Colleges in San Diego, California
30 colleges and universities — federal Scorecard data.
There are 30 colleges and universities in San Diego, California (14 Private for-profit, 12 Private nonprofit, 4 Public). The figures below are pulled from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard — the same federal dataset colleges are required to report to.
Across all 30 institutions, the median net price after grants and scholarships works out to about $23,205 per year, the median 6-year graduation rate is 59.3%, schools that report admissions data accept a median 53% of applicants.
The median net price in San Diego runs about $2,433 higher than the California statewide median of $20,773.
Whether you're comparing in-state public tuition, looking for a private nonprofit with strong outcomes, or trying to find the right program in San Diego, the table below lets you sort every institution side-by-side on cost, admissions, graduation rate, and size.
Median net price
$23,205
After aid
Median grad rate
59.3%
6-year
Median admission rate
53%
Median enrollment
182
Undergrad
All colleges in San Diego
Sorted by enrollment.
| School | State | Type | Net price | Grad rate | Admission | Size | Data | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| San Diego State University San Diego, CA | CA | Public, 4-year | $15,364 | 76.4% | 36% | 35,377 | Complete | |
| Ashford University San Diego, CA | CA | Private for-profit, 4-year | $31,266 | 10.7% | Not available | 20,152 | Complete | |
| San Diego Mesa College San Diego, CA | CA | Public, 4-year | $5,814 | 34.8% | Not available | 16,098 | Complete | |
| San Diego Miramar College San Diego, CA | CA | Public, 2-year | $3,337 | 48.5% | Not available | 11,271 | Complete | |
| National University San Diego, CA | CA | Private nonprofit, 4-year | $22,878 | 42.9% | 55% | 10,794 | Complete | |
| San Diego City College San Diego, CA | CA | Public, 2-year | $7,935 | 30.4% | Not available | 10,441 | Complete | |
| University of San Diego San Diego, CA | CA | Private nonprofit, 4-year | $30,365 | 83.7% | 52% | 5,671 | Complete | |
| Point Loma Nazarene University San Diego, CA | CA | Private nonprofit, 4-year | $38,729 | 77.2% | 84% | 3,188 | Complete | |
| North-West College-San Diego San Diego, CA | CA | Private for-profit, 4-year | $46,503 | Not available | Not available | 636 | Partial | |
| Alliant International University-San Diego San Diego, CA | CA | Private for-profit, 4-year | Not available | 15.0% | 0% | 391 | Partial | |
| Paul Mitchell the School-San Diego San Diego, CA | CA | Private for-profit, <2-year | $35,975 | 99.2% | Not available | 225 | Complete | |
| CET-San Diego San Diego, CA | CA | Private nonprofit, <2-year | $22,035 | 87.1% | Not available | 223 | Complete | |
| Newschool of Architecture and Design San Diego, CA | CA | Private for-profit, 4-year | $52,570 | 61.9% | 100% | 182 | Complete | |
| San Diego Global Knowledge University San Diego, CA | CA | Private for-profit, 4-year | Not available | 45.5% | Not available | 173 | Partial | |
| ICOHS College San Diego, CA | CA | Private nonprofit, 2-year | $99,682 | 80.5% | Not available | 171 | Partial | |
| United States University San Diego, CA | CA | Private for-profit, 4-year | $21,557 | 0.0% | Not available | 153 | Complete | |
| Concorde Career College-San Diego San Diego, CA | CA | Private for-profit, 2-year | $25,394 | 76.2% | 100% | 147 | Complete | |
| Pacific College of Health and Science San Diego, CA | CA | Private for-profit, 4-year | $51,918 | 76.9% | Not available | 143 | Complete | |
| California Miramar University San Diego, CA | CA | Private for-profit, 4-year | $12,480 | 50.0% | 18% | 135 | Partial | |
| Associated Barber College of San Diego San Diego, CA | CA | Private for-profit, <2-year | $23,205 | 81.4% | Not available | 121 | Partial | |
| Riggins Urban Barber College San Diego, CA | CA | Private for-profit, <2-year | $20,155 | 41.5% | Not available | 85 | Partial | |
| Design Institute of San Diego San Diego, CA | CA | Private for-profit, 4-year | $44,010 | 80.0% | 100% | 77 | Complete | |
| Northcentral University San Diego, CA | CA | Private nonprofit, 4-year | Not available | 37.7% | Not available | 60 | Partial | |
| California Barber and Beauty College San Diego, CA | CA | Private for-profit, <2-year | $11,391 | 59.3% | Not available | 50 | Complete | |
| The Chicago School at San Diego San Diego, CA | CA | Private nonprofit, 4-year | Not available | Not available | 43% | 2 | Partial | |
| California Western School of Law San Diego, CA | CA | Private nonprofit, 4-year | Not available | Not available | Not available | Not available | Missing | |
| Franciscan School of Theology San Diego, CA | CA | Private nonprofit, 4-year | Not available | Not available | Not available | Not available | Missing | |
| Thomas Jefferson School of Law San Diego, CA | CA | Private nonprofit, 4-year | Not available | Not available | Not available | Not available | Missing | |
| High Tech High Graduate School of Education San Diego, CA | CA | Private nonprofit, 4-year | Not available | Not available | Not available | Not available | Missing | |
| Columbia College - San Diego San Diego, CA | CA | Private nonprofit, 4-year | Not available | Not available | Not available | Not available | Partial |
By institution type
Private for-profit (14)
Private for-profit colleges in San Diego operate as businesses, generally focused on career-oriented and online programs with rolling admissions.
