West Valley College
West Valley College is a public community college in Saratoga, California, serving diverse students through associate degrees, certificates, vocational programs, and its first bachelor's degree (Land Stewardship and Sustainability, 2026), with free tuition for district residents under AB 3158.
- Company typePublic
- Founded1963
- HeadquartersSaratoga, United States
- Headcount—
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What West Valley College does
West Valley College is a public community college located in Saratoga, California, in the heart of Silicon Valley. Founded in 1963 and operating as part of the California Community Colleges (CCC) system, it serves under the governance of the West Valley-Mission Community College District. The institution serves a diverse student body that includes first-time college students, transfer-bound students, high school dual-enrollment participants, international students, veterans, foster youth, and continuing education learners.
The college's core offerings include associate degrees, certificates, and — beginning in 2026 — its first bachelor's degree in Land Stewardship and Sustainability. It holds specialized programmatic accreditation from NASAD (art and design) and NASM (music). Its technology stack is built on standard higher-ed platforms: Canvas (LMS), Banner/Ellucian (student information system), Starfish (student success/early alert), and Nelnet (payment processing). The college has deployed a basic AI chatbot ("Westly") on its Admissions and Financial Aid pages to handle routine student inquiries.
The business model is publicly funded education. California Assembly Bill 3158 provides free tuition for in-district residents. California residents outside the district pay $46/unit, and non-residents pay $373/unit. Revenue is generated primarily through state apportionment, local property taxes, enrollment fees, and restricted grants — including a $3.9M FIPSE grant funding the FAAST semiconductor technician training program. The college also operates selected workforce, transfer, and continuing education programs with employer and four-year university partners (CSU, UC).
West Valley College firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- West Valley College
- Legal name
- West Valley College
- Website
- https://westvalley.edu
- Company type
- Public
- Founded year
- 1963
- Operating status
- Operating
- Short description
- West Valley College is a public community college in Saratoga, California, serving diverse students through associate degrees, certificates, vocational programs, and its first bachelor's degree (Land Stewardship and Sustainability, 2026), with free tuition for district residents under AB 3158.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
West Valley College industry classification
Industry- 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), Transfer/University-Parallel Community Colleges (EDAHADAF)
Keywords
Where West Valley College is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Saratoga
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices2 records
Markets served
West Valley College business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Enrollment Fees: Primary revenue from per-unit enrollment fees: $46 per unit for California residents, with free tuition for district residents under AB 3158. Non-residents pay $373 per unit additional tuition. International students pay $373 per unit plus $999 health fee and $100 application fee.
- Financial Aid Distribution: Distributes federal and state financial aid including Pell Grants ($740-$7,395), CAL Grants ($6,000 max), Federal Work-Study, and institutional grants. Cal Grant B recipients may receive SSCG up to $8,000/year for 15+ units.
- Basic Fees: Charges basic fees including Campus Center Use Fee ($15), Health Services ($21), Web Registration Processing ($3), Representation Fee ($2), Associated Student Government Fee ($7). Health fee waived for 2025-2026 academic year.
- Transcript and Record Services: Revenue from official transcript requests at $6 per transcript (electronic or mail), processing in 1-5 business days depending on type. Additional fees for diploma replacement and degree verification.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Per course | California Resident Enrollment Fee |
| Unit Pricing | Per course | Non-Resident Tuition |
| Unit Pricing | Per course | International Student Fees |
| Subscription | Annual | District Resident Free Tuition (AB 3158) |
| Subscription | Per term | Basic Fees |
| Transaction based/ take rate | Pay-as-you-go | Transcript Services |
| Subscription | Monthly | Nelnet Payment Plan |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels5 records
Marketing channels7 records
West Valley College product offering
Product offeringCore offering
West Valley College is a public community college delivering higher education through associate degrees (AA, AS), Associate Degrees for Transfer (AA-T, AS-T) guaranteeing CSU admission, certificates of achievement, certificates of completion, and its first bachelor's degree in Land Stewardship and Sustainability launching in 2026. The college offers tuition-free noncredit certificates in ESL and career skills through continuing education, organizes academic programs across six schools (Art and Design, Health and Human Development, Professional Studies, Science and Math, Language Arts and Social Sciences, and Continuing Education), and supports students with financial aid, learning communities, and specialized programs such as EOPS, veterans services, and TRIO.
Product overview
West Valley College is a community college offering a comprehensive portfolio of educational products and services. The core offerings include associate degrees (AA/AS), Associate Degrees for Transfer (AA-T/AS-T) for guaranteed CSU admission, and certificates of achievement for career preparation. The college launched its first bachelor's degree in 2026 (Land Stewardship and Sustainability) and offers tuition-free certificates of completion and competency through continuing education. Academic programs are organized into six schools: Cilker School of Art and Design (accredited by NASAD and NASM), School of Health and Human Development, Che School of Professional Studies, School of Science and Math, School of Language Arts and Social Sciences, and School of Continuing Education. Student support is delivered through Canvas LMS, Banner student information system, and Starfish advising platform, supplemented by financial aid programs, learning communities, and support services including EOPS, veterans services, and disability support.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Bill and Leila Cilker School of Art and Design: Art and design school offering programs in fashion, fine arts, photography, architecture, interior design, communication design, applied music, music production, theater, film, and industrial design.
