Coastline Community College Finance & Accounting Options
Coastline Community College appears in our ranking of the Top 50 Best Associates in Accounting Online.
Program options for students at Coastline Community College include associate degrees, certificates of achievement, and certificates of specialization. Programs include an Associate of Science in Accounting, a Certificate of Achievement in Bookkeeping, a Certificate of Achievement in General Accounting, and a Certificate of Achievement in Taxation.
Students may also earn a Certificate of Specialization in Intermediate Accounting or a Certificate of Specialization in Advanced Accounting. After graduation, students are eligible to enter the workforce in many accounting environments, as well as transfer to four-year universities for the pursuit of a bachelor’s degree. The associate degree program is an ideal start for students who want to eventually become Certified Public Accountants.
Learning outcomes of the associate accounting program at Coastline Community College include gaining the ability to accumulate, record, and interpret financial information, as well as analyze and recommend smart business solutions. Students should also be proficient in computerized accounting software and be able to demonstrate knowledge of business and accounting terminology.
Students in the associate degree program will complete classes in accounting that include Introduction to Accounting, Managerial Accounting, Excel for Accounting, and Intermediate Accounting I. Students will also take Accounting with QuickBooks and Financial Accounting. For each available concentration, students will complete around 24 credits in their chosen topic.
The concentration in bookkeeping features classes like Advanced QuickBooks, Work-Based Learning, Beginning Microsoft Word, and Business English. For the general accounting specialization, students will enroll in classes like Individual Taxation, Introduction to Business, Business English, Work-Based Learning, and Personal Finance.
Meanwhile, the taxation specialty features classes like Tax Return Preparation, Personal Finance, and Individual Taxation. Students who choose one of the two certificate programs will complete a total of nine credits if they choose intermediate accounting or ten credits if they choose advanced accounting and may add their specializations to another degree earned at the college.
Intermediate accounting class requirements include Intermediate Accounting I, Intermediate Accounting II, and Intermediate Accounting III. For the Advanced Accounting option, students will take Business Taxation, Fundamentals of Auditing, and Advanced Accounting. Just like the associate’s degree in accounting, the college has learning outcomes for all of its certificates and specializations.
For example, the taxation program requires that graduates are able to interpret financial data, prepare reports for regulatory compliance, and understand standard accounting technology, Students should also be able to demonstrate knowledge of commonly used computerized accounting software programs. Outcomes also include understanding how to deliver solutions through a systematic and information-based approach.
About Coastline Community College
Coastline Community College is located in California and has several small campuses in communities like Westminster, Newport Beach, and Garden Grove. The college’s administrative office is in Fountain Valley, which is south of Los Angeles. The school was founded in 1976 and has sister colleges known as Orange Coast College and Golden West College. There are more than 110 community colleges throughout California, and the college is a member of the state system.
The school was originally known as a distance learning college and served students living along the coast in Orange County. Some on-campus classes were held at different campuses in the 1970s, but the college would eventually build its own campuses. There are no athletic teams at the college, but the school does have a dolphin for its mascot.
Coastline Community College Accreditation Details
The college has received institutional accreditation from the Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges of the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC). Institutional accreditation helps students attend institutions that meet peer-reviewed standards for higher education. Students who earn credits at an accredited college can also transfer those credits to other accredited institutions.
WASC is recognized by the Council for Higher Education and the U.S. Department of Education. Some programs at the college have received additional accreditation from programmatic sources. For example, the paralegal program is accredited by the American Bar Association and has had this accreditation since 1985.
Coastline Community College Application Requirements
New students who want to enroll at Coastline Community College are advised to apply at least ten days before the start of classes. Students should use the Open CCC Apply application and create a username and password for the system when they apply. The college allows students to enroll under several statuses that include returning, international, continuing, military, and high school students.
Domestic students should also fill out a FAFSA form or complete a California Dream Act Application, which will allow the student to apply for scholarships, grants, and loans. Admitted students must take a math and English assessment before they can register for classes, as well as participate in an online orientation.
Tuition and Financial Aid
Students who enroll at Coastline Community College will pay $46 per credit if they’re from California. Students who aren’t from California will pay a rate of $265 per credit, as well as an additional $11 per credit for a Non-Resident Capital Outlay fee. Out-of-state active-duty military students are exempt from the outlay fee when they enroll solely in online classes.
The college offers a few different ways to pay for tuition and fees that include a one-time payment at the time of registration or an installment plan that requires three payments. Students will work with Cashnet Payment Solutions if they choose to enroll within the three-payment plan. Students should also budget for costs like books and supplies, which are paid above and beyond the cost of tuition. Students may also need to pay a health services fee unless they can prove they already have a health insurance plan.
Degree-seekers who want to receive financial aid to help pay for college have a variety of forms and options in California. Options include the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), which may qualify students for federal student loans and grants, as well as the California College Promise Grant, which was once called the Board of Governors Fee Waiver.
Some students may be asked to submit additional information when they submit their FAFSA form, and the required details may include past income tax forms or other financial data. The college recommends that students submit their FAFSA form as early as possible in the year, even if they haven’t yet applied to Coastline Community College, so they can take advantage of as much financial aid as possible.
