Cerro Coso Community College (established 1973) is a comprehensive community college serving the eastern Sierra Nevada and eastern Kern County regions of the State of California. Cerro Coso has four instructional sites which together cover the largest geographical service area (18,200 square miles) of any community college in California, serving a population of approximately 85,000.
The 320-acre Indian Wells Valley Campus is located in the upper Mojave Desert in the community of Ridgecrest, with a population of 28,000. Ridgecrest is located 130 miles northeast of Los Angeles and 120 miles east of Bakersfield.
The East Kern Center serves the communities of Tehachapi, Edwards Air Force Base, North Edwards, Mojave, Boron, and California City. The program is administered from Edwards Air Force Base where the college maintains an office provided by the United States Air Force. Associate degree programs in Liberal Arts are offered through the East Kern Center.
The Eastern Sierra College Center serves the communities of Mammoth Lakes, Bishop, Big Pine, Lone Pine, Independence, and Death Valley, as well as other locations in Inyo and southern Mono Counties. A comprehensive educational program with both day and evening classes is provided, including courses for transfer, general interest, general education, and occupational programs. College Centers are maintained in the communities of Bishop and Mammoth Lakes.
The Kern River Valley Campus serves the communities of the Kern River Valley from its campus at the Kern Valley Plaza in Lake Isabella. Students in Lake Isabella, Wofford Heights, Kernville, Mt. Mesa, South Lake, and Onyx can find easy access to the campus via public and private transportation. The campus offers both day and evening classes to provide educational alternatives including two-year programs leading to transfer to the university level, two-year AA and AS degrees, short-term vocational programs, single-course options which may lead to immediate employment, personal enrichment classes, and professional upgrade classes. Kern River Valley Campus offers testing, counseling, advisement, and financial aid assistance, which can enable students to meet their educational goals.
CC Online, Cerro Coso Community College's virtual campus, currently offers 18 associate degrees online, the general education courses necessary to meet transfer requirements to a four year institution, and student support services. CC Online has an international reputation for excellence and provides an extraordinary opportunity for those too distant from a community college or too involved in business or family to pursue higher education during traditional hours.
