a century of serving our community

In 2021 San José City College (SJCC) celebrated 100 years as a symbol of hope for students and an innovative leader in providing educational and career pathways to generations of families living in California's third-largest city.

SJCC has built a legacy of educational and institutional excellence by adapting to the rapid changes that have transformed the Valley of Hearts Delight into Silicon Valley, a major driver of the state, national, and global economies.

How it Started

San José Junior College was born out of an agreement between San José High School District and San José State Teachers College (now San José State University). The collaboration provided high school students with pathways to four-year colleges and direct paths to jobs in agricultural, manufacturing, and other industries.

From 1921 to 1923, San José High School housed the Junior College in unused classrooms. San José State then anchored the Junior College from 1923 to 1953. San José Unified School District (SJUSD) assumed control of the College's operation in 1953, moving it to its present Moorpark Avenue location. In 1958, SJUSD changed the name to San José City College.

A faculty-led effort resulted in a special election that established the independent San José Junior College District in 1963. Today, SJCC, which includes the Milpitas Extension, enrolls more than 16,000 students annually, compared to its first enrollment of 86 in 1921.

We are proud to say that the future of SJCC looks bright and full of opportunity. We aspire, through excellence, to be the very best community college in Silicon Valley. We will continue to strive to build and strengthen our teams of students, faculty, alumni, and community partners.