Palo Verde College

What Palo Verde College does

Palo Verde College is a public community college established in 1945 and operated by the Palo Verde Community College District in Blythe, California. It is a Hispanic Serving Institution (HSI) and Minority Serving Institution (MSI) serving the Palo Verde Valley, Riverside County, and surrounding desert regions, with a satellite Needles Center covering the tri-state border area of California, Arizona, and Nevada. The college offers associate degrees, certificate programs, university transfer pathways, and workforce training across disciplines including nursing, automotive technology, welding, business, criminal justice, fire science, and alcohol and drug studies. Tuition and fees are set by California state mandate and supplemented by Pell Grants, Cal Grants, and California College Promise Grants.

Course delivery is built on the Canvas LMS (Instructure) for online, televised, and correspondence education, complemented by a Student Self-Service Portal for registration and financial aid management. The college maintains articulation agreements with all 22 CSU campuses, UC campuses, 30+ HBCUs, and private/out-of-state universities. Core programs and services include the Rising Scholars Program serving over 3,000 incarcerated students (the largest such program in California by grant funding), the Child Development Center (a 5-star QRIS-rated licensed facility), the Pirate Care Center addressing student basic needs, Umoja and PVC Pride equity programs, and a registered apprenticeship program with Finn Auto.

Revenue is generated primarily through state apportionment, tuition, and grants. The 2025-2028 Rising Scholars Network grant provides $348,836 annually ($1,046,508 total). Distribution occurs through direct on-campus enrollment at Blythe and Needles, the online student portal, Canvas-based distance learning, and field outreach to correctional facilities and community organizations. Leadership is in transition with an active Superintendent/President search launched in 2025.

Name

Palo Verde College

Legal name

Palo Verde Community College District

Website

https://paloverde.edu

Company type

Public

Founded year

1945

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Palo Verde College is a public community college in Blythe, California, serving Riverside and San Bernardino Counties with associate degrees, certificates, transfer pathways, and workforce training, and operating the state's largest Rising Scholars program for incarcerated students.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Community College Education

NAICS

Junior Colleges (6112), Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (6113)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Public Community Colleges (EDAHADAA)

Keywords

• Community college education
• Associate degree programs
• Vocational training programs
• Higher education services
• Workforce development training

Headquarters

HQ city

Blythe

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Tuition and Enrollment Fees: Palo Verde College is a public community college funded primarily by state apportionment and student tuition/fees. Students pay enrollment fees per unit plus additional campus fees. Revenue is supplemented by financial aid disbursements.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Palo Verde College is a public community college delivering associate degree programs, certificate programs, university transfer pathways, and career/technical education. The institution serves students through on-campus classes at the Blythe main campus, the Needles Center, online learning via Canvas LMS, and correspondence formats. Specialized offerings include the Rising Scholars Program serving incarcerated and formerly incarcerated students, registered apprenticeship programs with industry partners, and the licensed Child Development Center providing early childhood education.

Product overview

Palo Verde College is a community college offering a comprehensive portfolio of educational programs and student support services. The institution operates primarily from its main campus in Blythe, California with a Needles Center location, and provides services both on-campus and online. Core educational offerings include online learning via Canvas LMS, career and transfer pathways, and workforce training programs. Student support services include the Rising Scholars Program for justice-impacted students, the Child Development Center for children of students and community families, the Pirate Care Center addressing basic needs (food, housing, mental health), and equity-focused programs including UMOJA for African American students and PVC Pride for LGBTQIA+ students. Career development services include Handshake career platform, Apprenticeship Programs, Career Closet, and Career Leadership and Mentorship Program. Financial services include PVC CalFresh enrollment assistance. The institution serves approximately 3,000+ students across Riverside and San Bernardino Counties.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Rising Scholars Program Comprehensive program serving incarcerated and formerly incarcerated students with in-person and online support, peer mentorship, counseling, and workforce training across Riverside and San Bernardino Counties, delivered in partnership with CDCR.
• Child Development Center Licensed child care facility serving children ages 2 years/9 months to 5 years, operating 12 months per year (Monday-Friday, 7:30 AM to 5:30 PM) with maximum capacity of 60 children, and serving as a learning lab for Early Childhood Education students.
• Apprenticeship Program Registered apprenticeship programs allowing students to work in their field while pursuing education, with tuition waived for program courses. Currently offering the Automotive program with Finn Auto as the first sponsor, featuring structured wage increases as apprentices gain mastery of key skills.
• Career Leadership and Mentorship Program 12-month leadership program pairing students with mentors, providing career engagement, leadership training, and the opportunity to attend Disney's Leadership & Innovation Conference.
• Associate Degree Programs Two-year degree programs including Associate of Arts, Associate of Science, and Associate Degrees for Transfer (ADT) spanning fields such as Automotive Technology, Welding, Nursing (Licensed Vocational Nurse), Alcohol and Drug Studies, Business, Criminal Justice, Fire Science, and more. Programs offer guaranteed transfer pathways to CSU, UC, private, and out-of-state universities.
• Certificate Programs Career-focused certificate programs in vocational and technical fields designed to provide workforce skills and credentials in shorter time frames than degree programs, including Welding Technology (approximately $1,200 for a 36-week program), Licensed Vocational Nursing (approximately $5,036), and other trades and technical disciplines.

