San Diego City College Tuition & Completion (2026)
San Diego City College is a public community college in San Diego, California, with about 10,441 students. The college offers associate degrees, career certificates, and transfer pathways to four-year universities. Typical net price after grant aid is about $7,935 for students who receive it, compared with published tuition near $1,146. Student demographics in federal data include Hispanic or Latino (49.7%) and White (22.6%) among the largest enrollment groups.
Key Facts
- 2024 Undergraduate Tuition: $1,146
- 2024 Average Net Price: $7,935 After Financial Aid
- 2024 Acceptance Rate: N/A Moderate Selectivity
- 2024 Enrolled Students: 10,441 11.4% Full-Time
- 2024 Graduation Rate: 30.39%
- Carnegie Classification: Associate's Colleges: High Transfer-High Nontraditional
- First-Generation Students: 58.2%
- Tuition trend: In-state tuition increase of 0.5% from 2022 to 2023 (College Scorecard).
- Net price trend: Average net price decrease of 113.8% from 2022 to 2023 (College Scorecard).
- Full-Time Faculty: 37.5%
- Undergraduate Enrollment: 22,424
- Room & Board: $31,243 annual estimate
San Diego City College: what the data shows
Common questions about San Diego City College, answered from College Scorecard and IPEDS in this repository.
Where is San Diego City College?
San Diego City College is located in San Diego, CA (ZIP 92101-4787).
NCES locale classification: City.
Is San Diego City College public or private?
San Diego City College is a Public institution.
How much does San Diego City College cost?
Published tuition: $1,146 in-state, $10,002 out-of-state.
Average net price after aid: $7,935.
| Family income band | Avg. net price |
|---|---|
| Family income $0–$30,000 | $7,181 |
| $30,001–$48,000 | $8,159 |
| $48,001–$75,000 | $10,265 |
| $75,001–$110,000 | $15,594 |
| $110,001+ | $17,766 |
Sticker tuition × four years (estimate, no room/board): $4,584.
How big is San Diego City College?
Total enrollment: 10,441 students.
Undergraduate enrollment: 22,424 students.
About 11% enroll full-time in our extract.
What is the graduation rate at San Diego City College?
150%-time completion rate: 30.39%.
First-year retention: 60.9%.
What do graduates of San Diego City College earn?
Median earnings: $31,504 six years after entry; $38,503 ten years after entry (College Scorecard).
How much debt do students have?
Median federal loan debt among completers: $7,689.
23.14% of students receive Pell grants.
What is San Diego City College known for?
Largest IPEDS program completions at this institution:
- Liberal Arts and Sciences/Liberal Studies (212 completions)
- Graphic Design (114 completions)
- Psychology, General (85 completions)
- Humanities/Humanistic Studies (76 completions)
- Computer and Information Systems Security/Auditing/Information Assurance (73 completions)
- Biology/Biological Sciences, General (73 completions)
- Business Administration and Management, General (70 completions)
- Cosmetology/Cosmetologist, General (52 completions)
- Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse (49 completions)
- Substance Abuse/Addiction Counseling (44 completions)
See ROI & Programs for more.
Is San Diego City College a good school?
We do not score schools on opinion. Federal data in our extract show completion rate 30.39%; median earnings $38,503 at 10 years; net price $7,935. Compare these figures to your cost, aid, and career goals.
Tuition & Cost
Tuition Costs
$1,146
2024 Undergraduate Tuition
In 2024, the cost of tuition at San Diego City College was $1,146.
Tuition comparison with similar institutions.
Average Net Price
$7,935
2024 Value
In 2024 San Diego City College had an average net price — the price paid after factoring in grants and loans — of $7,935.
Average net price comparison with similar institutions.
Total Cost of Attendance
$31,740 Estimated 4-Year Total Cost
$7,935 Average Annual Net Price (after aid)
$4,584 4-Year In-State Tuition
$40,008 4-Year Out-of-State Tuition
$31,243 Room & Board (annual, on-campus estimate)
$1,062 Books & Supplies (annual estimate)
$33,451 Estimated Annual Sticker (tuition + room/board + books)
$133,804 Estimated 4-Year Sticker (before aid)
4-year total cost breakdown for San Diego City College.
Financial Aid by Income Level
23.14% Undergraduates Receiving Financial Aid through Grants
1.57% Undergraduates Receiving Financial Aid through Loans
Financial aid distribution by income level.
Student Loan Default Rate
0.00%
3-year cohort default rate (College Scorecard)
The published 3-year cohort default rate for borrowers at San Diego City College was 0.00%.
Cohort default rates account for borrowers who default in the first three years.
Tuition tracker
Published tuition and average net price by reporting year come from the College Scorecard institution file. Values are not adjusted for inflation; missing cells mean the field was not reported or was suppressed for San Diego City College in that year.
Reporting years in the table below: 2013–2023 (Scorecard labels refer to the institutional submission cycle).
| Year | In-state tuition & fees | Out-of-state tuition & fees | Average net price |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | $1,142 | $5,702 | $6,054 |
| 2014 | $1,142 | $5,774 | $5,596 |
| 2015 | $1,142 | $4,670 | $5,411 |
| 2016 | $1,142 | $5,794 | $5,176 |
| 2017 | $1,142 | $5,894 | $4,804 |
| 2018 | $1,144 | $7,024 | $5,672 |
| 2019 | $1,144 | $7,480 | $5,082 |
| 2020 | $1,144 | $7,480 | $5,723 |
| 2021 | $1,144 | $8,512 | $6,485 |
| 2022 | $1,144 | $7,440 | $5,933 |
| 2023 | $1,150 | $9,094 | $-818 |
Sticker tuition and net price over time
Where the institution reported separate in-state and out-of-state tuition, both appear. Gaps mean the value was not reported for that year.
