Overview

SBCC International students have always played an important role in the life of Santa Barbara City College. SBCC welcomes international students and encourages them to utilize all of the services provided by the International Student Support Program (ISSP) staff.

SBCC is located in Santa Barbara, California, also known as the “American Riviera.” Just 100 steps from the beach, SBCC offers one of the most beautiful campuses in the nation. Nestled between the Pacific Ocean and the Santa Ynez Mountains, it’s close to the entertainment industry’s capital of the world, Los Angeles to the south, San Francisco to the north, and Las Vegas to the East. 283 days of sunshine and its unique location offer plenty of activities year-round.

The ISSP strives to provide international students with an opportunity to benefit from a high-quality academic curriculum, as well as from intellectually stimulating and fun social and extracurricular activities. International students can enrol at SBCC to improve their English Language skills through the ESL Program, or complete an Associate degree, a certificate of achievement or diploma or competency or departmental award through the Academic Program. Attending for a Gap year (for one year or a semester) or enrolling at another U.S. Institution at SBCC are also options available to international students.

SBCC is a preferred choice for students who want to fulfil general education courses in order to transfer to a 4-year institution to pursue a Bachelor’s degree. SBCC’s award-winning Transfer Academy and many other student support services are available to help international students succeed. Many Transfer Agreements with some of the top universities in the world, as well as many public and private institutions in the U.S. offer students with great transfer options. If students are interested in practical job training, students can apply for OPT (Optional Practical Training) after receiving their Associate’s Degree and work at a U.S.-based company for 12 months.

Programs Offered in Santa Barbara City College

Highlights

• A range of student clubs and organisations are available
• Remote learning resources are available
• Santa Barbara City College is accredited by the Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges (ACCJC) of the Western Association of Schools and Colleges
• #2 of the Best Community Colleges in California, Niche 2022
• Ranked among the best colleges for an associate degree by salary score, GradReports 2021
• 2020 Rated #1 of the Top 50 Best Value Community Colleges in the USA by Value Colleges
• 2020 SBCC recognised for 2 Top Degree Programs in the U.S.: Photography Degree Programs ranked #7; Medical Coding Degree Programs ranked #32 by Intelligent.com
• 2020 SBCC is listed as one of the Top 60 online colleges and "Best Student Recommendations" by Intelligent.com
• 2020 Rated among the top 10 best California community colleges to earn an online associate degree or certificate by the Optimal Guide to Online Schools.