Peralta Community College

What Peralta Community College does

Peralta Community College District (PCCD) is a public community college district headquartered in Oakland, California, operating four colleges — Berkeley City College, College of Alameda, Laney College, and Merritt College — that together serve northern Alameda County. Founded in 1964, the district delivers associate degrees, Career Technical Education (CTE), noncredit instruction, and dual enrollment programs targeting prospective college students, high school students, international students, working adults, and community members. Annual tuition and fees for full-time students is $1,540, which the district positions as the lowest in California relative to CSU ($7,993), UC ($17,478), and private universities ($68,544), with financial aid available to eligible students.

The district's core technology stack consists of Canvas LMS for Distance Education (online and hybrid course delivery) and Microsoft 365 enterprise applications (Email, Campus Solutions, HCM) accessed via the myapplications.microsoft.com portal. The technology is commodity educational infrastructure rather than proprietary IP, with the district's primary differentiation concentrated in physical campus footprint, regulatory accreditation, and the breadth of student support services (financial aid, health, accessibility, tutoring, childcare, basic needs). Revenue is derived from four streams: state apportionment (largest), local property and parcel taxes, student tuition and fees, and voter-approved bond proceeds (notably Measure A, which passed with 87% approval). The Peralta Foundation provides supplementary fundraising, recently raising over $100,000 at the annual golf tournament for student success programs. BuildPeralta manages capital project oversight and transparency for bond-funded facility improvements.

The go-to-market motion is community-led and regional: student acquisition is driven by direct enrollment at four physical campuses, dual enrollment partnerships with local high schools, international student recruitment, and word-of-mouth from alumni. Marketing relies on organic social media (Facebook, Twitter/X, YouTube, Instagram, TikTok), the Gems blog/news portal, the district website, and community events. The district is governed by a publicly elected Board of Trustees and operates under the California Community College Chancellor's Office, with no private equity or venture capital involvement. Headcount is reported at 251-500 employees, and the district is currently running an active Fall 2026 enrollment campaign alongside a District Transformation Plan.

Name

Peralta Community College

Legal name

Peralta Community College District

Website

https://web.peralta.edu/

Company type

Public

Founded year

1964

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

251–500 employees

Short description

Peralta Community College provides a dynamic multicultural learning environment offering accessible, educational programs and services.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Community Higher Education

NAICS

Junior Colleges (6112), Junior Colleges (611210), Junior Colleges (61121)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Public Community Colleges (EDAHADAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Comprehensive Community Colleges (Transfer + Workforce) (EDAHADAE), Multi-Campus Community College Districts (EDAHADAM), Urban/Metropolitan Community Colleges (EDAHADAL)

Keywords

• Community college education
• Associate degree programs
• Career technical education
• Transfer pathway programs
• Dual enrollment services

Headquarters

HQ city

Oakland

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices5 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Tuition and Fees: Public community college funded primarily through state apportionment and student tuition. Annual tuition and fees for full-time students is $1,540, significantly below state university rates. Revenue supports educational programs, student services, and operations.
2. Financial Aid Distribution: District administers federal and state financial aid programs including grants, loans, and scholarships to eligible students
3. Bond Measures and Parcel Taxes: Local taxpayer-approved bond measures (such as Measure A passing with 87% approval) and parcel taxes provide capital funding for facilities and programs

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Peralta Community College District delivers affordable public higher education across four colleges in northern Alameda County (Berkeley City College, College of Alameda, Laney College, Merritt College). The district offers associate degrees, career technical education, transfer pathways to four-year universities, dual enrollment for high school students, noncredit instruction, and student support services including financial aid, health services, and tutoring at $1,540 annual tuition.

Product overview

Peralta Community College District is a multi-college community college system offering a portfolio of four colleges (Berkeley City College, College of Alameda, Laney College, and Merritt College) plus district-level programs. The district provides associate degrees, career technical education, transfer pathways to four-year universities, and noncredit instruction, supported by student services including financial aid, health services, and distance education. The district operates BuildPeralta (bond-funded campus improvements) and a Foundation for fundraising. Annual tuition is $1,540 for full-time students, significantly below CSU ($7,993), UC ($17,478), and private universities ($68,544).