- Ashford UniversityNet price: $31,266Grad: 10.7%
- North-West College-San DiegoNet price: $46,503Grad: Not available
- Alliant International University-San DiegoNet price: Not availableGrad: 15.0%
- Paul Mitchell the School-San DiegoNet price: $35,975Grad: 99.2%
- Newschool of Architecture and DesignNet price: $52,570Grad: 61.9%
- San Diego Global Knowledge UniversityNet price: Not availableGrad: 45.5%
- United States UniversityNet price: $21,557Grad: 0.0%
- Concorde Career College-San DiegoNet price: $25,394Grad: 76.2%
- Pacific College of Health and ScienceNet price: $51,918Grad: 76.9%
- California Miramar UniversityNet price: $12,480Grad: 50.0%
- Associated Barber College of San DiegoNet price: $23,205Grad: 81.4%
- Riggins Urban Barber CollegeNet price: $20,155Grad: 41.5%
- Design Institute of San DiegoNet price: $44,010Grad: 80.0%
- California Barber and Beauty CollegeNet price: $11,391Grad: 59.3%
Private nonprofit (12)
Private nonprofit colleges in San Diego are mission-driven institutions — often religiously affiliated or research-focused — that reinvest tuition into academics and aid rather than distributing profit.
- National UniversityNet price: $22,878Grad: 42.9%
- University of San DiegoNet price: $30,365Grad: 83.7%
- Point Loma Nazarene UniversityNet price: $38,729Grad: 77.2%
- CET-San DiegoNet price: $22,035Grad: 87.1%
- ICOHS CollegeNet price: $99,682Grad: 80.5%
- Northcentral UniversityNet price: Not availableGrad: 37.7%
- The Chicago School at San DiegoNet price: Not availableGrad: Not available
- California Western School of LawNet price: Not availableGrad: Not available
- Franciscan School of TheologyNet price: Not availableGrad: Not available
- Thomas Jefferson School of LawNet price: Not availableGrad: Not available
- High Tech High Graduate School of EducationNet price: Not availableGrad: Not available
- Columbia College - San DiegoNet price: Not availableGrad: Not available
Public (4)
Public colleges in San Diego are state- or locally-funded institutions that typically offer lower in-state tuition and serve a broad mix of residents and commuters.
- San Diego State UniversityNet price: $15,364Grad: 76.4%
- San Diego Mesa CollegeNet price: $5,814Grad: 34.8%
- San Diego Miramar CollegeNet price: $3,337Grad: 48.5%
- San Diego City CollegeNet price: $7,935Grad: 30.4%
Top programs in San Diego
Most-completed programs across San Diego colleges, weighted by enrollment.
- Business25.4% of degrees
- Health professions9.7% of degrees
- Liberal arts7.8% of degrees
- Psychology7.3% of degrees
- Social sciences5.5% of degrees
- Homeland security & law enforcement4.8% of degrees
- Education4.1% of degrees
- Computer science3.7% of degrees
Frequently asked questions about colleges in San Diego
Q.How many colleges are in San Diego, California?
There are 30 colleges and universities in San Diego, California that report to the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard — 14 Private for-profit, 12 Private nonprofit, 4 Public.
Q.What is the largest college in San Diego?
By undergraduate enrollment, San Diego State University is the largest institution in San Diego with roughly 35,377 undergraduates.
Q.What is the cheapest college in San Diego?
Based on average net price after aid, San Diego Miramar College is the most affordable institution in San Diego at $3,337 per year.
Q.Which San Diego college has the highest graduation rate?
Paul Mitchell the School-San Diego reports the highest 6-year graduation rate among San Diego institutions at 99.2%.
Q.What is the average tuition in San Diego?
The median net price across all 30 colleges in San Diego is $23,205 per year after grants and scholarships.
Q.What are the most popular college majors in San Diego?
Across San Diego colleges, the most-completed programs by share of degrees awarded are Business, Health professions, Liberal arts.
Q.Are there community colleges in San Diego?
Yes — San Diego includes 4 public institutions, many of which offer 2-year associate degrees and transfer pathways to 4-year programs.
Other cities in California
Data on this page comes from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard and IPEDS. Medians are computed across institutions in San Diego that report each metric. Net price, graduation rate, and earnings figures reflect the latest available federal release. Always verify current tuition and program availability directly with each institution.