College of the Sequoias

What College of the Sequoias does

College of the Sequoias (legally Sequoias Community College District) is a public two-year community college established in 1926 and headquartered in Visalia, California. The district operates three campuses — Visalia (main 62-acre site since 1940), Hanford, and Tulare (opened January 2013) — collectively spanning nearly 800 acres and over 700,000 square feet of instructional facilities, serving more than 16,000 students across Tulare and Kings counties in the Central San Joaquin Valley. Its core product portfolio includes Associate Degrees (AA/AS), Certificate Programs, Transfer Curriculum aligned to CSU/UC systems, Career Technical Education, Basic Skills/ESL programs, and Noncredit Programs delivered both on-campus and via the Canvas Learning Management System.

The institution's technology backbone consists of standard higher-ed infrastructure: Canvas LMS for course delivery (online and face-to-face), Banner Student Information System for enrollment, HR, financial aid, payroll and finance, Microsoft Office 365 for productivity, AWS AppStream for remote application access, and CCCApply for standardized admissions. Internal data tools include the "Giant Dashboards" and Giant Fact Book for institutional performance tracking, plus an Early Alert Program for student retention. The college is a designated Hispanic-Serving Institution (HSI), accredited by the ACCJC for a maximum eight-year term (reaffirmed January 2026), and compliant with Title VI, Title IX, Section 504, ADA, and WCAG 2.1 Level AA standards.

Revenue derives primarily from State of California apportionment funding and local property taxes, supplemented by student tuition and fees (set at California Community College system rates), corporate training revenue through the Training Resource Center, and philanthropic contributions administered through the independent nonprofit COS Foundation (which disbursed approximately $590,000 across 450 scholarship awards in 2025-2026). Customer segments are split across transfer-oriented students, career/vocational students, basic skills/ESL learners, and business/community partners seeking workforce training. Governance is provided by an elected five-member Board of Trustees with a Student Trustee, led by Superintendent/President Brent Calvin, Ed.D. No parent company, subsidiaries, M&A, or private capital funding rounds exist.

Name

College of the Sequoias

Legal name

The College of the Sequoias

Website

https://cos.edu

Company type

Public

Founded year

1926

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

501–1,000 employees

Short description

College of the Sequoias is a public two-year community college district serving 16,000+ students across three campuses in California's Tulare and Kings counties, offering associate degrees, transfer curricula, career technical education, and workforce training funded by state appropriations, tuition, and foundation donations.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Community College Education

NAICS

Junior Colleges (6112)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Public Community Colleges (EDAHADAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Comprehensive Community Colleges (Transfer + Workforce) (EDAHADAE), Junior Colleges (Associate-Degree Granting) (EDAHADAC), Dual Enrollment / Early College Programs (via Community Colleges) (EDAHADAH), Workforce Development & Continuing Education Divisions (Noncredit) (EDAHADAG), Rural/Regional Community Colleges (EDAHADAK)

Keywords

• Community college education
• Associate degree programs
• Career technical education
• Transfer curriculum pathways
• Corporate training services

Headquarters

HQ city

Visalia

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Tuition and Fees: Revenue generated from student tuition and enrollment fees for credit and noncredit courses. Community college district serving Tulare and Kings counties.
2. COS Foundation Donations: Independent nonprofit foundation cultivating and directing community resources to COS through direct gifts, special events, and planned giving for student scholarships, educational equipment purchases, and capital improvements.
3. Scholarship Administration: Foundation-managed scholarship awards distributed to students; $590,000 in 450 scholarship awards for 2025-2026 ranging from $150 to $10,000.
4. Training Resource Center: Corporate training and professional development services for business, government, industry and labor partnerships providing lifelong learning opportunities.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

College of the Sequoias is a public two-year community college delivering associate degrees, certificates, and lower-division transfer courses across three campuses in Tulare and Kings counties. Its portfolio spans transfer curriculum, career technical education, basic skills (including ESL), and noncredit lifelong learning, supplemented by student support services such as counseling, financial aid, library, athletics, and the Training Resource Center for corporate training.

