Colleges in San Diego, California
San Diego is a city in California. According to Census data, the population is 3,220,118 (estimated). For the academic year 2024-2025, thirty-two colleges are active for serving college programs in San Diego, California. In addition, there are 44 colleges located within 15 miles from San Diego.
By school type, there are five public and twenty-seven private schools. By school level, there are twenty-three 4-years (or high) schools, three 2-4 years schools (community colleges), and six less than 2 years schools (career, technical, or vocational schools) based on the IPEDS data.
Twenty-seven schools offer undergraduate programs and eighteen schools offer graduate programs. The 2025 average tuition & fees of the schools in San Diego, California is $16,271 for California residents and $21,748 for out-of-state students.
The average acceptance rate is 70.10% and the average SAT score is 1,260. A total of 143,670 students enrolled in schools in San Diego, California, of which 53,926 students enrolled in online degree programs exclusively. The average student to faculty ratio is 16 to 1.
Comparison Between Colleges in San Diego, California
The following table lists 32 colleges located in San Diego and 13 schools near San Diego, California ordered by distance from San Diego. The "-" value in other columns means that the corresponding data has not been reported or the school does not have programs for the values.
You can sort the table by column by clicking/touching column titles. The colleges in light blue rows are located in the city limit and other schools are not located in, but near the city.
| College Name | Distance From San Diego | Undergraduate Tuition & Fees | Population | Graduation Rate | Student to Faculty Ratio | Graduate Tuition & Fees | Acceptance Rate | SAT Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| National University San Diego, CA Private, 4 years four-years | 0.31 miles | $13,284 | 22,115 | 43% | 16 to 1 | $16,416 | - | - |
| Northcentral University San Diego, CA Private, 4 years four-years | 0.31 miles | $12,594 | 9,489 | - | 1 to 1 | $17,998 | - | - |
| The University of Arizona Global Campus Chandler, AZ Public, 4 years four-years | 1.16 miles | $11,960 | 28,004 | 11% | 13 to 1 | $12,930 | - | - |
| San Diego Mesa College San Diego, CA Public, 4 years four-years | 3.31 miles | $10,002 | 19,212 | 35% | 23 to 1 | - | - | - |
| California Miramar University San Diego, CA Private, 4 years four-years | 3.59 miles | $9,994 | 247 | 50% | 10 to 1 | $7,300 | 18.5% | - |
| San Diego Community College District-District Office San Diego, CA Public, 4 years four-years | 3.80 miles | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Pacific College of Health and Science San Diego, CA Private, 4 years four-years | 4.28 miles | $11,000 | 786 | 77% | 15 to 1 | $15,075 | - | - |
| Design Institute of San Diego San Diego, CA Private, 4 years four-years | 4.32 miles | $29,300 | 94 | 80% | 8 to 1 | $28,930 | 100.0% | - |
| Alliant International University-San Diego San Diego, CA Private, 4 years four-years | 4.84 miles | $14,254 | 4,530 | 22% | 9 to 1 | $19,690 | - | - |
| San Diego State University San Diego, CA Public, 4 years four-years | 4.88 miles | $21,328 | 41,137 | 76% | 27 to 1 | $20,332 | 36.2% | - |
| United States University Sandy Springs, CA Private, 4 years four-years | 5.37 miles | $7,108 | 2,454 | - | 15 to 1 | $6,543 | - | - |
| San Diego Miramar College San Diego, CA Public, 4 years four-years | 5.44 miles | $10,002 | 14,257 | 48% | 27 to 1 | - | - | - |
| North-West College-San Diego San Diego, CA Private, 4 years four-years | 5.59 miles | $76,557 | 636 | - | 27 to 1 | - | - | - |
| California Barber and Beauty College San Diego, CA Private, Less than 2 years valid | 5.64 miles | $13,450 | 50 | 59% | 25 to 1 | - | - | - |
| Franciscan School of Theology San Diego, CA Private, 4 years four-years | 5.81 miles | $15,570 | 89 | - | - | $15,870 | - | - |
