In July of 1980, Santa Barbara Business College opened a second campus in Santa Maria in order to better serve northern Santa Barbara County and San Luis Obispo County residents. Located halfway between Los Angeles and San Francisco, Santa Maria is a growing community with diverse job opportunities. This rural area offers many places to explore; close by is the Santa Ynez Valley with its many well-known wineries; a short drive will take you to the Danish community of Solvang or to the beautiful flower fields of Lompoc. Also nearby is San Simeon, the home of Hearst Castle; fifteen minutes away are the sandy beaches of Pismo Beach, the clam capital of the world.