Product overview

College of the Sequoias is a two-year California community college offering a unified portfolio of educational programs and student support services. The core academic offerings include Associate Degrees and Certificate Programs across Transfer Curriculum, Career Technical Education (CTE), Basic Skills Initiative, and Noncredit Programs. Students access these through on-campus instruction and Online Learning via Canvas LMS. The institution operates across three locations: the main Visalia Campus, Hanford Educational Center, and Tulare College Center. A comprehensive ecosystem of support services including Financial Aid, Counseling, Library/Learning Resource Center, Welcome Center, and COS Foundation Scholarships complements the academic programs. The college also provides extracurricular activities through Athletics and continuing education via the Training Resource Center.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• COS: The commonly used abbreviation for College of the Sequoias, used throughout the college's branding, websites, and communications.
• GIANT

Products and services

• Associate Degrees Two-year Associate of Arts and Associate of Science degree programs (AA, AS) designed for transfer to four-year universities or immediate career entry. Open to district residents and out-of-district applicants pursuing higher education credentials.
• Certificate Programs Vocational certificates ranging from basic skills to workforce development credentials, designed for immediate career preparation. Awarded to students who complete prescribed sequences of CTE coursework.
• Transfer Curriculum Lower-division general education and major-prerequisite coursework designed to transfer to California State University, University of California, and private four-year institutions. Serves transfer-oriented students under articulated agreements with CSU/UC.
• Career Technical Education (CTE) Job-skills-focused programs across career fields including agriculture, business, health sciences, public safety, and skilled trades. Targeted at students seeking direct employment in the Central San Joaquin Valley.
• Basic Skills Initiative Foundational coursework in English, mathematics, and English as a Second Language (ESL) preparing students for college-level work. Targeted at adult learners needing academic preparation before credit coursework.
• Noncredit Programs Non-degree-applicable courses including ESL and specialized certificates for lifelong learning and community education. Open to community members seeking skills enrichment without college credit.
• Online Learning Distance education courses and programs delivered via Canvas LMS for students who need flexible scheduling or remote access. Available for credit and select noncredit coursework.
• Athletics Intercollegiate athletics program (the Giants) competing across multiple sports in the California Community College Athletics Association, providing student-life engagement alongside academics.
• Training Resource Center Corporate training and professional development programs delivered to local businesses, government agencies, industry, and labor partners. Provides lifelong-learning and customized workforce training for organizations.
• COS Foundation Scholarships Scholarship awards distributed by the independent nonprofit COS Foundation to COS students, ranging from $150 to $10,000 per award. Funded through community donations, special events, and planned giving.
• Financial Aid Student financial assistance services including grants, scholarships, work-study and loans to support educational access. Delivered through the Financial Aid Office and aligned with federal and state aid programs.
• Library and Learning Resource Centers Academic library services, study spaces, tutoring, and learning resources at all three campuses, with alternate media services for students with disabilities.
• Welcome Center Central intake and orientation hub at the Visalia campus providing in-person assistance with admissions applications, financial aid, MyGiant login, add/drop, parking permits, transcripts and campus tours.
• Student Support Services Comprehensive student support services including academic counseling, career services, transfer assistance, health services, and Access & Ability Center accommodations for students with disabilities.

Quantifiable outcome

• ACCJC Accreditation Reaffirmed for Eight Years
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration14 records

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core, strategic and minor.

• Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges (ACCJC)coreOthers · 1 January 2026ACCJC is the institutional accrediting body recognized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation and the U.S. Department of Education. COS undergoes comprehensive accreditation reviews and reaffirmed accreditation for eight years in January 2026 following September 2025 site visit. ACCJC sets standards for educational quality and institutional effectiveness that COS must meet to maintain accreditation status.
• California Community Colleges Chancellor's OfficecoreOthersState-level governing body overseeing all California community colleges. COS participates in statewide data systems including Data Mart, Data On Demand, Basic Skills Progress Tracker, and Student Right to Know reporting. Aligns with state educational initiatives and workforce development priorities.
• COS FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIndependent nonprofit organization led by volunteer community members that cultivates and directs community resources to COS. Raises funds through direct gifts, special events, and planned giving. Recent uses include student scholarships ($590,000 in 450 awards for 2025-2026), educational equipment purchases, and capital improvements.
• California State University SystemcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorTransfer pathway partner for students completing associate degrees who transfer to CSU campuses. COS maintains transfer curriculum alignment with CSU requirements and participates in transfer velocity reporting through state data systems.
• University of California SystemcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorTransfer pathway partner for students completing prerequisites and general education requirements for UC transfer. COS participates in UC transfer data tracking and counseling resources through ccctransfer.org.
• Business, Government, Industry, and Labor PartnersstrategicStrategic or Co-development PartnerCOS aligns educational programs to meet emerging economic and workforce development needs of the community through partnerships with business, government, industry and labor. The Training Resource Center provides corporate training and professional development services to these partners.
• Local High Schools (VTEC/UPHS)strategicChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorEarly College High School partnerships including Visalia Technical Education Center (VTEC) and UPHS providing concurrent enrollment opportunities for high school students to earn college credit while completing high school requirements.
• Local Business OrganizationsminorGTM or Marketing PartnerChamber of Commerce and local business groups participate in Measure C Citizens Bond Oversight Committee review of bond expenditures and serve as representatives on bond oversight committees.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Fresno City College: Fresno City College is the oldest community college in California and part of the State Center Community College District, serving the Fresno metropolitan area. Directly comparable to COS as a large, comprehensive California community college offering transfer, CTE, and basic skills programs in the same Central San Joaquin Valley region.
• Modesto Junior College: Modesto Junior College is a public community college in Modesto, CA, part of the Yosemite Community College District. Comparable to COS as a similarly sized two-year public community college serving a Central Valley agricultural region with transfer and CTE programs.
• Columbia College: Columbia College is a public community college in Sonora, CA, part of the Yosemite Community College District. Comparable to COS as a small, rural California community college serving a foothill/mountain population with transfer and vocational programs.
• Cerro Coso Community College: Cerro Coso Community College is a public community college serving the Indian Wells Valley and surrounding rural areas in Kern and Inyo counties. Comparable to COS as a small, multi-site California community college serving a rural population with transfer and CTE programs.
• Taft College: Taft College is a small public community college in Taft, CA, part of the West Kern Community College District. Comparable to COS as a small California community college serving a rural Central Valley population with transfer and CTE offerings.
• Porterville College: Porterville College is a small public community college in Tulare County, part of the Kern Community College District. Directly comparable to COS as a same-county community college serving the same regional population with transfer and CTE offerings.
• Bakersfield College: Bakersfield College is a comprehensive public community college in Bakersfield, CA, part of the Kern Community College District. Comparable to COS as a similarly sized California community college serving a Central Valley population with transfer, CTE, and workforce training programs.
• West Hills College Coalinga: West Hills College Coalinga is a public community college in Coalinga, CA, part of the West Hills Community College District. Comparable to COS as a rural California community college serving a similar regional population with transfer and CTE programs in the Central Valley.
• Reedley College: Reedley College is a public community college in Reedley, CA, also part of the State Center Community College District. Comparable to COS as a neighboring California community college with similar transfer, CTE, and agricultural programs serving a rural Central Valley community.
• College of the Canyons: College of the Canyons is a public community college in Santa Clarita, CA, part of the Santa Clarita Community College District. Comparable to COS as a multi-campus California community college serving a similarly sized student population with transfer, CTE, and workforce training programs.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/257064895300
• Xx.com/COSGiant
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/college-of-the-sequoias

Compliance7 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 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 College of the Sequoias