- Fang Pei Che School of Professional Studies
- School of Health and Human Development
- School of Science and Math
- School of Language Arts and Social Sciences
- School of Continuing Education
Products and services
- Associate Degrees
Quantifiable outcome
- Free tuition for district residents reduces cost barrier to education
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use West Valley College
Customer profileNamed customers5 records
Segments6 records
Ideal customer profiles6 records
West Valley College technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration1 record
AI capability1 record
Feature1 record
West Valley College partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- New AmericacorePartnership through the Association of Community College Trustees (ACCT) selecting West Valley as one of six community colleges nationally for the Work-Based Learning Capacity-Building Cohort, focusing on advancing work-based learning initiatives and student career preparation.
- Association of Community College Trustees (ACCT)coreNational organization partnering with New America to select six community colleges for work-based learning cohort, providing expertise, resources, and recognition for institutional advancement in career education.
- Silicon Valley Community FoundationminorLocal foundation providing scholarship funding opportunities listed on West Valley's external scholarships page, supporting students with financial need through various scholarship programs.
- California State University SystemcoreTransfer pathway partnerships through Associate Degrees for Transfer (ADT) guarantee admission to CSU system with junior standing. UCTP agreements provide similar pathways to UC system.
- University of California SystemcoreUniversity California Transfer Pathway (UCTP) agreements enable community college students to transfer with junior standing to UC campuses.
- California Community Colleges SystemcorePart of 116-college system enabling shared application (OpenCCC), cross-enrollment (California Virtual Campus Exchange), and collective financial aid programs including CAL Grants and CCPG.
Scale indicators6 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
West Valley College competitors and assessment
Company assessmentRegional players
- Hartnell College: Hartnell College in Salinas, CA serves Monterey County with associate degrees, transfer pathways, and CTE programs. It is a comparable California community college in terms of mission, structure, and student demographics.
- San Jose City College: San Jose City College is part of the San Jose-Evergreen Community College District, located in San Jose. It offers similar associate degrees, CTE programs, and serves a Silicon Valley demographic overlapping with West Valley's catchment area.
- Cabrillo College: Cabrillo College in Aptos, CA serves Santa Cruz County with comparable associate, transfer, and CTE programs. It operates in a nearby region with overlapping student demographics and similar community college mission.
- Evergreen Valley College: Evergreen Valley College is the other member of the San Jose-Evergreen CCD in San Jose, CA. It offers similar two-year degrees, transfer pathways, and CTE programs for Silicon Valley residents and competes for overlapping student demand.
- Gavilan College: Gavilan College in Gilroy, CA (Gavilan Joint CCD) serves southern Santa Clara County with associate degrees and transfer programs, partially overlapping West Valley's district geography and competing for the same regional student base.
- Skyline College: Skyline College in San Bruno, CA is part of the San Mateo County Community College District, offering similar transfer and CTE programs in the broader Bay Area region with comparable mission and student base.
- Foothill College: Foothill College in Los Altos Hills, CA (Foothill-De Anza CCD) is a nearby Silicon Valley community college offering comparable transfer, CTE, and continuing education programs to overlapping student populations.
Direct peers
- Mission College: Mission College is the third college in the West Valley-Mission Community College District, located in Santa Clara. It offers similar associate degrees, transfer programs, and community education in the same district and Silicon Valley footprint.
- De Anza College: De Anza College is the sister college within the West Valley-Mission Community College District, located in Cupertino, CA. It offers comparable associate degrees, transfer pathways, and CTE programs serving the same Silicon Valley population, making it the closest direct peer.
Broad incumbents
- Coursera: Coursera is a global online learning platform offering degree pathways, certificates, and courses from accredited institutions. It is a broad incumbent competing for adult and continuing education learners who might otherwise enroll in community college CTE or transfer programs.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
West Valley College social profiles
Digital presenceWest Valley College compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance2 records
West Valley College financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
West Valley College leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles6 records
West Valley College funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
West Valley College M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about West Valley College
What does West Valley College do?
West Valley College is a public community college delivering higher education through associate degrees (AA, AS), Associate Degrees for Transfer (AA-T, AS-T) guaranteeing CSU admission, certificates of achievement, certificates of completion, and its first bachelor's degree in Land Stewardship and Sustainability launching in 2026. The college offers tuition-free noncredit certificates in ESL and career skills through continuing education, organizes academic programs across six schools (Art and Design, Health and Human Development, Professional Studies, Science and Math, Language Arts and Social Sciences, and Continuing Education), and supports students with financial aid, learning communities, and specialized programs such as EOPS, veterans services, and TRIO.
Is West Valley College a public or private company?
West Valley College is a public company. It is classified as state government owned and is currently operating.
When was West Valley College founded?
West Valley College was founded in 1963.
Where is West Valley College based?
West Valley College is headquartered in Saratoga, United States, in the North America region.
How does West Valley College make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Enrollment Fees are the primary driver. The others are financial Aid Distribution, basic Fees and transcript and Record Services.
Who are West Valley College's main competitors?
Regional players on record are Hartnell College, San Jose City College, Cabrillo College, Evergreen Valley College, Gavilan College, Skyline College and Foothill College. Direct peers are Mission College and De Anza College. Coursera is listed as a broad incumbent.
Does West Valley College have an API?
No public API is recorded for West Valley College.
What industry is West Valley College in?
West Valley College's product category is Community College Education. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EDAHADAA, Public Community Colleges, with a secondary code of EDAHADAE, Comprehensive Community Colleges (Transfer + Workforce). Its NAICS code is 6112 and its SIC code is 8200.