North Orange Continuing Education

What North Orange Continuing Education does

North Orange Continuing Education (NOCE) is a public community college continuing education institution and a division of the North Orange County Community College District (NOCCCD), headquartered in Anaheim, California. Founded in 1973 and operating from three main centers in Anaheim, Cypress, and Fullerton, NOCE provides tuition-free, noncredit educational programs and career technical training to adult learners across Orange County. The institution serves a highly diverse student population, with 84% of students aged 25 and older and 60% identifying as people of color, delivering programs in five languages (English, Spanish, Vietnamese, Mandarin, and Korean). Core offerings include Career Technical Education certificates (Pharmacy Technician, Medical Assistant, Personal Care Aide, Management, Early Childhood Education), ESL, High School Diploma/GED preparation, Citizenship Preparation, Older Adult/Emeritus programs, Parenting education, and Disability Support Services.

The institution's technology infrastructure is built on Canvas Learning Management System for course delivery, Augusoft for enrollment management, and the myGateway student portal. NOCE holds ACS/WASC institutional accreditation and ASHP accreditation for its Pharmacy Technician program through July 2028, with demonstrated student outcomes including an 82% PTCB pass rate versus the 71% national average. Student support services include academic counseling, tutoring, career services, a laptop loan program, a food pantry, Student Technology Support Services (STSS), and StarHelp multi-channel customer service.

NOCE's business model is structured around state apportionment funding from the California Community Colleges system through NOCCCD. All classes are tuition-free (96% of students take tuition-free classes), with students responsible only for incidental costs like textbooks and supplies. The go-to-market approach is direct-to-consumer with open enrollment: prospective students apply for an 8-digit Student ID online, then register for classes. Revenue mechanics are non-commercial; NOCE does not generate private capital, charge tuition, or pursue for-profit revenue streams. The institution markets through its website, semester class schedules, community partnerships with K-12 schools, district referral networks, and social media channels (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube).

Name

North Orange Continuing Education

Legal name

North Orange Continuing Education

Website

https://noce.edu

Company type

Private

Founded year

1973

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

251–500 employees

Short description

North Orange Continuing Education (NOCE) is a public community college division offering tuition-free, noncredit adult education programs including career technical training, ESL, GED preparation, and older adult classes across Anaheim, Cypress, and Fullerton in Orange County, California.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Adult and Continuing Education

NAICS

Educational Services (61), Educational Support Services (611710), Educational Support Services (61171)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

College & Career Transition Services (Bridge Programs, Dual Enrollment Pathways) (EDAAABAK)

akta.pro secondary industries

Credit Recovery & Alternative Adult High School (EDAAABAC), ASE Academic Foundations (Math, Reading, Writing, Science, Social Studies) (EDAAABAD), Special Populations ASE (Reentry/Corrections, Homeless, Refugee/Immigrant, Foster/Justice-Involved) (EDAAABAI), Adult Learner Support Services (Advising, Case Management, Wraparound Supports) (EDAAABAJ), GED/HiSET Preparation & Instruction (EDAAABAA)

Keywords

• Adult education programs
• Career technical education
• ESL instruction
• High school diploma
• Community college education

Headquarters

HQ city

Anaheim

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. State-Funded Adult Education: NOCE operates as a California community college continuing education program primarily funded by state apportionment. Classes are offered tuition-free as noncredit courses, with funding coming from the North Orange County Community College District and state adult education funds.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

North Orange Continuing Education (NOCE) is a public community college continuing education institution that provides tuition-free noncredit courses and career technical education programs to adult learners. Founded in 1973 as part of the North Orange County Community College District, NOCE serves diverse student populations including ESL learners, older adults, parents, and individuals with disabilities across Anaheim, Cypress, and Fullerton locations.

