College — Main Campus

Ventura College was founded in 1925 as the county’s first higher-education institution and moved to its 112-acre Telegraph Road campus in 1955. The hillside site looks toward the coast and Channel Islands from some locations. The college now serves students through credit and noncredit programs, with a student-services center, library, health-science buildings and athletics.

Ventura lists associate degrees across liberal arts, STEM, business, health, education and social sciences, plus dozens of career certificates. Automotive Career Education now includes a bachelor’s degree, and nursing and manufacturing programs connect to regional workforce needs. Program length depends on the credential; associate degrees generally require about 60 units, while bachelor’s and selective pathways take longer.

The district application is the first step; students then work through orientation, placement, counseling and registration with Ventura College. Admissions and Records, career services, counseling and university transfer support are in the Student Services Center. Program departments set additional prerequisites and cohort schedules, so applicants should speak with a counselor before selecting a sequence.

The district charges $46 per unit for California residents in standard lower-division coursework. The published 2026–27 resident budget estimates $1,358 in tuition and fees for 14 units per semester, with books and living expenses calculated separately. Nonresident tuition adds substantially; aid may include FAFSA or CADAA grants, College Promise Grant, scholarships and Promise programs subject to eligibility.

Ventura College offers tuition-free noncredit English classes at Ventura and Santa Paula, with pathways for everyday communication and college or career preparation. Students can also choose credit ESL; the college explains that credit classes carry units and may qualify for aid, while the free option does not grant units. This distinction helps learners build English without losing sight of a degree plan.

The campus map locates the large gym, smaller gym, library and Learning Resource Center, English Learning Center, health science center, sportsplex, student center, child-development center and parking lots. Construction and renovation projects can change access to buildings, so check the current campus notices. The administration building houses central college leadership and educational-assistance services.

Review admissions information, the free and credit ESL choices and the current cost estimate before registering.