Selkirk Overview
Selkirk College Overview
Located amidst the breathtaking beauty of southern British Columbia, Selkirk College is home to 60-plus nationally recognized programs serving more than 2,800 full-time learners per year in certificate, diploma, bachelor degree, co-operative education and continuing education programs. With eight campus locations in six different West Kootenay and Boundary communities, Selkirk College offers outcomes for in-demand employment, credit transfer to a multitude of universities for degree completion and enhanced training to further career opportunities.
Selkirk College acknowledges our respect for and deep gratitude to the First Nations of the West Kootenay and Boundary regions: the Sinixt (Lakes), the Syilx (Okanagan), the Ktunaxa, and the Secwepemc (Shuswap) peoples on whose traditional territories we are honoured to operate.
Everything You Want, All Right Here
Selkirk College is large enough to provide quality student services and facilities, yet small enough to offer individual support, small class sizes and an extra dose of attention not found in most post-secondary institutions. Our instructors are more than teachers, they are experts in their fields who have relevant real-world experience to share with students.
Selkirk College Student Engagement Survey 2021: The top reasons why people choose Selkirk College are affordability, close to home, program or course of choice and personal attention in small class sizes. Our students also say:
Perfectly Suited Educational Opportunities
Through support from employer advisory committees, exciting work integrated learning options and an outstanding B.C. post-secondary transfer system, student access to achieving goals is limitless.
Home to Selkirk Innovates and the Mir Centre for Peace, Selkirk College offers unique educational pathways that immerse learners in relevant outcomes.
Selkirk College puts priority on a responsive program mix well suited for changing economies with consideration for:
- Current societal demands
- Rapid technology advancement
- Job-ready skills and knowledge
A Vital Community Partner and Contributor
Selkirk College is B.C.’s oldest rural community college and came to life after the regional taxpayers voted in a 1965 referendum to provide a close-to-home post-secondary opportunity. The doors first opened in Castlegar in 1966 with four programs—University Arts & Sciences, Business Administration, Forest Technology and Electronics—and a total enrolment of 458 students. Over the last five decades, Selkirk College has grown to become a major economic, social and cultural contributor.
Vibrant Mix of Cultures
Today’s Selkirk College welcomes students from across Canada and from around the world. Indigenous learners now make up seven per cent of the total student population and with supports like the Gathering Place on the Castlegar Campus, the number continues to rise. More than 600 international students arriving from 34 countries across the planet add to the cultural mix and excitement of student life at Selkirk College.
An Education That’s Affordable
The cost of a post-secondary education should not prohibit learners from reaching for their dreams. Affordable tuition and student awards at Selkirk College make a post-secondary education accessible.
- Universities - $5,657; Selkirk College - $2,960 (Ministry of Advanced Education, 2020/21 Tuition for BC Public Post-Secondary Institutions)
- Selkirk College provides more than $425,000 in scholarships and bursaries to more than 400 students
- A college graduate with a two-year diploma will earn $405,000 more in their lifetime compared to someone with a high school diploma.
Outcomes for Selkirk College’s alumni take the risk out of investing in affordable post-secondary.
Your Learning Journey Begins Here
People dream of a place where eclectic communities offering a bounty of recreational and cultural activities come together in a glorious mountain environment full of people who care deeply about the success of others. That place exists at Selkirk College, the ideal place to learn, create, recreate and be inspired.
What to do while studying at Selkirk College:
- Soak up the famous Kootenay Vibe
- Discover a farmer’s market
- Enjoy coffee on a patio with a friend
- Paddle our waterways – raft the river, kayak the lake, discover by canoe
- Rip down a mountain bike trail.
- Catch a fish from the shores of the mighty Columbia River just steps away from your classroom door.
- Hike the 9.8 km of spectacular trails on the Castlegar Campus and beyond.
- Sooth with a Soak – Enjoy the healing waters and spectacular views at our region’s hot springs. (Watch for organized student tours.)
- Discover a community that supports your health and wellbeing on our Healthy Campus
- Take advantage of FREE and FUN campus fitness classes for students including yoga and martial arts.
- Join a club. Meet new friends.