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Berkeley City College Urban campus in downtown Berkeley (2050 Center St) offering associate degrees, transfer programs to four-year universities, and career education for the southern district area.
• College of Alameda Island campus in Alameda (555 Ralph Appezzato Memorial Pkwy) offering associate degrees, vocational training, and diverse academic programs for the Alameda community.
• Laney College Major downtown Oakland campus (900 Fallon St) offering comprehensive transfer pathways, career technical education, and workforce training programs.
• Merritt College East Oakland hills campus (12500 Campus Dr) offering associate degrees, certificate programs, and academic/career programs for the local community.
• Distance Education Online learning platform delivered through Canvas LMS, providing remote courses across the district for students who need flexibility to pursue education off-campus.
• Career Technical Education (CTE) Vocational and career-focused training programs designed to prepare students for specific industries and immediate workforce entry across multiple CTE disciplines.
• Dual Enrollment Program allowing high school students to enroll in college courses and earn college credit simultaneously, providing an accelerated path to a college degree.
• International Students Program Support services and courses for international students (F-1 visa) studying at Peralta colleges, including immigration compliance assistance and cultural adjustment support.
• Noncredit Instruction Free and low-cost noncredit courses and programs for community members seeking skill development without pursuing credit-bearing degrees or formal enrollment.
• Student Support Services Comprehensive bundle of student support services including Financial Aid, Health Services, Student Accessibility Services, Tutoring, Child Care, Student Employment, and Basic Needs resources for enrolled students.

Quantifiable outcome

• $1,540 annual tuition vs $7,993 CSU vs $17,478 UC vs $68,544 private - representing 80-98% cost savings

Named customers2 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• MicrosoftcoreTechnology or IntegrationMicrosoft provides enterprise applications including Email, Canvas LMS, Campus Solutions, and HCM (Human Capital Management) systems used by students and staff district-wide through myapplications.microsoft.com portal.
• Peralta FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Peralta Foundation supports district students through fundraising, scholarships, and grants. Recently raised over $100,000 for student success at annual golf tournament.
• BuildPeraltacoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerBuildPeralta manages bond projects and oversight for district facilities improvements, providing transparency in capital project implementation.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Ohlone Community College District: Adjacent Bay Area community college district serving Fremont and Newark with multiple campuses. Operates in the same regional labor market as Peralta, offering comparable associate degrees, transfer pathways, and CTE programs to overlapping student demographics.
• Chabot-Las Positas Community College District: Multi-campus East Bay community college district serving Hayward, Livermore, and Dublin. Directly comparable as a neighboring public multi-campus community college district with similar transfer, CTE, and dual enrollment programs.
• Foothill-De Anza Community College District: Two-campus Silicon Valley community college district (Foothill College and De Anza College). Comparable as a multi-campus California community college district with comprehensive transfer and workforce programs serving a similar urban California market.
• San Mateo County Community College District: Three-campus district (Cañada College, College of San Mateo, Skyline College) on the San Francisco Peninsula. Directly comparable multi-campus California community college district with similar transfer, CTE, and dual enrollment offerings.
• West Valley-Mission Community College District: Two-campus Silicon Valley community college district (West Valley College and Mission College). Comparable multi-campus public community college district with similar academic, vocational, and transfer programs in a neighboring California market.
• San Francisco Community College District: Single-campus but comprehensive urban California community college (City College of San Francisco). Comparable urban public community college offering transfer, CTE, and continuing education programs in a nearby Bay Area market.
• Coast Community College District: Three-campus Southern California community college district (Coastline College, Golden West College, Orange Coast College). Comparable multi-campus California community college district with comprehensive transfer and CTE programs.
• Mt. San Antonio College: Large single-campus California community college in Walnut, CA. Comparable comprehensive public community college with extensive transfer and CTE program offerings drawing from a similar California student population.

Broad incumbents

• Los Angeles Community College District: Nine-campus California community college district and the largest in the U.S. Provides reference point for statewide multi-campus community college operations at scale, with overlapping mission and program structure but serving a much larger geography.

Others

• California Community Colleges Chancellor's Office: System-wide governing body for all 116 California community colleges, including Peralta. Provides regulatory oversight, funding allocation, and policy direction that directly shapes Peralta's operating environment and strategic options.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/PeraltaColleges
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/peraltatv
• Facebookfacebook.com/The-Peralta-Colleges-405167069683767/timeline/?ref=hl
• Instagramintsagram.com/peraltacolleges?ref=badge
• TikToktiktok.com/@peraltacolleges

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Subsidiaries4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Peralta Community College