Product overview

North Orange Continuing Education (NOCE) operates as a community college continuing education institution offering a diverse portfolio of tuition-free noncredit programs. The institution's core educational offerings span Career Technical Education certificates (including Pharmacy Technician, Medical Assistant, Personal Care Aide, Management, and Early Childhood Education), Basic Skills and Learning Centers, English as a Second Language (ESL), Citizenship Preparation, High School Diploma/GED preparation, College Prep, Disability Support Services, Parenting Programs (with specialized Child Wellness tracks), and Older Adult/Emeritus programs. Student support services including counseling, tutoring, career services, laptop loans, technology support, and food assistance complement the academic offerings. Courses are delivered through both in-person and distance education formats, with the institution's accreditation by WASC/ACS and program-specific accreditation (such as ASHP accreditation for Pharmacy Technician) validating educational quality.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Career Technical Education (CTE) Programs
• English as a Second Language (ESL)
• High School Diploma/GED Preparation
• Disability Support Services
• Parenting Education
• Emeritus Program (Older Adults)
• Basic Skills Education
• Citizenship Preparation

Quantifiable outcome

• 96% of students take tuition-free classes
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration2 records

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and moderate.

• North Orange County Community College District (NOCCCD)coreOthersNOCE is a division of the North Orange County Community College District, which also includes Cypress College and Fullerton College. The district governance structure includes a Board of Trustees with NOCE student representation.
• Cypress CollegecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner college within NOCCCD offering transferable credit programs. NOCE students can transition to credit programs at Cypress College.
• Fullerton CollegecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner college within NOCCCD offering transferable credit programs. NOCE students can transition to credit programs at Fullerton College.
• North Orange County Regional ConsortiummoderateStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional consortium supporting adult education initiatives across North Orange County.
• American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerASHP has granted full accreditation to NOCE's Pharmacy Technician Entry-Level Certificate Program through July 2028. This accreditation validates program quality for students seeking pharmacy technician careers.
• Pharmacy Technician Certification Board (PTCB)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNOCE's Pharmacy Technician Program is a PTCB-recognized education/training program. Students can sit for the Pharmacy Technician Certificate Exam (PTCE) after completing the program.
• National Health Career Association (NHA)moderateStrategic or Co-development PartnerNHA provides certification examinations (CMAA, CCMA) for Medical Assistant program graduates.
• Local K-12 SchoolsmoderateStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with elementary and high schools throughout NOCE's service area to offer parenting classes, Child Wellness courses, and GED preparation in community settings convenient for families.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Coastline College: A California community college within the Coast Community College District offering tuition-free noncredit and continuing education programs (including ESL, GED prep, and CTE certificates) delivered largely online — directly comparable to NOCE's model and target adult learner base.
• Santa Ana College School of Continuing Education: The continuing education division of Santa Ana College (Rancho Santiago CCD) offering tuition-free noncredit adult education including ESL, CTE, GED/HiSET, citizenship prep, and parenting — a direct analogue to NOCE's program mix and funding model.
• Mt. San Antonio College Adult Education: Mt. SAC's noncredit Adult Education programs serve similar ESL, CTE, GED, and older adult populations in the San Gabriel Valley with comparable state apportionment funding — a closely matched regional peer.
• Saddleback College Emeritus Institute: South Orange County Community College District program offering tuition-free emeritus/older adult classes that directly mirror NOCE's Older Adult/Emeritus program in structure and audience.
• Golden West College Community Education: Coast Community College District peer offering community and continuing education programming for adult learners in Huntington Beach/Westminster — overlapping population and Orange County geography with NOCE.

Regional players

• Cypress College: Sister credit college within the North Orange County Community College District; NOCE noncredit completers transition into Cypress College credit programs, making it both a feeder source and the closest institutional neighbor.
• Fullerton College: The other sister credit college within NOCCCD; shares governance with NOCE and receives NOCE's college-prep and CTE transition students, making it a co-located institutional peer.
• Pasadena City College Community Education: Operates a noncredit adult education and community education portfolio similar to NOCE's but in Los Angeles County; useful regional comparison for program design and state apportionment-funded operating model.

Broad incumbents

• UCLA Extension: Larger university-based continuing education division with a broader for-credit certificate and professional development catalog; competes with NOCE for adult career-upskilling demand, especially in healthcare and business, but at a fee-based premium price point.
• UC Irvine Division of Continuing Education: UC Irvine's continuing education arm offering fee-based certificates, ESL, and corporate training in Orange County — overlaps directly with NOCE's target learner segments but operates at a higher price tier with employer-paid cohorts.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/noce_edu
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@NorthOrangeContinuingEducation/videos
• Facebookfacebook.com/noce.edu
• Instagraminstagram.com/noce_edu

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

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 North Orange Continuing Education