What's the most affordable college in San Diego?

Of the 24 colleges listed on this page, San Diego City College reports the lowest published in-state tuition at $1,146 per year. That is the sticker price before aid; net price after grants can rank colleges differently, so compare both.

Can I commute to college from San Diego?

Yes, every college on this page is in or adjacent to the San Diego metro. Many community colleges and several four-year campuses serve commuter students with day, evening, and online options. Check each profile for transit and parking notes where reported.

City directory

Colleges in San Diego, CA

CampusPin lists 24 colleges and universities in or near San Diego, California, 19 universities and 5 community colleges, with 4 public and 20 private institutions.

San Diego hosts UC San Diego, San Diego State, USD, and the SDCCD community-college network.

San Diego colleges by the numbers

Largest by enrollment: San Diego State University
Lowest published tuition: San Diego City College ($1,146)
Published tuition range: $1,146–$59,486
Most selective: San Diego State University (36% accept.)
Public / private: 4 public · 20 private
4-year / 2-year: 19 universities · 5 community colleges

Among the 24 colleges listed here, San Diego State University is the largest by enrollment; San Diego City College has the lowest published in-state tuition at $1,146; San Diego State University is the most selective at a 36% acceptance rate. Published figures are sticker price, not net price — compare net price and outcomes on each profile.

All colleges in San Diego

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Search by major in California

Start from the major: what it studies, and the pay and projected openings for the careers it leads to.

Data sources & methodology

College listings for San Diego, California are compiled from federal datasets and each institution's own published information.

Sources used across this page

Not every source informs every figure. Each data point draws on the source appropriate to it see the relevant section and the data dictionary for field-level provenance.

IPEDS / NCES College Navigator
Federal enrollment, admissions, tuition, retention, and program data. Released annually with a 1–2 year lag.
U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard
Net price by income band, post-graduation earnings, and federal aid context.
Institutional websites
Each school's official admissions, registrar, and financial-aid pages are the authoritative source for current details.

Where a value is unavailable it is shown as unavailable, never as 0, free, or a negative judgment. Always confirm final details with the institution before applying.

Methodology Data dictionary Report a correction

Suggested citation

CampusPin. Colleges in San Diego, CA. Retrieved from https://campuspin.com/colleges-in/san-diego-ca