About Us:

Our doors opened in 1961, and since then we’ve built a world-class educational center serving 13,000 students with award-winning degree programs and collegiate sports. At central campus you’ll be immersed in an atmosphere of higher learning where dedicated instructors give you one-on-one attention in small, stimulating classes. Tuition is affordable here and scholarship opportunities abound, so you’re free to pursue your greatest aspirations, without limitations.

The San Jacinto College Central campus is the oldest and most storied of the College’s three campuses. The site of the original College campus sits on just over 189 acres in the heart of Pasadena, and serves the school districts of La Porte, Pasadena and Deer Park, as well as nearby out-of-district areas.

Surrounded by the petrochemical and maritime industries, many programs housed on the Central campus provide specialized training for these industries. Industry experts and practitioners serve on numerous advisory boards to ensure that San Jacinto College curriculum meets industry standards for employees with careers in petrochemical plants and the Port of Houston. The College is a member of the Gulf Coast Process Technology Alliance. At the Central campus, students receive training in process technology and non-destructive testing in state-of-the-art labs that simulate an actual plant setting.

The Central campus traditionally boasts the largest student population of the three campuses, and like the North and South campuses, serves a diverse community from all backgrounds, young and old. “It’s Never Too Late at San Jacinto College,” or N2L at SJC, is a student organization housed at the Central campus that is geared towards non-traditional students who are 25 years and older and are either first-time-in-college students, or students returning to college for a degree or training. The club has gained popularity in the last few years, and is becoming a pillar in the San Jacinto College community.

The College’s award-winning student newspaper, The San Jacinto Times, operates from the Central campus and reports District-wide. The newspaper has a circulation of 20,000 each week, and is part of the College’s journalism and communications program housed on the Central campus.

San Jacinto College Central’s department of vision care technology is the only such program in the state of Texas, and one of only six along the Gulf Coast. Our on-campus vision lab is fully equipped to compliment the educational needs of students. The program prepares students to gain an entry-level position in the vision care field and to gain certification as a para-optometric assistant/technician.

Other technical programs housed on the Central campus also enjoy a wide variety of accolades and successes. San Jacinto College trains students in auto technology, with specialties in General Motors, Ford, Chrysler, Honda, BMW and Toyota. Students compete annually in SkillsUSA competitions, and often advance to the national level.

The arts are alive and well at San Jacinto College Central. The department of Theatre and Film produces four major shows each year, which include not only San Jacinto College students, but community members as well. The department also opens its doors to host high school competitions. The music program trains top-notch musicians and also offers pre-college courses in piano and other specialties.

Student-athletes in volleyball and men’s basketball have the opportunity to compete in the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) on the Central campus. The women’s volleyball team won the national title in 1987, and has placed in the top six in the nation in the last three years. The men’s basketball team has a storied history in the NJCAA with four national championships, four national runners-up, and 19 national tournament appearances.

At the center of the San Jacinto College District, the Central campus is the hub of the educational experience for Pasadena, Deer Park, La Porte and surrounding communities. The campus strives to place students first and foremost in its programs and responds to the needs of its communities to help students succeed and meet their personal and professional goals.