logo: Seattle Colleges
Central·North·South
   
REQUEST INFORMATION
Class
Schedules
College Transfer
Degrees
Bachelor's
Degrees
Technical Degrees
& Certificates
International
Programs
Corporate &
Customized Training
Continuing
Education
Academic
Calendar
Quick Links
  • Home
  • Campus Closures
  • Catalogs in Print
  • Chancellor's Cabinet
  • Class Schedules
  • Copyright and Fair Use
  • Corporate & Custom Training
  • ctcLink
  • Education Tax Credit
  • Emergencies
  • Employee Directory
  • Employment Opportunities
  • Hire a Student - Post a Job
  • Our Locations
  • RST Academy
  • Student Right-to-Know / Rules
  • HOME
  • INFORMATION FOR
  • Prospective Students…
    • Getting Started
    • Programs & Study Options
    • Transfer Agreements
    • Class Schedules
    • Pay and Prepare
    • College Bound Scholarship
    • Campus Services
    • Student Right-to-Know / Rules
    • Students w/ Disabilities
    • Parking / Commuting
    • District-wide Catalog
    • Forms
    • College to Career
  • Current Students…
    • Programs & Study Options
    • Transfer Agreements
    • Student Online Services
    • Pay and Prepare
    • Campus Services
    • Student Right-to-Know / Rules
    • Student w/ Disabilities
    • Parking / Commuting
    • Voter Registration
    • Forms
    • IT Services
  • Center for Working Adults
  • Faculty & Staff…
    • Resources
    • Introduction to iStream
    • Copyright and Fair Use
    • HR Services
  • Visitors & Community…
    • Hire a Student - Post a Job
    • Enjoy Our Campuses
    • Technical Advisory Committee
  • Policymakers & Community
  • Employers…
    • Find Talent
    • Upskill Employees
    • Invest
    • Share
    • Resources
  • INFORMATION ABOUT
  • Programs & Study Options…
    • College Transfer
    • Transfer Agreement
    • Professional / Technical
    • Short-term Certificates
    • Bachelor's Degrees
    • eLearning / Distance Learning
    • Continuing Education
    • Corporate & Customized Training
    • International Programs
    • Adult Basic Studies/ESL
    • High School/Colleges
  • Our District…
    • Our Locations
    • Mission, Vision & Strategic Plan
    • Chancellor's Cabinet
    • Chancellor's Office
    • College History
    • Policies and Procedures
    • Financial Information
    • Sustainability
  • Seattle Colleges Data Dashboard
  • Board of Trustees
  • Institutional Effectiveness
  • News & Information…
    • In The News
    • News Releases
    • Publications
    • Media Contacts
    • Notice of Public Hearing
    • Campus Use Taskforce
  • Emergency Preparedness…
    • Workplace & Classroom Emergencies
    • Personal Preparedness
    • Flu / Contagious Diseases
    • Campus Closures
    • SCC Emergency Net (SCCEN)
    • Resources
    • SeattleCollegesAlerts
  • HR Services
  • IT Services
  • College Catalog…
    • Catalogs in Print
    • Getting Started
    • Progress and Grades
    • Rights and Responsibilities
    • Programs & Study Options…
      • College Transfer
      • Adult Basic Education / ESL
      • Professional / Technical
      • Continuing Education
      • eLearning
      • High School - College Programs GED
      • International Programs
      • Worker Retraining
    • Program List
    • Accreditation
    • Common Course Numbering
    • Class Schedules
  • Academic Calendar
  • Employee Directory
  • District & College Staff…
    • District Office
    • Central
    • North
    • South
  • Employment Opportunities
  • Business Opportunities…
    • Doing Business with SC
    • General Credit Application Information
    • Solicitations
    • Contact Us
  • Giving · Advancement
  • Accessible Technology
  • SPECIAL PROGRAMS
  • Start Next Quarter
  • RST Academy
  • eLearning
  • Worker Retraining
  • Libraries
  • Global Impact
  • SCCtv
  • College To Career
  • ctcLink
Emergency Campus Alerts - click to sign up now
INFORMATION ABOUT » Our District » College History
College History

The Seattle Colleges serve all of metropolitan Seattle and its surrounding communities, and comprise the largest community college district in the state, educating more than 50,000 students each year.

The first classes were held in the Edison Vocational Technical Institute on Capitol Hill, when "Seattle Community College" — now Seattle Central College — opened in 1966 as part of the public school system.

The State Community College Act of 1967 established college districts apart from the public schools, with a mandate to provide "an open door to education" for all who seek it. A long-range plan called for three campuses in the city, and planning began immediately for North Seattle College and South Seattle College.

By September 1970, all three colleges opened together for the first time as a multi-campus district. Seattle Vocational Institute, affiliated with Central, joined the district in 1991 under the state’s Work Force Training and Education Act. The district also includes four specialized training centers located throughout the city:

  • Seattle Maritime Academy and Wood Technology Center, affiliated with Central.
  • Georgetown Campus and NewHolly Learning Center, affiliated with South.

Students choose from an array of more than 135 academic and career-technical programs, the largest number in the state. The curriculum has led the way as the Puget Sound area moved from a manufacturing and resource-based economy to information-based industries.

Like the region, the college population is dynamic. The student body is the most diverse in the Northwest, reflecting nearly 80 different languages spoken in homes throughout the city.

By design, each of the colleges reflects its community. While the colleges are an integral part of their neighborhoods and offer certain unique educational programs, all are comprehensive and offer programs in college transfer, professional-technical training, adult basic education, and continuing education.

Contact the District Public Information Office regarding information present on this page.

Seattle Central  |   North Seattle  |   South Seattle
Health Education Center  |   Seattle Maritime Academy  |   Wood Technology Center
Georgetown Campus  |   NewHolly Learning Center
Logo: League for Innovation

Board Member Institution of the League for Innovation

Accessibility | Privacy | Disclaimer | Public Records | Directions | Contact Us | Inside Seattle Colleges
© 2019 Seattle Colleges | 1500 Harvard Avenue, Seattle, WA 98122 | 206.934.4100
Facebook logo Twitter logo