Pasadena City College
Rolling
Acceptance rate
$11,624
Tuition/yr
26,000
Enrollment
About Pasadena City College
Community college in Pasadena, CA (LA area). Strong transfer programs serving San Gabriel Valley.
Pasadena City College (PCC) is a public two-year community college founded in 1924, located on a 54-acre campus at 1570 E Colorado Blvd in Pasadena, California. It serves over 27,000 students per semester and offers 152 associate degree programs and 125 Certificate of Achievement programs across a wide range of disciplines.
PCC is widely recognized in California as a strong transfer institution. Students who complete the Honors Program gain access to the UCLA Transfer Alliance Program (TAP), which enhances admission prospects to UCLA at the junior level. The college is also known for its Keck Biotechnology Program, the first California community college to participate in stem-cell research, and its Career and Technical Education facilities including a FabLab.
The campus is situated in Pasadena, a mid-sized city in the San Gabriel Valley roughly 10 miles northeast of downtown Los Angeles. Students benefit from proximity to major employers, research institutions such as Caltech and NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL), and the broader Los Angeles metropolitan job market.
Campus & Location
CA
Suburban
Optional Practical Training (OPT)
All graduates from CRICOS-registered programs qualify for 12-month Optional Practical Training (OPT). STEM-designated programs (CS, Engineering, Data Science, Mathematics, Sciences) qualify for a 24-month STEM OPT extension — 36 months total of US work authorisation.
For Nepali students
- PCC offers one of the most affordable entry points into the US higher-education system for Nepali students, international tuition and fees are approximately $11,624 per year (Fall 2026 figures from the official site), making it significantly cheaper than most four-year US universities while still granting F-1 student visa status.
- The college's transfer pathways are a strong draw: Nepali students who complete an associate degree and qualify for the Honors Program can transfer to UCLA, UC Berkeley, USC, and other selective universities, effectively accessing a leading US degree at a fraction of the direct-entry cost.
- F-1 students at PCC are eligible for Optional Practical Training (OPT), providing up to 12 months of authorised work experience in their field of study after completing the associate degree, giving graduates a foothold in the US job market before pursuing further study or returning home.
- PCC's diverse student body, 26% Asian and students from 63 countries, means Nepali and South Asian students will find a multicultural environment, and the college's International Student Services office provides dedicated advising, health insurance guidance, and pathway support from arrival through graduation.
Admission requirements — Nepali equivalents
A rough translation of the published minimums for Nepali applicants:
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