Program for Accelerated College Education (PACE)

We are PROUD of so many

PACE success stories!

"I am the first female transportation director in LAUSD and I am the first Latina transportation director. PACE opened that door for me and made education possible. I would not be in the position I am today without that initial step, that opportunity that allowed me, a single parent, to grow.

I was invited to Washington DC where I received recognition. There, a congressman said to me, “Someone along the way opened the door for you.” That was PACE. PACE created the access I needed by offering classes in a non-traditional schedule in a program set up to support people like myself. I knew I was capable of more, I just needed help to get there."

- Lilia Montoya, former LAUSD Director of Transportation; Deputy Chief Executive Officer Long Beach Transit

"PACE was such a great journey! I went back to school at 48 years old. The program helped me with everything. I didn’t have to navigate which classes to take. PACE laid out the plan for me and I followed it. The guidance from the Pierce College PACE program was excellent. It was an easy-to-follow program and it worked with my schedule. I took classes in the evening after work. I never hit any speed bumps where I thought it was too much. The structured program made it easy for me and I was surprised and excited that I graduated with two degrees before transferring to CSUN. I received my Bachelor's degree in Public Sector Management and advanced in my career to Regional Transportation Manager."

- Deborah Duarte, LAUSD Regional Transportation Manager

Why PACE? Fast track your education!

• Anyone can become a PACE student!
• PACE students complete a program of study at an accelerated rate.
• PACE students get priority to get the classes they need! PACE classes are only open to PACE students first.
• PACE students can take regular Pierce classes and PACE classes. This gives students access to more class options.
• PACE follows a guided pathway which is a structured plan for students to follow; this simplifies enrollment.
• PACE classes are hybrid or all online which means less time on campus.
• PACE offers an alternative schedule — online classes, classes that meet one evening a week and every other Saturday, and/or classes that only meet one evening a week (No Saturday).
• PACE classes are quick! Classes are eight weeks in length.
• PACE has several educational paths; each path prepares students for a degree AND for transfer.
• PACE students can work full-time and attend college full-time.
• PACE has a designated counselor to assist students in planning their educational goals.
• PACE is also designed so that students can seamlessly transfer to a variety of four-year institutions — public and private.