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.
University of San Diego offers 103 degree programs. It's a medium sized, private not-for-profit, four-year university in a large city. In 2022, 2,883 students graduated with students earning 1,432 Bachelor's degrees, 1,009 Master's degrees, 330 Doctoral degrees, and 112 Certificates.
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.
Point Loma Nazarene University offers 70 degree programs. It's a small, private not-for-profit, four-year university in a large city. In 2022, 1,324 students graduated with students earning 917 Bachelor's degrees, 403 Master's degrees, 2 Certificates, and 2 Doctoral degrees.
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 2022, 63 students graduated with students earning 63 Bachelor's degrees.
California State University-San Marcos offers 82 degree programs. It's a large, public, four-year university in a large suburb. In 2022, 4,027 students graduated with students earning 3,505 Bachelor's degrees, 492 Master's degrees, and 30 Certificates.
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 2022, 195 students graduated with students earning 143 Bachelor's degrees, and 52 Master's degrees.
MiraCosta College offers 197 degree programs. It's a large, public, four-year university in a large suburb. In 2022, 2,073 students graduated with students earning 1,418 Associate's degrees, 632 Certificates, and 23 Bachelor's degrees.
California Miramar University offers 5 degree programs. It's a very small, private for-profit, four-year university in a large city. In 2022, 45 students graduated with students earning 23 Master's degrees, 18 Bachelor's degrees, 2 Associate's degrees, and 2 Doctoral degrees.
Platt College-San Diego offers 8 degree programs. It's a very small, private for-profit, four-year university in a large city. In 2022, 73 students graduated with students earning 44 Bachelor's degrees, and 29 Associate's degrees.
Best Community Colleges in San Diego
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 2022, 300 students graduated with students earning 200 Certificates, and 100 Associate's degrees.
ATA College offers 11 degree programs. It's a very small, private for-profit, two-year college in a large suburb. In 2022, 15 students graduated with students earning 15 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 2022, 469 students graduated with students earning 364 Certificates, and 105 Associate's degrees.
Southwestern College offers 209 degree programs. It's a large, public, two-year college in a large city. In 2022, 2,306 students graduated with students earning 1,843 Associate's degrees, and 463 Certificates.
San Diego Miramar College offers 96 degree programs. It's a large, public, two-year college in a large city. In 2022, 1,334 students graduated with students earning 966 Associate's degrees, and 368 Certificates.
Cuyamaca College offers 97 degree programs. It's a medium sized, public, two-year college in a large suburb. In 2022, 775 students graduated with students earning 616 Associate's degrees, and 159 Certificates.
Grossmont College offers 141 degree programs. It's a large, public, two-year college in a large suburb. In 2022, 2,743 students graduated with students earning 1,550 Associate's degrees, and 1,193 Certificates.
Palomar College offers 222 degree programs. It's a large, public, two-year college in a large suburb. In 2022, 3,313 students graduated with students earning 1,691 Associate's degrees, and 1,622 Certificates.
San Diego City College offers 122 degree programs. It's a large, public, two-year college in a large city. In 2022, 1,132 students graduated with students earning 841 Associate's degrees, and 291 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 | 30 : 1 | 42,006 | |
|
University of San Diego San Diego, CA | 17 : 1 | 8,815 | |
|
San Diego State University San Diego, CA | 37 : 1 | 37,402 | |
|
Point Loma Nazarene University San Diego, CA | 28 : 1 | 4,319 | |
|
John Paul the Great Catholic University Escondido, CA | 38 : 1 | 300 | |