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San Diego , CA
San Diego City College is a two-year public community college located in downtown San Diego, California. Founded in 1914, it is the oldest community college in San Diego and part of the San Diego Community College District. The college offers a wide range of academic programs and career technical education options to over 16,000 students.
The campus of San Diego City College is known for its beautiful architecture and vibrant atmosphere. It is conveniently located in the heart of downtown, providing students with easy access to the city's cultural attractions, restaurants, and public transportation. The college offers over 200 associate degree and certificate programs across various disciplines, including business, health sciences, technology, arts, humanities, and social sciences.
San Diego City College is committed to providing students with a high-quality education and a supportive learning environment. The college has a strong focus on student success and offers a variety of support services, including academic counseling, tutoring, career guidance, and transfer assistance. Students can also engage in extracurricular activities and join clubs and organizations to further enhance their college experience. With its diverse student body and comprehensive program offerings, San Diego City College remains an important institution of higher education in the San Diego community.
San Diego City College is a public four-year college located in San Diego, CA and set in an urban environment. This educational institution operates on a semester-based calendar. The freshman retention rate at San Diego City College is 61%.
Learn more about what San Diego City College has to offer based on the most recent data this institution has reported.
Quick Facts
13,242
Total Number of Undergraduate Students
22:1
Student to Faculty Ratio
Admissions
In order to improve your chances of getting admitted, you need to know as much as possible about the university's criteria for admission. Read on to find out some essential information about admission policy and requirements at San Diego City College.
Looking at entrance difficulty level for all or most incoming freshmen, based on data self-reported by the institution this school is relatively noncompetitive.
Test Scores
The latest reported average GPA of the enrolled students was 2.73.
Retention Rate
The freshman retention rate is defined as the percentage of first-year students who return for their sophomore year at a college or university. That information can tell you if the majority of new students liked their first year enough to come back.
The freshman retention rate for San Diego City College was 61% in 2025.
Student Body
Making the choice of which school is the right place for you is not easy. You can get a better insight into a school's culture and life by finding out more about its student body.
Main Student Body
In 2025, the school had an enrollment of 13,242 students.
There was a total of 13,242 undergrad students, including 13 international students. 2,000 students were accepted as transfer students.
Student Population Gender Ratio
The student body is coeducational, with 621 male and 600 female full-time students in 2025.
Student Population Diversity
In order to enhance a sense of inclusion and belonging among its students, higher education is dedicated to increasing student diversity. An inclusive student body brings together individuals from diverse backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives. Discover more about the many ethnic communities that go to this school.
In 2025, out of the total number of students enrolled at the institution, the number of students of Asian origin was 1,064, and the number of African American students was 1,001. 5,188 undergraduates at this school identified as Hispanic/Latino and 651 as multirace. The school also had 43 students who identified as Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander, as well as 22 American Indian or Alaska Native students. There were also 102 students whose ethnicity is unknown.
Cost
One of the most crucial things to take into consideration when applying to any college or university is the financial component. The most recent data reported regarding the expenses for attending this school are detailed below.
Tuition and Fees
Wondering about tuition at San Diego City College? Here is what you need to know.
According to the reports from public county and municipal institutions, tuition fees were $1,104 for area residents. Tuition fees were $9,960 for students coming from out of state. For international students, tuition fees at this school were $9,960, as well. Full-time students in 2025 were required to pay additional fees in the amount of $46.
| Category | Tuition | Fees | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Out-of-State | $9,960 | $46 | $10,006 |
| In-State | $1,104 | $46 | $1,150 |
Books and Supplies
The estimated price of books and supplies for a college or university should also be taken into account as another important financial element. Most students have to set aside about $1,062 for books and supplies during their time at San Diego City College.
Boarding
Before you apply to a college or university, you should, among other things, think about the price of a dorm room and cafeteria meals. How much do room and board fees average around at colleges and universities?
At San Diego City College, the 2025 annual cost of room and board (on campus) was $31,243. Room-only (on campus) cost per academic year at this school totaled $23,890, according to the data from 2025.
| Expense Category | Amount |
|---|---|
| Tuition | $ 1,104 |
| Room and Board | $ 31,243 |
| Book and Supplies | $ 1,062 |
| Total Expense | $ 33,409 |
Financial Aid
Be it a grant, loan, scholarship, or work-study program, any type of financial support can be a great deal for a number of students. If you wish to find out more about need-based and non-need-based aid at San Diego City College, here are some recent data you should take into consideration.
Need-based
Need-based aid is financial aid that a student can receive if they are determened to have financial need and meet other eligibility criteria.
Need-based college-administered scholarship and grant aid at San Diego City College is available to international students. The amount of federal need-based scholarships/grants awarded to the students at this institution totaled $25,560,507, and state $1,108,138.
Majors
Faculty
22:1
Student to Faculty Ratio
The student-to-faculty ratio can tell you a lot about the teaching resources a school provides for its students.
According to the most recent data, the student-faculty ratio at San Diego City College was 22:1: that means 22 students per one teacher. The total number of faculty teaching at the institution is 453. Out of that number, there were 203 male and 248 female faculty members. The fact that female faculty members outnumber the male ones at this school is telling of the importance gender equality has at San Diego City College.
Student Population Diversity Graph
Campus Life
Not everything at San Diego City College is about learning and grades: campus life is an essential part of your educational experience. Check out some details about students' life at San Diego City College.
Its campus is 60 acres in size.
Student Organizations
Being a member of a student organization will make you connect better with your fellow students and enjoy your college years more.
The number of student organizations and groups with open membership at this school is 23. The student organization that is most favored by students is Nursing Students Association, followed by Hermanos Unidos Brothers United (HUBU) and MECHA. Other popular organizations at San Diego City College are Asian & Pacific Islander Student Alliance (APSA) and Puente.
There is a drama club you can join if acting is something that interests you. Interested in media and communication? San Diego City College publishes its own newspaper and has its own radio station.
Student Services
San Diego City College has a number of services crucial for a comfortable and secure life on campus.
24/7 emergency phone and alarm devices are available. There is a security patrol available 24/7. Theer is a nighttime transportation/escort service.
There is a health clinic with personal/psychological counseling. In addition, other services like Veteran's Affairs and Women's Center are available to the students of San Diego City College.
All in all, campus life at San Diego City College is rich and vibrant and provides all you need for a comfortable stay.
Career Services
Having career services at a college or university can mean a great deal for your career planning, so find out what you can expect at San Diego City College.
Career Counselling
At San Diego City College, there is both group career counseling for all students and individual career counseling for all students. There are a job bank and job fairs. The career center offers resume preparation and resume referral to employers. There is campus employer recruitment for all the students. Individual job placement is available to all students at this school.
FAQ
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San Diego City College is located in San Diego, CA.
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San Diego City College offers need-based college-administered scholarship and grant aid to international students.
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The most recent reported freshman retention rate for San Diego City College is 61%.
Contact Information
Data Source: IPEDS and Peterson's Databases © 2023 Peterson's LLC All rights reserved. Portions of this content were co-written with OpenAI's GPT-3.5 model.
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Data Source: IPEDS and Peterson's Databases © 2023 Peterson's LLC All rights reserved.
Portions of this content were co-written with OpenAI's GPT-3.5 model.