What are the least expensive Community Colleges in California?

Hey folks, California dreamin' here! I'm a junior looking for affordable community colleges in California, as I hope to transfer to a UC later. Can anyone provide some insight on the least expensive ones in the state? How does the transfer process typically work in California?

Indeed, California has a broad range of community colleges, and the good news is, they are remarkably affordable. The standard tuition for California residents attending a community college is $46 per credit. Some of the affordable ones include Los Angeles City College, San Diego City College, and Chabot College. Bear in mind that the cost can vary a bit depending on fees, which change from college to college.

If you're eligible for financial aid, you may get a real bargain through the California Promise Grant formerly known as BOG Fee Waiver. This program covers enrollment fees for qualifying students, making community college more accessible.

On transferring to the UC system, California Community Colleges have a special agreement called the Transfer Admission Guarantee (TAG) with six UC campuses: UC Davis, UC Irvine, UC Merced, UC Riverside, UC Santa Barbara, and UC Santa Cruz. After meeting certain coursework and grade requirements, community college students are guaranteed admission to one of these six UC campuses.

There's also a highly-structured UC transfer pathway called the Associate Degree for Transfer (ADT). If you complete one of these degrees at a California community college, you are guaranteed admission to the UC or CSU system (though not necessarily to a particular campus or major). These are great options to explore if transferring to a UC school is your goal.

In general, a successful transfer process involves keeping your grades up, taking the right mix of general education and major prep courses, and keeping in close touch with your community college academic advising office. They can provide resources specific to your community college and intended transfer university. A strong relationship with this office can be especially handy, as transfer requirements can sometimes change year to year.