Education: Best OC College / University

1. Cal State Fullerton

800 N State College Blvd, Fullerton; 657-278-2011; fullerton.edu

California State University Fullerton (or Cal State Fullerton) has an enrollment of more than 41,000 and a diverse student population, with 44% of students identifying as Hispanic/Latino, 21% as Asian, 19% as white and 7% as two or more ethnicities.

Cal State Fullerton offers 109 degree programs — 55 for undergraduate degrees and 54 post-graduate, including three doctorates.

A fun fact is the school’s mascot, Tuffy the Titan, dates back to 1962 when the campus hosted “The First Intercollegiate Elephant Race in Human History.” In addition, the campus itself used to be the site of citrus groves, and you can see citrus plants around the business school, which is the crown jewel of the university, paying homage to the school’s humble beginnings.

The main campus boasts a wide range of activities, top-ranked classes and gourmet eats. The school supports Greek life and has two dozen fraternities and sororities on campus. Sports are also a big deal, especially the famous baseball program, which has yielded many famous athlete alumni, including current Angels catcher Kurt Suzuki.

For all those looking to get some Fullerton swag, the campus bookstore has everything you could be looking for to sport your Cal State Fullerton pride. Finally, don’t forget to visit the arboretum; it’s a beautiful place for every Orange County resident to take a leisurely stroll.

DREW A. KELLEY, CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHER Dylan Pease celebrates during Cal State Fullerton’s stage walk for 2021 graduates at Intramural Field in Fullerton on June 14.

– Jessie Dax-Setkus

2. UC Irvine

Irvine; 949-824-5011; uci.edu

Located in the heart of Orange County, UC Irvine has something to offer pretty much everyone with 222 degree programs for its 37,000-strong student population. More than 133,000 students — a record — applied for admission for fall 2021.

The campus, founded in 1965, is the newest member school in the Association of American Universities. It also ranks among the nation’s top 10 public universities, according to U.S. News & World Report, was chosen America’s Best Value Public University by Forbes in 2019 and named the best college in the nation by Money magazine in 2019.

Three researchers from UCI — two in chemistry, one in physics — have been awarded Nobel prizes. Three alumni have won Pulitzer Prizes. UC Irvine is also noted for its diversity; 88 languages are spoken and 79 countries are represented among the student body. As for sports, the Anteaters have won 28 national titles in 9 sports and 64 athletes have won individual national titles.

A massive bonus to this campus is that it sits in Irvine, which is rated one of the safest cities in the U.S.

Orange Coast College is one of 116 community colleges in California, but it definitely stands out from the pack. In 2020 it became the first two-year college in Southern Calfifornia to offer on-campus housing, to help students afford their educations amid skyrocketing rents. The college says it also ranks first among OC’s community colleges for transfers into the University of California and California State University systems.

“It’s cooler at the coast,” OCC says on its website. “Orange Coast College provides a 4-year university education, without the crushing debt.”

Saving money getting a four-year degree is a big draw for students, but OCC also offers A.A. degrees and professional certification in a variety of fields. The campus sits on 164 acres near the OC Fair & Event Center. Founded in 1947, OCC now has a student body of about 25,000 and offers more than 135 academic and career programs, including a professional mariner program for students seeking certification to work in the maritime industry.

3. Orange Coast College

2701 Fairview Road, Costa Mesa; 714-432-5072; prod.orangecoastcollege.edu