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Seattle Central College | Field Guide 2021

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Since 1966, Seattle Central College has served students from Seattle and greater King County. As Seattle’s first community college, Seattle Central grew into a thriving center for higher education in the heart of Washington’s largest city. Since its founding, this college has been the epicenter of social activism, when Seattle’s African and Asian American communities fought for a comprehensive college. Seattle Central is an equity-focused college that makes higher education possible for underrepresented and underserved communities and actively works to close achievement gaps. Our perspective is global, with the nation’s sixth-largest community college international program teaching more than 1,000 students from around the world.

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Key Facts

Highest Enrolled Programs

  • Associate of Arts
  • Adult Basic Education/English as a Second Language
  • Associate of Science
  • Information technology
  • Allied Health
  • Nursing

Enrollment

  • Headcount (all sources): 14,772
  • FTES (all sources): 6,479
  • Headcount (state-funded): 9,461
  • FTES (state-funded): 4,583

Students in Selected Programs

  • Applied bachelor's: 256
  • Apprentices: 18
  • I-BEST: 431
  • International: 1,434
  • Running Start: 867
  • Worker Retraining: 417

Student Profile

Type of Student

  • Academic/transfer: 37%
  • Basic skills: 11%
  • Other: 10%
  • Workforce education: 42%

Race/Ethnicity*

  • American Indian/Alaska Native: 3%
  • Asian: 24%
  • Black/African American: 20%
  • Hispanic/Latino: 14%
  • Pacific Islander: 2%
  • Other race: 4%
  • White: 44%

Attendance

  • Full-time: 46%
  • Part-time: 54%

Family and Finances

  • Students receiving need-based financial aid: 38%
  • Students who work: 44%
  • Students with children: 17%

Gender

  • Female: 59%
  • Male: 41%

Median age

28

Points of Interest

New social justice emphasis in technical theatre

Intiman Theatre and Seattle Central College (SCC) have formed a partnership that will offer an associate degree program emphasis in Technical Theatre for Social Justice. The new program offers instruction in performance support such as stage lighting, audio engineering and scenic carpentry. Up to 40 students will be accepted per year, where they will work alongside union professionals on Intiman’s mainstage productions during their practicum lab. The program provides graduates a direct transfer to a four-year institution.

Academy for Rising Educators

Seattle Central College and Seattle Public Schools partnered in 2019 to create the Academy for Rising Educators, an Associate of Arts degree with a focus on education and social justice that prepares students to become teachers. The aim of the program is to increase the percentage of teachers of color in Washington state. Graduates will have the option to directly transfer into teaching programs at Seattle University and City University, and to work at Seattle Public Schools as teaching assistants.

Boat building program prepares students for specialized carpentry

The Boat Building and Repair program is one of four specialized carpentry programs offered by Seattle Central College. Classes are held at the state-of-the-art Wood Technology Center, a renovated facility in the Central District that opened in 2013. Students in the program can earn an Associate of Applied Science degree in boat building and repair. The program incorporates boatbuilding and repair techniques, along with a basic overview of marine mechanical systems. Before they get there, students must also master hand tools, power tools, fasteners and tool safety.

Data is from the 2019-20 academic year. Reflects headcount unless otherwise noted.

*May not add up to 100% because students may be counted in more than one race. Percentages calculated on reported value.

Chancellor

Dr. Shouan Pan

President

Dr. Sheila Edwards Lange

Trustees

  • Steven Hill, chair
  • Teresita Batayola
  • Louise Chernin
  • Rosa Peralta
  • Robert Williams

Year Founded

1966

Service Area

Central, east and downtown Seattle, King County

Legislative Districts

11, 32, 33, 34, 36, 37, 43, 46

Page Manager: krose@sbctc.edu
Last Modified: 2/17/23, 11:56 AM

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