Quantifiable outcome

• Largest Rising Scholars Network grant in California, with $348,836 annual allocation for 2025-2028 cycle
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration7 records

Feature2 records

Partnerships

14 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025PVC partners with CDCR to deliver educational programming to incarcerated students. The Rising Scholars Program operates under B1 designation (in-prison) and is transitioning to a comprehensive B3 model serving students both during and after incarceration.
• Post-carceral agencies and community organizationsminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025PVC is building partnerships with public defenders, parole offices, juvenile justice systems, and local jails to expand outreach and support for formerly incarcerated students transitioning back to society.
• Finn AutocoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFinn Auto is the first sponsor of Palo Verde College's registered apprenticeship program in Automotive Technology. The program creates a coordinated partnership of on-the-job training and academic instruction with structured wage increases as apprentices gain mastery of key skills.
• California State University (CSU) SystemcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPVC maintains formal articulation agreements with 22 CSU campuses including Cal Maritime, Cal Poly Pomona, Cal Poly SLO, and all major CSU campuses enabling seamless transfer for PVC associate degree graduates.
• University of California (UC) SystemcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerArticulation agreements with UC campuses including UC Davis (including School of Veterinary Medicine), UC Irvine, UCLA, UC Merced, UC Riverside, UC San Diego, UC Santa Barbara, UC Santa Cruz, and UCSF (Dentistry and Pharmacy schools).
• Historically Black Colleges & Universities (HBCU) NetworkcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPVC maintains transfer partnerships with over 30 HBCUs including Alabama State, Alcorn State, Clark Atlanta, Dillard, Fisk, Grambling State, Howard, Tuskegee, Xavier University, and others through the California Community Colleges HBCU Transfer program.
• California Baptist University, National University, Arizona State University, and other private universitiesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerTransfer articulation agreements with multiple private and out-of-state institutions enabling PVC graduates to transfer credits toward bachelor's degrees.
• Blythe Emergency Food PantryminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMonthly food distribution partner for the Pirates' Chest basic needs program, which provides food and hygiene items to current PVC students.
• FIND Food BankminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in the Pirate Care Center basic needs initiative, supporting food security efforts for PVC students.
• NextEra EnergyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity partner supporting the Pirate Care Center and its mission to combat food insecurity among PVC students.
• Mechanics BankminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in the Pirate Care Center basic needs program supporting financial wellness resources for PVC students.
• PVC FoundationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Palo Verde College Foundation supports the Pirate Care Center and other student support initiatives through fundraising and community partnerships.
• Quality Start Riverside CountyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional branch of California's Quality Rating and Improvement System (QRIS) that conducts five-year assessments of early childhood education programs. Rated PVC's Child Development Center with 5 stars, the highest possible designation.
• Riverside Area Rape Crisis CenterminorOthersCommunity resource referral partner listed on PVC's Title IX page for sexual assault support services, available 24/7 at (951) 686-7273.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Regional players

• Imperial Valley College: Public community college in Imperial Valley, California, serving a similar rural, agricultural, and border-region population. Closely comparable in mission, demographics, and reliance on state apportionment, HSI designation, and workforce pathways.
• Copper Mountain College: Public community college in Joshua Tree, California, serving the Morongo Basin desert region. Comparable rural California community college with similar geographic isolation and HSI-adjacent demographics.
• Barstow Community College: Public community college in Barstow, California, serving the high desert region. Similar small-scale rural California community college with comparable transfer and vocational programs.
• College of the Desert: Public community college in Palm Desert, California, also serving Riverside County desert communities. Closely comparable geography and demographic profile, with overlapping service areas.
• San Bernardino Valley College: Public community college in San Bernardino County, California, serving a population that overlaps with PVC's expansion area into San Bernardino County. Comparable urban-adjacent CC with vocational and transfer pathways.
• Mt. San Jacinto College: Public community college in Riverside County, California, with HSI designation and similar vocational and transfer programs. Comparable in California community college system and HSI strategy.
• Norco College: Public community college in Riverside County, California, also part of the Riverside Community College District system. Comparable in California community college system, transfer pathways, and HSI/MSI designation.

Direct peers

• Hartnell College: California community college designated as both an HSI and a strong recipient of Rising Scholars Network funding for incarcerated student education. Direct peer in correctional education programming and HSI strategy.
• Reedley College: California community college with a notable Rising Scholars program and rural service area. Comparable correctional education focus and recipient of Rising Scholars Network funding.
• Coastline College: California community college notable for extensive online and correctional education programming. Comparable in online, correspondence, and incarcerated student delivery models.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/paloverdecc
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@paloverdecc
• Facebookfacebook.com/171260678751
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/palo-verde-college
• Instagraminstagram.com/paloverdecc

Compliance8 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Subsidiaries3 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 Palo Verde College