Best colleges in San Diego
Can You Feel the Sand Beneath Your Books?
More than just sunshine and surf
Surprisingly, San Diego is more than just burritos and beaches. In fact, there are 12 universities and colleges and 8 community colleges that provide thousands of degree options for you.* Whether you want to be a certified barista or a brain surgeon, you have options in San Diego. With a vibrant bio technology industry and an unemployment rate lower than the national average, you can take advantage of solid job opportunities after graduation.
San Diego, with its 87 breweries, nickname of “The Craft Beer Capital of America,” and over 3 million people, is one place you’re sure to make a few, new friends. But it's not always party time. San Diego is home to the San Diego Zoo, 12 major museums, and a few pretty great professional sports teams: the Chargers and Padres. Oh yea, and 30 beaches with average weather forecasts of 70.5º and sunny. There's plenty to do, so you'll be sure to find your calling. Trust us, life’s too short NOT to go to school here.
Click Here to See the Best Colleges in the USSources:*Sandiego.org*Wikipedia, “San Diego”Best Four Year Universities in San Diego
The University of California San Diego (UCSD) is a public institution founded in 1960, and the total undergraduate enrollment for the class of 2021 was just over 35,000 students. UCSD is situated in urban San Diego and is the only campus in the United States that is located on the beach. Students at UCSD take classes on a semester-based academic calendar, and tuition for in-state students is roughly a quarter of the cost that out-of-state students pay, making it a very attractive option for California residents. UCSD tends to offer large, lecture-style undergraduate classes and boasts a graduation rate that exceeds 90%.
UCSD has a variety of student organizations and clubs for current attendees to choose from, and many of the activities are hosted in the centrally-located Price Center, where students can shop for books at the university bookstore, or watch movies at the student movie theatre.
The university is split into seven undergraduate colleges and organizes its scholastic departments into four distinct academic divisions. The school also has over 15 research units or ORU’s that specialize in fields like medicine, computer science, and oceanography. UCSD has many modern buildings on campus compared to its older counterparts in Berkeley and Los Angeles, including the noteworthy Geisel Library. Notable alumni include jazz musician Nathan East, scientist Susumu Tonegawa, and political activist Angela Davis.
San Diego State University (SDSU) is a public research university founded in 1897 as the San Diego Normal School. Located just south of Lake Murray in the San Diego metro, SDSU now has over 14 colleges including the Fowler College of Business and the School of Theatre, Television, and Film. The graduation rate at SDSU is 83%, and the student-to-faculty ratio is 25:1, meaning the 33,000 students can anticipate large lecture-format classes.
SDSU has an endowment of about $300 million and a philanthropic partner in The Campanile Foundation that oversees funding for internal and affiliated university interest groups. The school has cultivated corporate partnerships with companies like Intel, Microsoft, and KPMG for funding and post-graduation job placement options for qualifying students. Those interested in studying abroad should note that SDSU has partner programs in Brazil, Mexico, India, and China.
Students at SDSU have many options for activities outside of the classroom and can support their Aztec athletic teams that compete in Division 1 football, baseball, and soccer. In town, students can visit the San Diego Zoo, tour the USS Midway Museum, and explore the San Diego Bay National Wildlife Refuge. Notable alumni include actor Gregory Peck, basketball player Kawhi Leonard, and the face of Apollo Creed, Carl Weathers.
University of San Diego offers 106 degree programs. It's a medium sized, private not-for-profit, four-year university in a large city. In 2023, 2,927 students graduated with students earning 1,375 Bachelor's degrees, 1,128 Master's degrees, 305 Doctoral degrees, and 119 Certificates.
Point Loma Nazarene University offers 86 degree programs. It's a small, private not-for-profit, four-year university in a large city. In 2023, 1,223 students graduated with students earning 815 Bachelor's degrees, 402 Master's degrees, 4 Doctoral degrees, and 2 Certificates.
John Paul the Great Catholic University offers 3 degree programs. It's a very small, private not-for-profit, four-year university in a large suburb. In 2023, 120 students graduated with students earning 120 Bachelor's degrees.
California State University-San Marcos offers 86 degree programs. It's a large, public, four-year university in a large suburb. In 2023, 3,902 students graduated with students earning 3,427 Bachelor's degrees, 473 Master's degrees, and 2 Certificates.
MiraCosta College offers 207 degree programs. It's a large, public, four-year university in a large suburb. In 2023, 1,879 students graduated with students earning 1,302 Associate's degrees, 558 Certificates, and 19 Bachelor's degrees.
Design Institute of San Diego offers 2 degree programs. It's a very small, private for-profit, four-year university in a large city. In 2023, 16 students graduated with students earning 16 Bachelor's degrees.
Newschool of Architecture and Design offers 8 degree programs. It's a very small, private for-profit, four-year university in a large city. In 2023, 94 students graduated with students earning 62 Bachelor's degrees, and 32 Master's degrees.
Alliant International University-San Diego offers 101 degree programs. It's a small, private for-profit, four-year university in a large city. In 2023, 975 students graduated with students earning 666 Master's degrees, 270 Doctoral degrees, 26 Certificates, and 13 Bachelor's degrees.
Best Community Colleges in San Diego
ATA College offers 14 degree programs. It's a very small, private for-profit, two-year college in a large suburb. In 2023, 18 students graduated with students earning 10 Certificates, and 8 Associate's degrees.
Concorde Career College-San Diego offers 9 degree programs. It's a very small, private for-profit, two-year college in a large city. In 2023, 319 students graduated with students earning 234 Certificates, and 85 Associate's degrees.
Pima Medical Institute-Chula Vista offers 8 degree programs. It's a very small, private for-profit, two-year college in a large city. In 2023, 318 students graduated with students earning 236 Certificates, and 82 Associate's degrees.
San Diego Miramar College offers 98 degree programs. It's a large, public, two-year college in a large city. In 2023, 1,219 students graduated with students earning 884 Associate's degrees, and 335 Certificates.
Southwestern College offers 211 degree programs. It's a large, public, two-year college in a large city. In 2023, 2,303 students graduated with students earning 1,765 Associate's degrees, and 538 Certificates.
Palomar College offers 230 degree programs. It's a large, public, two-year college in a large suburb. In 2023, 3,050 students graduated with students earning 1,572 Associate's degrees, and 1,478 Certificates.
Cuyamaca College offers 104 degree programs. It's a medium sized, public, two-year college in a large suburb. In 2023, 689 students graduated with students earning 582 Associate's degrees, and 107 Certificates.
Grossmont College offers 143 degree programs. It's a large, public, two-year college in a large suburb. In 2023, 2,517 students graduated with students earning 1,480 Associate's degrees, and 1,037 Certificates.
San Diego City College offers 123 degree programs. It's a large, public, two-year college in a large city. In 2023, 993 students graduated with students earning 780 Associate's degrees, and 213 Certificates.
Top schools offering specific degrees in San Diego
List of all colleges in San Diego
| School | Average Tuition | Student Teacher Ratio | Enrolled Students | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
University of California-San Diego La Jolla, CA | 29 : 1 | 42,376 | |
|
San Diego State University San Diego, CA | 39 : 1 | 39,241 | |
|
University of San Diego San Diego, CA | 18 : 1 | 9,110 | |
|
Point Loma Nazarene University San Diego, CA | 28 : 1 | 4,494 | |
|
Bellus Academy-El Cajon El Cajon, CA | 205 | ||