Palo Verde College (PVC) Academics and Unique Programs

Academics

Palo Verde College is a public community college located in Blythe, California. It is a college dedicated to promoting personal growth via reflection, learning, and recreation. Since its foundation in 1947, the college has built a reputation of quality and readiness, providing high-level education that tends to the changing needs of the community it serves.

Whether you are interested in going to class on campus, distance education, online education, or even interactive TV-education, Palo Verde has offerings under all of these types of study. The college offers a wide variety of certificate programs, associate degrees, and transfer programs for those interested in transferring to a four-year university after completing their first two years of education at Palo Verde.

These programs range from alcohol & drug studies to welding technology, and they are all accredited by the Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges, which is the Western Association of Schools and Colleges.

Palo Verde is a small community college with a student body of little more than 3,000 students. This means that a personalized, high-quality education is preferred over a general, standardized education.

Most Popular Fields of Study

Information Summary

Ranks 264th in California and 2763rd overall. See the entire top 2,000 colleges and universities list
Overall Score (about)	54.1
Total Cost On-Campus Attendance	$3,205
Admission Success rate	N/A
Student Ratio Students-to-Faculty	15 : 1
Retention (full-time / part-time)	60% / 28%
Enrollment Total (all students)	4,118

Unique Programs

Palo Verde stands out from other community colleges in that it offers its students several modalities of study. There are traditional courses that are taken at the campus, but correspondence courses are also available as well as online courses. This means that any student can study from home and get the same kind of education as a student who attends classes on campus. Keeping with its long standing tradition of educational innovation, Palo Verde also offers its students the possibility of TV-education, which basically means that students can watch their classes on television instead of actually having to go to the campus.

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Admissions

Palo Verde College is a community college that exercises an open admission policy. This means that anyone who wishes to attend Palo Verde is more than welcome to do so; all that they need to do is fill out their application form. Admissions are processed in the order in which they are received, and there are really no excessive requirements for acceptance. All that the college requires is that the applicants have completed their high school studies (although special admissions are also processed for high school students who wish to get ahead on their college credits) and that they have sufficient skill to handle college level work.

Paperwork is not a must, but if applicants would like to submit transcripts with their application form, they are welcome to do so too. SAT or ACT scores are not mandatory either. Palo Verde is a small college that works to giving education opportunities to anyone interested. This is why applications are usually processed (and mostly approved) in no more than two business days. In terms of deadlines, it would be best if you applied by no later than May if you are interested in starting during the summer session; if you want to start during fall, make sure that your application is completed by no later than December.

Financial Aid

Attending college can be costly. Palo Verde College is a community college and as such is affordable to many, but not to all. Therefore, the college’s Financial Aid office works toward helping those who cannot afford college to be able to cover the expenses associated with studying at Palo Alto.

There are three kinds of financial aid available for all those who wish to take courses at Palo Alto: scholarships, grants, and work-study. Scholarships and grants are earned on the basis of need, but also on the basis of merit. If you have excellent grades or if you have exceptional talents, you can surely apply for either a scholarship or a grant. If you are not eligible for either, you can always apply for financial aid in the form of work-study. If you apply and get this kind of financial assistance, the college will assist you in finding a suitable job so that you can continue studying while at the same time making some money to cover your expenses.

Student Financial Aid Details

Secrets to getting the best scholarships and financial aid in California.

Students

Palo Verde was originally founded in 1947 in southern California. Over its history, the college has moved several times to different campuses, the last of which was the Blythe campus, which has been home of Palo Verde since 2001. As well, the college added a center to provide additional facilities for all students to be able to receive instruction. This center is called the Needles Center and was founded in 1999 on the Needles High School campus. In 2009 it was moved to the Claypool and Company Building on Broadway, which by that time was already completely remodeled.

It was decided in 2009 that a Fine and Performing Arts Center would be built. Once completed, it will be endowed with classrooms and laboratories for studio art, music, jewelry, and quilting courses. It will also have a 400-seat theater with additional facilities for students interesting in pursuing studies in theater arts and other kinds of performing arts.

Student Enrollment Demographics

Additional School Information

Palo Verde College tries to enable its students to pursue whatever interests they might have, especially in what has to do with developing their skills to their full potential. The college sponsors a wide variety of student groups. As well, given the college’s privileged location in the heart of southern California, students can engage in all kinds of off-campus recreational activities and water sports.

Bibliography

Admissions, http://www.paloverde.edu/index.php?module=ContentExpress&file=index&func=display&ceid=159&meid=201, web, 26 July 2011
Financial Aid, http://www.paloverde.edu/index.php?module=ContentExpress&func=display&ceid=85, web, 26 July 2011
Palo Verde College. College Catalogue and Announcement of Courses. Blythe: Palo Verde College, 2011. Print.