| University of San Diego San Diego, CA Private, 4 years four-years | 5.81 miles | $59,486 | 9,714 | 84% | 13 to 1 | $31,240 | 52.4% | - |
| Grossmont-Cuyamaca Community College District El Cajon, CA Public, 2-4 years valid | 6.84 miles | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Grossmont College El Cajon, CA Public, 2-4 years valid | 6.84 miles | $10,628 | 14,440 | 37% | 24 to 1 | - | - | - |
| California Hair Design Academy La Mesa, CA Private, Less than 2 years valid | 7.31 miles | $16,250 | 98 | 87% | 14 to 1 | - | - | - |
| University of California-San Diego La Jolla, CA Public, 4 years four-years | 7.33 miles | $47,676 | 44,256 | 86% | 19 to 1 | $30,199 | 26.7% | - |
| ICOHS College San Diego, CA Private, 2-4 years valid | 7.76 miles | $24,300 | 171 | 80% | 13 to 1 | - | - | - |
| California Western School of Law San Diego, CA Private, 4 years four-years | 7.89 miles | - | 650 | - | - | $32,550 | - | - |
| Associated Barber College of San Diego San Diego, CA Private, Less than 2 years valid | 8.04 miles | $22,245 | 121 | 81% | 15 to 1 | - | - | - |
| San Diego City College San Diego, CA Public, 4 years four-years | 8.07 miles | $10,002 | 13,242 | 30% | 22 to 1 | - | - | - |
| Paul Mitchell the School-San Diego San Diego, CA Private, Less than 2 years valid | 8.07 miles | $15,575 | 225 | 99% | 16 to 1 | - | - | - |
| Thomas Jefferson School of Law San Diego, CA Private, 4 years four-years | 8.12 miles | - | 262 | - | - | $3,692 | - | - |
| The Chicago School at San Diego San Diego, CA Private, 4 years four-years | 8.21 miles | $21,780 | 112 | - | 11 to 1 | $35,328 | - | - |
| ATA College El Cajon, CA Private, 2-4 years valid | 8.22 miles | $15,590 | 80 | 89% | 18 to 1 | - | - | - |
| Newschool of Architecture and Design San Diego, CA Private, 4 years four-years | 8.35 miles | $30,291 | 273 | 62% | 8 to 1 | $32,295 | 100.0% | - |
| CET-San Diego San Diego, CA Private, Less than 2 years valid | 8.35 miles | $15,500 | 223 | 87% | 19 to 1 | - | - | - |
| Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute La Jolla, CA Private, 4 years four-years | 8.41 miles | - | 52 | - | - | - | - | - |
| San Diego Christian College Santee, CA Private, 4 years four-years | 8.44 miles | $28,012 | 96 | 20% | 9 to 1 | $8,736 | 30.8% | - |
| San Diego Global Knowledge University San Diego, CA Private, 4 years four-years | 8.71 miles | $13,774 | 193 | 45% | 50 to 1 | $11,415 | - | - |
| High Tech High Graduate School of Education San Diego, CA Private, 4 years four-years | 8.81 miles | $20,000 | 99 | - | - | $20,000 | - | - |
| Riggins Urban Barber College San Diego, CA Private, Less than 2 years valid | 8.91 miles | $18,000 | 85 | 41% | 4 to 1 | - | - | - |
| Concorde Career College-San Diego San Diego, CA Private, 2-4 years valid | 8.95 miles | $18,689 | 147 | 76% | 15 to 1 | - | 100.0% | - |
| Bellus Academy-Poway Poway, CA Private, 2-4 years valid | 9.87 miles | $15,465 | 324 | 73% | 15 to 1 | - | - | - |
| The Nurse Academy National City, CA Private, Less than 2 years valid | 10.52 miles | $37,775 | 55 | - | 20 to 1 | - | - | - |
| Bellus Academy-El Cajon El Cajon, CA Private, Less than 2 years valid | 10.56 miles | $15,465 | 157 | 72% | 11 to 1 | - | - | - |
| Point Loma Nazarene University San Diego, CA Private, 4 years four-years | 10.77 miles | $46,250 | 4,757 | 77% | 13 to 1 | $11,880 | 83.7% | 1,260 |
| Poway Adult School Poway, CA Public, Less than 2 years valid | 11.38 miles | - | 1,459 | - | 11 to 1 | - | - | - |
| California Institute of Arts & Technology National City, CA Private, 4 years four-years | 11.77 miles | $22,270 | 2,112 | 56% | 15 to 1 | - | - | - |
| Cuyamaca College El Cajon, CA Public, 2-4 years valid | 12.05 miles | $11,314 | 8,905 | 41% | 28 to 1 | - | - | - |
| Southern California Seminary El Cajon, CA Private, 4 years four-years | 12.80 miles | $19,080 | 161 | 50% | 9 to 1 | $19,080 | - | - |
| Pima Medical Institute-Chula Vista Chula Vista, CA Private, 2-4 years valid | 14.72 miles | $17,567 | 537 | 62% | 25 to 1 | - | - | - |
| Average | - | $21,748 | 143,670 | 64% | 16 to 1 | $19,448 | 70.1% | 1,260 |