What De Anza College is like

What it's like

De Anza College is a public community college in Cupertino, California, serving a diverse student body including a heavy international population. With an average class size of 35 and approximately 2,800 transfers per year, it functions as a pathway institution within the Foothill-De Anza Community College District. The campus features notable cultural and environmental infrastructure, including the Euphrat Museum of Art and the Kirsch Center, a LEED platinum-certified building that has become a destination for policy makers and Silicon Valley leaders.

Academic feel

De Anza offers a mix of transfer preparation and applied technology programs. The Puente Project serves underserved students with English instruction, individualized counseling, and mentoring, achieving a 61% transfer rate for Latino participants within six years—significantly higher than non-Puente Latino students. Career-focused offerings include automotive technology, design and manufacturing, and environmental studies programs covering energy management, resource management, pollution prevention, and wildlife science. Research activity spans psychology (88 works), artificial intelligence (46 works), biology (44 works), pedagogy (44 works), physics (35 works), and art (24 works).

Social life

The college maintains active student governance through the De Anza Associated Student Body, which operates the popular De Anza Flea Market—a monthly community event that draws 15,000-20,000 shoppers and generates approximately $300,000 annually for student programs. The Vasconcellos Institute of Democracy in Action (VIDA) coordinates community service learning and civic engagement. The campus hosts cultural events at the Visual and Performing Arts Center and features the Euphrat Museum of Art, which presents thought-provoking exhibitions addressing philosophical and social issues.

What you should consider

Transfer students, particularly those in the Puente Project and underrepresented populations seeking structured pathways to four-year institutions. Students pursuing applied technology and environmental studies benefit from hands-on programs and real-world applications. Community-engaged learners find outlets through VIDA and student organizations. International students represent a significant population at the college.

Strengths

• The Kirsch Center, opened in 2005, was the first community college building in the US to receive LEED platinum certification and has become a model destination for policy makers, school officials, and Silicon Valley entrepreneurs seeking to learn about sustainable building design.[1]
• The Puente Project achieves a 61% transfer rate for Latino participants within six years, significantly outperforming non-Puente Latino students through integrated English instruction, individualized counseling, and mentoring.[1]
• The Euphrat Museum of Art presents thought-provoking exhibitions addressing philosophical and social issues, featuring work from both local and international artists and serving as an outstanding community center for visual arts.[1]
• The campus includes the Fujitsu Planetarium with a 50-foot dome and updated digital projection system installed in 2016, serving students, school field trip groups, and the public with educational programming and evening laser light shows.[1]
• The Cheeseman Environmental Study Area contains approximately 400 species of plants representing 12 California natural communities, providing students with hands-on opportunities to conduct environmental research and learn about California's biological heritage.[1]

Traditions

• The De Anza Flea Market, a monthly student enterprise operating on the first Saturday of each month for over 30 years, has grown into an established community event featuring approximately 825 vendor stalls and attracting 15,000-20,000 shoppers when weather permits.[1]