San Diego City College campus
San Diego City College logo

San Diego City College

Type 2 year, Public
Campus locale City: Large
Degrees offered Undergraduate
Calendar system Semester
Student body size Medium
Student to faculty ratio 22 to 1
Students retention rate 60%
On-time graduation rate 23%

Located in San Diego, California, San Diego City College is a public, institution that offers undergraduate degrees. The college operates on a semester-based calendar system, providing students with structured academic terms.

One of the notable aspects of San Diego City College is its open admission policy. This means that all high school graduates and individuals who hold a GED qualification are eligible to apply for admission. This inclusive approach allows a wide range of students to pursue their higher education goals, regardless of their academic background.

San Diego City College is accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges, ensuring that the institution meets certain standards of quality and effectiveness. This accreditation also allows students to transfer credits to other accredited institutions if they choose to continue their education elsewhere.

While the on-time graduation rate at San Diego City College is reported to be 23%, it is essential to consider the context of this statistic. For comparison, California state's graduation rate for the 2021-2022 was 56% whereas the national average was 35%.

The retention rate of students at San Diego City College is 60% , which is lower than both the state and national averages. The state average retention rate in California is 85%, while the national average is 61%. This indicates that a significant proportion of students who enroll at San Diego City College do not continue their studies after the first year.


  • Accredited by: Western Association of Schools and Colleges Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges

In-State Tuition & Fees

$1,144

Cost of attendance at San Diego City College in 2022 for students from California.

See how the college's in-state sticker price compares to 2 year , public colleges in the state as well as nationally.

California's average $6,749
National average $4,604

Out-of-State Tuition & Fees

$8,512

Cost of attendance at San Diego City College in 2022 for the out-of-state and international students

See how the college's out-of-state sticker price compares to 2 year , public colleges in the state as well as nationally.

California's average $20,840
National average $8,757

Average Grant & Scholarships

In 2022, 81 of freshman students at San Diego City College received on average $6,056 in grant and scholarships from the college, the state and/or the federal government. Below is detail stats of the aid provided to full-time, freshman students.

$6,056
Students Receiving Aid Average Amount Total Amount
Pell Grant 227 52% $5,376 $1,220,338
Other Federal Grant 254 58% $5,517 $1,401,288
State Grant/Scholarships 327 75% $2,256 $737,845
Institutional Grant/Scholarships 23 5% $200 $4,600
Total Grant & Scholarships 354 81% $6,056 $2,143,733

Graduation Rate

The following chart shows the graduation rate of San Diego City College students who enrolled in 2018 and after. The stat covers all undergraduates registered as full-time students to study a 4-year bachelor's degree program for the first time.

The breakdown shows the graduation rate by race/ethnicity of US students. All international students are represented under one group.

As of August 31, 2021, the average graduation rate of San Diego City College students is 23.2%. Female students graduated at a rate of 24.7%, whereas male students graduated at a rate of 21.3%.

23.2%

  • asian 25.0% 12 students
  • African American 24.6% 17 students
  • white 33.8% 27 students
  • unknown 30.0% 3 students
  • hispanic 21.7% 136 students
  • Mixed Race 16.1% 5 students

Service Offerings

San Diego City College provides the following additional services to its students
  • On-campus day care for students' children
  • Remedial services
  • Placement services for graduates
  • Academic/career counseling services
  • Employment services for students

Educational Offerings

San Diego City College offers educational programs in the following categories. Check the programs section to learn more about specific programs that you are interested in.
  • Academic
  • Occupational
  • Postbaccalaureate Recreational or avocational education
  • Adult basic remedial or high school equivalent

Special Learning Opportunities

  • Weekend/evening classes
  • Study abroad

Veteran Services

  • Dedicated point of contact for support services for veterans, military service-members, and their families
  • Recognized student veteran organization
  • Credit for military training

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