Pacific Oaks College

Pacific Oaks College www.pacificoaks.edu | We prepare passionate teachers & counselors to empower others, reduce bias and change attitudes.

Twitter | Instagram Pacific Oaks' campus is in Pasadena, Calif., and classes are also offered through our online campus. Founded more than 65 years ago by a small group of Quaker families, Pacific Oaks College is dedicated to the fundamental Quaker principles of inclusion, social justice, and the valuing of every human being. The institution is known and recognized

for its pioneering efforts to reduce bias within our nation's education system, and for equipping graduates with the skills they need to help people from diverse backgrounds, learning styles, and strengths uncover and realize their unique individual potentials. Pacific Oaks is known for its progressive approach to learning—valuing real-world experiences as well as academic achievements. This philosophy is embodied through opportunities such as the Credit for Life Experience option, which allows students to gain academic credit for real-world experience acquired in the workplace. Students may earn up to 24 credits in this manner—credits which can be applied toward a bachelor's degree and count toward application for an M.A. in Marriage and Family Therapy or Human Development. Three basic concepts underlie the educational philosophy at Pacific Oaks:
•that every individual has a fundamental worth;
•that growth is a dynamic and life-long process;
•and that every individual has a unique identity and human potential. Pacific Oaks is accredited by the WASC Senior Colleges and Universities Commission (WSCUC), and has been since 1959.

National Higher Education Day reminds us: education should be accessible to everyone, not just those with privilege. 💚At...
06/06/2026

National Higher Education Day reminds us: education should be accessible to everyone, not just those with privilege. 💚

At Pacific Oaks College, we're committed to breaking down the barriers that keep people out of higher education—whether that's cost, flexibility, representation, or the belief that "college isn't for people like me."

We believe:
🌿 First-generation students belong
🌿 Working parents deserve flexible pathways to their degrees
🌿 Career changers can pursue their purpose at any age
🌿 Education should honor your culture, not erase it
🌿 Higher ed isn't about conforming, it's about becoming more fully yourself

At Pacific Oaks, we believe in your potential and we're committed to making higher education work for you. 💚

06/04/2026

Happy Pride Month! 🌈💚🌿

Hear from Eugenia Rodriguez, Department Chair, Marriage & Family Therapy, why today and every day pride deserves to be preserved and celebrated!

Every June, we raise a flag on campus to celebrate and honor the LGBTQ+ community—the courage, resilience, and joy of le***an, gay, bisexual, transgender, and q***r people everywhere.

Pride Month began with the Stonewall riots of 1969, when LGBTQ+ activists stood up against oppression and demanded their right to exist, to love, and to live freely. Pride isn't passive. It's in action, advocacy, showing up, speaking out, and fighting for a world where everyone can live and love without fear.

Happy Pride, keep thriving, shining, and supporting your community. 🌈🌿

At Pacific Oaks, our mission has never been vague. We exist to prepare culturally intelligent agents of change serving d...
06/03/2026

At Pacific Oaks, our mission has never been vague. We exist to prepare culturally intelligent agents of change serving diverse communities — and every program, every faculty member, and every support structure we offer reflects that commitment. 🌳

It's the kind of clarity that others are starting to recognize. Pacific Oaks College was recently highlighted in University Business as a model of purpose-driven higher education.

🔗 Read more here: https://universitybusiness.com/many-college-mission-statements-say-everything-and-nothing-at-all/

Happy Global Day of Parents! 🌿💚Did you know? In 2012, the U.N. General Assembly declared the first-ever Global Day of Pa...
06/01/2026

Happy Global Day of Parents! 🌿💚

Did you know? In 2012, the U.N. General Assembly declared the first-ever Global Day of Parents. Today, we honor the caregivers, nurturers, advocates, and first teachers who shape the next generation.

At Pacific Oaks, we believe parents aren't just supporters of education—they're partners in it. Because you know your children better than anyone. You bring cultural knowledge, lived experience, and deep love that no curriculum can replicate.

Parenting is one of the most important, and most challenging, roles anyone can take on. And today, we celebrate every parent who shows up, loves fiercely, and refuses to give up. 💚🌿

"There were times I left class crying because I was challenged and growing." 💚🌿That's how Marnnie Francisco describes he...
05/29/2026

"There were times I left class crying because I was challenged and growing." 💚🌿

That's how Marnnie Francisco describes her Pacific Oaks journey—and it's exactly what transformative education looks like. Marnnie earned both her Bachelor's and Master's degrees from Pacific Oaks in 2024. She now has 15+ years in early childhood education, has presented for the LA County Office of Education, worked as a Senior Recruiter at Child Care Careers, and now serves as Bilingual Child Development Faculty at Cerro Coso Community College.

At Pacific Oaks, growth isn't always comfortable. It challenges you. It pushes you. It asks you to question what you know and who you're becoming. And it surrounds you with faculty who genuinely care about your success not just academically, but as a person.

Today, Marnnie carries that purpose forward. We're honored to call her a Pacific Oaks alum. 💚

The caps said it all 🎓 Every design told a different story. Honoring family, celebrating perseverance, sharing future go...
05/26/2026

The caps said it all 🎓
Every design told a different story. Honoring family, celebrating perseverance, sharing future goals, and capturing the moments that made the journey worthwhile.

The Pacific Oaks College Class of 2026 showed up with creativity, personality, and plenty of inspiration at commencement this year. Swipe to see some standout graduation cap designs ✨

Today, we pause to honor Memorial Day. 🌿We remember the U.S. military personnel who gave their lives in service to this ...
05/25/2026

Today, we pause to honor Memorial Day. 🌿

We remember the U.S. military personnel who gave their lives in service to this country. We hold space for their families, their communities, and all who carry the weight of that loss.

At Pacific Oaks, we believe in honoring the complexity of service and sacrifice—and in working toward a future where peace, justice, and equity guide our path forward. 💚

05/23/2026

What would you say to your younger self just before crossing the threshold into a new chapter of life and learning?

We asked our recent Pacific Oaks College graduates, and our hearts are warmed by their thoughtful responses.

This is what community leadership looks like. 💚🌿After the Eaton Fire destroyed or damaged 34 childcare facilities in Pas...
05/22/2026

This is what community leadership looks like. 💚🌿

After the Eaton Fire destroyed or damaged 34 childcare facilities in Pasadena and Altadena, a partnership between Pacific Oaks College, Save the Children, Mattel, and the Pasadena Community Foundation was formed to deliver nearly $2 million in relief to 43 childcare sites.

It wasn't just about funding. It was about bringing joy back to children who'd experienced months of loss and disruption. When World of Little Angels reopened, kids discovered an enormous red box filled with toys; it was a moment of hope in the middle of recovery.

Read the full story: https://www.pacificoaks.edu/voices/from-the-magazine/nonprofit-partnership-delivers-toys-to-child-care-center-after-eaton-fire/

05/21/2026

Tassels turned, degrees earned, and a new chapter officially begins 🎓✨
Pacific Oaks College Class of 2026, your passion, resilience and commitment to meaningful change inspired every moment of this year’s commencement celebration.

Address

45 Eureka Street
Pasadena, CA
91103

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