California community colleges guide · By CalChannel Editorial Team · Updated September 29, 2026
Diablo Valley College is a public community college in Pleasant Hill, with a second campus in San Ramon, and it has open admission. California residents pay the statewide enrollment fee of $46 per unit. DVC says it continuously ranks among the top transfer pathways to UC Berkeley. College Navigator reports 17,228 students in Fall 2024 and a 76% retention rate for full-time students.
Diablo Valley College, or DVC, is part of the Contra Costa Community College District in the East Bay. It’s a large, transfer-focused college best known for transfer programs that send students to UC Berkeley, UC Davis and other four-year universities.
Here are the official numbers: what DVC costs, how admission and transfer work, and where its two campuses are.
| Fact | Diablo Valley College |
|---|---|
| Type | Public community college, Contra Costa Community College District |
| Campuses | Pleasant Hill (main) and San Ramon |
| Founded | 1949 (named Diablo Valley College in 1958) |
| Admission | Open admission for high school graduates and adults 18 and older |
| Enrollment fee, California residents | $46 per unit (statewide fee) |
| Students | 17,228 (Fall 2024); 63% part-time |
| In-state tuition and fees, full-time year (2024-25) | $1,312 |
| Total estimated cost (2024-25) | $10,218 living with family; $33,654 off campus |
| Average net price | $11,001 (2023-24) |
| Retention (full-time) | 76% (Fall 2023 cohort) |
| Graduation / transfer-out rate | 49% / 10% within three years (Fall 2021 full-time cohort) |
| Student-to-faculty ratio | 25:1 |
| Athletics | Vikings |
Sources: Diablo Valley College, About DVC; College Navigator (IPEDS). Full list at the end of the article.
In This Article
What Is Diablo Valley College?
Diablo Valley College is a public two-year college that began offering classes in 1949 and adopted its current name in 1958. It’s one of three colleges in the Contra Costa Community College District and part of the California Community Colleges system. DVC says it has enrolled more than 1.5 million students since it opened.
DVC offers associate degrees, Associate Degrees for Transfer, career education certificates, online programs, and adult basic skills and English as a second language programs. It’s not a university, so students who want a bachelor’s degree typically complete their first two years at DVC and then transfer.
Does DVC Have Selective Admissions?
No. Like other California community colleges, DVC has open admission for high school graduates and anyone 18 or older who can benefit from instruction. Students apply through CCCApply, the statewide community college application. Some career programs have their own requirements or limited space, but general admission is not competitive.
How Much Does DVC Cost?
California residents pay the statewide enrollment fee of $46 per unit, so 30 units a year cost $1,380 in enrollment fees before small campus fees. Federal data puts DVC’s in-state tuition and fees at $1,312 for a full-time year in 2024-25.
| DVC estimated costs, 2024-25 | In-state | Out-of-state |
|---|---|---|
| Tuition and fees (full-time year) | $1,312 | $10,320 |
| Books and supplies | $1,220 | $1,220 |
| Total cost, living with family | $10,218 | $19,226 |
| Total cost, living off campus | $33,654 | $42,662 |
Source: College Navigator, estimated expenses for full-time beginning undergraduate students, 2024-25. DVC has no campus housing.
The biggest cost is living expenses, not tuition. Many California students qualify for the California College Promise Grant, which waives enrollment fees, and Pell Grants and Cal Grants can help with living costs.
“East Bay rents make living off campus far more expensive than tuition at DVC. For students who can live at home, two years at DVC followed by a transfer is one of the lowest-cost paths to a UC Berkeley or UC Davis degree.”
CalChannel Editorial Team
Transferring From DVC to UC Berkeley
Is DVC a good option for transferring to UC Berkeley? DVC says it continuously ranks among the top transfer pathways to UC Berkeley, and many students also transfer to UC Davis, other UC campuses and Cal State universities such as San José State.
Transfer to Berkeley is competitive: the campus admitted 24.2% of transfer applicants for Fall 2025. Students aiming for Berkeley should complete major preparation, keep a strong GPA and use DVC’s Transfer Services early. For UC campuses that offer it, the Transfer Admission Guarantee (TAG) can secure admission for eligible students.
Where Is DVC Located?
DVC’s main campus is at 321 Golf Club Road in Pleasant Hill, in central Contra Costa County, about 30 miles east of San Francisco. The Pleasant Hill/Contra Costa Centre BART station is nearby.
Where is the DVC San Ramon campus? It’s at 1690 Watermill Road in San Ramon, serving the Tri-Valley area. It’s part of DVC, not a separate “San Ramon City College.” DVC’s official website is dvc.edu.
What Is DVC Known For?
DVC is known for transfer preparation, especially to UC Berkeley, along with career education programs in fields such as culinary arts, dental hygiene and horticulture, plus a pre-apprenticeship program for the building trades. Its athletic teams are the Vikings.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the DVC acceptance rate?
DVC has open admission, so there’s no acceptance rate in the traditional sense. High school graduates and adults 18 or older can enroll.
How much does DVC cost?
California residents pay $46 per unit in enrollment fees. Federal data puts full-time in-state tuition and fees at $1,312 for 2024-25.
Is “San Ramon City College” a separate school from DVC?
No. The San Ramon campus is part of Diablo Valley College. There’s no separate college by that name.
Is DVC good for transferring to UC Berkeley?
Yes. DVC says it continuously ranks among the top transfer pathways to UC Berkeley, though transfer admission to Berkeley remains competitive.
What is DVC’s official website?
Diablo Valley College’s official website is dvc.edu.
The Bottom Line on DVC
Diablo Valley College is an open-admission community college in Pleasant Hill and San Ramon with a strong reputation for transfers to UC Berkeley. At $46 per unit for California residents, it’s a low-cost way to start a bachelor’s degree in the East Bay.
Compare DVC with Santa Monica College, Santa Barbara City College and other California community colleges.
Sources
CalChannel Editorial Team California college guides
The CalChannel editorial team researches and writes guides to California colleges, admissions and financial aid. We build our college profiles and aid guides from colleges’ own published data, federal IPEDS data and the California Student Aid Commission. Read our editorial policy.
