
Los Angeles Mission College is a public community college founded in 1975 to expand access to higher education in the northeast San Fernando Valley. It is part of the Los Angeles Community College District, rather than a branch of a four-year university.
The college's development reflects its dual purpose: preparing students to transfer to universities and offering career-oriented education close to home. Today it serves recent high school students, adults returning to school, and students pursuing individual courses alongside degree and certificate seekers.
Los Angeles Mission College organizes its teaching around community-college academic disciplines rather than undergraduate and graduate faculties. Students can pursue associate degrees, certificates, and associate degrees designed for transfer to California State University campuses.
Its offerings span subjects such as English, mathematics, sciences, social sciences, business, child development, administration of justice, and the performing arts. Career-focused options include culinary arts. A student comparing programs should check the current catalog for required courses, whether a credential is a degree or certificate, and whether a transfer degree matches the intended CSU major.
Faculty teach both transfer-level and career education courses. The reported student-to-faculty ratio is 32 to 1; that institution-wide measure does not tell students how large a particular lab, lecture, or online class will be.
Los Angeles Mission College is in Sylmar, California, in the northeast San Fernando Valley. Its campus is at 13356 Eldridge Avenue, making it a local option for students in Sylmar and nearby communities.
This is a metropolitan, largely commuter-oriented setting rather than a residential college town. Students can use regional bus service, while the Sylmar/San Fernando Metrolink station provides another connection to the wider Los Angeles area; the station is not on campus, so the final portion of a trip needs planning. Commute time and transportation costs may be consequential for students combining classes with work or caregiving.
Los Angeles Mission College's stated educational purpose centers on accessible community-college education, student learning, university transfer, career preparation, and lifelong learning. Its public-college mission serves a diverse local population rather than a religious or other affiliated constituency.
Those priorities appear in its mix of general education, transfer pathways, and occupational programs. A mission statement describes institutional aims; prospective students can assess how well a particular program fits their goals by examining its course sequence, support services, and transfer or employment requirements.
Name of the institution
Los Angeles Mission CollegeLevel of institution
Four or more yearsControl of institution
PublicSetting type
City: LargeInstitutional Category
Degree - granting, not primarily baccalaureate or aboveInstitution size category
10,000 - 19,999School type
Two-year collegeMain student body
CoeducationalCalendar system
SemestersFoundation year
1974Los Angeles Mission College is institutionally accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges, an accrediting agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. Accreditation confirms that the school meets quality standards and is required for students to receive federal financial aid.
Certificate of less than 1 year
Certificate of at least 1 year, but less than 2 years
Associate's degree
Bachelor's degreeData last updated on November 2, 2026
Data sources: IPEDS 2024-25, Peterson 2026, College Scorecard 10/2026, Clery 2024 (2023-24), OpenAlex 2026
Figures on this profile come from federal and third-party datasets in the editions listed above and are refreshed periodically, so they may differ from what the institution currently reports. Confirm costs, deadlines and requirements with the school before making decisions.