Overview
Cabrillo College is a public community college in Santa Cruz County, California, with its main campus in Aptos and a second location in Watsonville.
It opened in 1959 as part of a county-wide plan to bring higher education to the area alongside UC Santa Cruz, starting with about 400 students. The college now serves more than 17,000 students a year and is designated a Hispanic Serving Institution.
Academics are organized into six schools: Business and Social Sciences; Career Education and Workforce Development; English, Library, and Language Arts; Health and Public Service; Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math; and Visual, Applied, and Performing Arts. Students can prepare to transfer to a four-year university, train for a new career, or build job skills, and the career education programs offer more than 100 degrees and certificates, most completed in one to two years.
Honors transfer, dual enrollment for high school students, noncredit courses, and distance education are also available.
Applicants apply for free through the California Community Colleges application, Open CCCApply, and anyone 18 or older verifies their identity during the process. The financial aid office helps students complete the FAFSA or the California Dream Act Application and manages scholarships through an online portal, and the Admissions and Records office assists with registration and student records.
Location & Contact
Below are Cabrillo College's address, location, and primary contact channels.
Academic Details
Scale, staffing, and recognition figures for Cabrillo College are listed below.
Academic Structures
The academic units through which Cabrillo College delivers teaching are listed below.
Unit 6 items
- School of Business and Social Sciences
- School of Career Education and Workforce Development
- School of English, Library, and Language Arts
- School of Health and Public Service
- School of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math
- School of Visual, Applied, and Performing Arts
Programs Offered
Browse Cabrillo College's programmes by level, or filter by name.
129 programmes on record. Each level below shows a sample. Compare these on the programs page All programs in United States
Associate's Degree 61 programmes
Showing 10 of 61.
Certificate 68 programmes
Showing 10 of 68.
How to apply to Cabrillo College
The application path for Cabrillo College, in five steps.
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1
Research programmes at Cabrillo College
Start by exploring the programmes section on this page. Cabrillo College runs 129 active programmes across multiple degree levels. Narrow by qualification tier and read each programme description before shortlisting.
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2
Review admissions criteria
Before applying to Cabrillo College, confirm you meet the academic, language, and document requirements for your chosen programme. International applicants should also check visa eligibility for United States.
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3
Gather supporting documents
Standard documents: official transcripts, identity proof, language test results, personal statement, and references. Confirm exact requirements with Cabrillo College's admissions office before assembling, as expectations vary by programme.
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4
Lodge your application
Lodge your application through the official website (www.cabrillo.edu). Online forms are the standard route. Save your draft frequently and submit before the programme deadline.
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5
Confirm receipt and track progress
Verify your application has been received by the admissions team. Reach the institution by phone at +18314796100. Monitor the portal for status updates, interview invitations, or document requests, and respond within the stated deadlines.
Frequently Asked Questions about Cabrillo College
A short Q&A covering Cabrillo College's essentials — founding, location, and structure.
How old is Cabrillo College?
The institution opened in 1959 (approximately 67 years ago).
Where can I find Cabrillo College?
The institution is located in Aptos, United States.
What is Cabrillo College's control type?
Cabrillo College is a public institution.
How many students does Cabrillo College have?
The institution has a student body of 8,002.
How many faculties does Cabrillo College have?
The institution comprises 6 academic units.
Where can I learn more about Cabrillo College?
The institution's website is www.cabrillo.edu.
Top-Ranked Universities in the United States
Graduate-school placement rates among the United States's top universities set the upper bound for that signal. Cabrillo College's placement rate relative to leaders is one signal of academic preparation depth.
Faculties at nearby universities
Also in Aptos: universities located close to Cabrillo College.
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