There are four basic college systems:

1.The Community College (Glendale Community College)

• Admission Requirements: High School Diploma or 18 years of age or California High School Proficiency Exam Certificate. No subject requirements. No SAT or ACT  
• Degree Offered: Associate of Arts (AA)

Two types of program are offered:  

a. University transfer courses leading to a BA or BS from a four-year college

b.Occupational courses to enable the student to secure a job after completing training

2. The California State University (23 campuses, including Bakersfield, Dominguez Hills, Los Angeles, Northridge, Long Beach, Fullerton, Cal Poly Pomona, Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, San Diego, San Francisco, Chico, Humboldt)

Minimum subject requirements:

• English 4 years (college-prep composition and literature)
• Mathematics: 3 years (Algebra 1, Geometry, Algebra 2)  
• History/Social Science: 2 years (4 semesters from U.S. History, World History, Geography, Government, or civics)  
• Laboratory Science: 2 years (lab science)  
• Foreign Language: 2 years (student with competency in language other than English may qualify for exemption)  
• Visual & Performing Arts: 1 year
• Electives: additional year: history, English, advanced mathematics, lab science, foreign language, social science, and visual and performing arts

Minimum eligibility requirement:

• 'C' or better in above subjects (Cal-State honors any repeated course for higher grade)
• SAT or ACT exam - exam score and GPA must meet Eligibility Index
• GPA based on all grades (except P.E.) in 10th through 12th (courses taken before 10th grade meet subject requirement with at least a 'C' but not used in GPA) 

3.The University of California (10 campuses at Los Angeles, Irvine, Berkeley, Davis, Riverside, San Diego, San Francisco, Santa Barbara, Santa Cruz, Merced)

Minimum subject requirements: (a-g subject requirements)

a.History/Social Science: 2 years (4 semesters from U.S. History, World History, Geography, Government, or civics)  

b. English: 4 years (college-prep composition and literature)  

c. Mathematics: 3 years (Algebra 1, Geometry, Algebra 2) recommend 4 years  

d. Laboratory Science: 2 years (lab science) recommend 3 years  

e. Foreign Language: 2 years (of same foreign language) recommend years in same language  

f. Visual & Performing Arts:1 year  

g. Electives: 1 additional year: history, English, advanced mathematics, lab science, foreign language, social science, and visual and performing arts

Minimum eligibility requirements:

• 'C' or better in above subjects (UC will not honor any course repeated with a 'C' or higher)
• ACT or SAT I exam with three SAT II exams (English composition, mathematics, and one from English literature, foreign language, sciences or social science)
• GPA based on grades earned in A-G courses 10th through 12th grades (honors courses 5-point scale)
• If below 3.2 but above 2.8, applicant needs to consult their counselor
• Seven on the 15 A-G classes must be taken during the 11th and 12th grade 

4.Independent Colleges and Universities (USC, Stanford, Occidental, Pepperdine, Loyola-Marymount, etc.)

• Entrance requirements and expenses vary but are similar to University of California system. Check the college catalogues in the high school Counseling Office, Career Center, or the World Wide Web.