College Scorecard reporting-year fields (not inflation-adjusted).
Net price by family income
Brackets follow Scorecard definitions for the series shown (public vs private institution).
Latest income-band net prices available in the processed extract.
Acceptance Rate & Admissions
Acceptance Rate
Acceptance rate data is not available for this institution.
Acceptance rate compared to national average.
Test Scores
Test score data is not available for this institution.
Average SAT and ACT scores for admitted students.
Academic Requirements
GPA requirements are not published by this institution. Contact the admissions office for specific academic requirements.
Estimated GPA and test score ranges.
Enrollment & Student Demographics
San Diego City College reported total enrollment of about 10,441 students in the latest College Scorecard extract. The student body is about 47% male and 53% female. Enrollment by race and ethnicity includes Hispanic or Latino (49.7%), White (22.6%), and Asian (10.2%). About 23.14% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants. Roughly 58.2% of students are first-generation college students.
Full-Time vs Part-Time Enrollment
11.4% Full-Time Enrollment
The total enrollment at San Diego City College in 2024 is 10,441 students.
Undergraduate enrollment is about 22,424 students.
Full-time vs part-time enrollment comparison.
Retention Rate over Time
60.9%
2024 Retention Rate
Retention rate measures the number of first-time students who began their studies the previous fall and returned to school the following fall.
Retention rate over time compared to similar institutions.
Enrollment by Race & Ethnicity
The largest enrollment share in our College Scorecard extract is Hispanic or Latino at 49.7%.
Shares are for total enrollment (undergraduate and graduate combined when reported).
College Scorecard student demographics.
Graduates & Outcomes
Time to Complete
6.25% 100% Completion Time
30.39% 150% Completion Time
In 2024, 6.25% of students graduating from San Diego City College completed their program within 100% "normal time".
Completion rates over time compared to similar institutions.
Completions by Sex (Top Programs)
- Liberal Arts and Sciences/Liberal Studies: 33% male / 67% female
- Graphic Design: 35% male / 65% female
- Psychology, General: 33% male / 67% female
IPEDS completions by sex for the five largest programs (aggregate CIPs excluded).
Completions by Race & Ethnicity
Combined IPEDS award counts across reported programs; largest group: Hispanic or Latino.
Summed across program completion records in our extract.
ROI & Programs
Financial value and program information for San Diego City College.
Return on Investment
$7,689 Median Student Debt
$38,503 Median Annual Earnings (10 years)
19.97% Debt-to-Earnings Ratio
1113.07% Return on Investment
2.0 years Estimated Payback Period
Financial value analysis for San Diego City College.
Top Programs by Completions
10 largest programs by IPEDS completions (of 56 reported codes; aggregate/unknown CIP buckets excluded).
1. Liberal Arts and Sciences/Liberal Studies: 212 completions
2. Graphic Design: 114 completions
3. Psychology, General: 85 completions
4. Humanities/Humanistic Studies: 76 completions
5. Computer and Information Systems Security/Auditing/Information Assurance: 73 completions
6. Biology/Biological Sciences, General: 73 completions
7. Business Administration and Management, General: 70 completions
8. Cosmetology/Cosmetologist, General: 52 completions
9. Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse: 49 completions
Most popular programs at San Diego City College.
Employment Outcomes
Employment outcome data is not available for this institution.
Earnings outcomes for San Diego City College graduates.
Operations
Instructional staffing and expenditure indicators for San Diego City College from College Scorecard (not a full IPEDS finance statement).
Instructional Resources
- Full-time faculty share: 37.5%
- Average faculty salary (Scorecard): $10,502
- Instructional expenditure per FTE: $6,130
Endowment and detailed non-instructional staff counts require IPEDS Finance/HR surveys and are not in this extract.
Scorecard instructional metrics where reported.
About
San Diego City College is a public institution located in San Diego, CA, classified as Associate's Colleges: High Transfer-High Nontraditional. In the latest IPEDS completions in our extract, the largest programs by awards were Liberal Arts and Sciences/Liberal Studies, Graphic Design, Psychology, General. Enrollment is approximately 10,441 students. Student body composition includes Hispanic or Latino (49.7%), White (22.6%), Asian (10.2%). The 150%-time completion rate is 30.39%. Approximately 23.14% of students receive Pell Grants. About 58.2% of students are first-generation college students.
Institution Type
Public
Carnegie Classification: Associate's Colleges: High Transfer-High Nontraditional
Location
San Diego, CA 92101-4787
Region: Far West
Insights and Analysis
Graduation Rate Considerations: The 30.39% graduation rate at San Diego City College falls below the national average. Prospective students should carefully consider factors such as academic preparation, support services, and career outcomes when evaluating this institution.
Diverse Program Offerings: With over 56 distinct degree programs, San Diego City College provides students with a wide range of academic options. This diversity allows students to explore various fields and find programs that align with their interests and career goals.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is San Diego City College located?
San Diego City College is located in San Diego, CA.
How much does San Diego City College cost?
Reported tuition is $1,146 and average net price is $7,935 in the latest College Scorecard data. On-campus room and board is estimated at $31,243 annually.
What is the student body demographics at San Diego City College?
San Diego City College reports undergraduate enrollment of about 22,424 students, Hispanic or Latino (49.7%), White (22.6%) in federal College Scorecard data.
How many first-generation students attend San Diego City College?
About 58.2% of students at San Diego City College are first-generation college students.
What do graduates of San Diego City College earn?
Median earnings are $31,504 six years after entry and $38,503 ten years after entry.
What is the graduation rate at San Diego City College?
The 150%-time completion rate is 30.4% for the cohort reported to the College Scorecard.
How much debt do San Diego City College students have?
Median federal loan debt among completers is $7,689.
Is San Diego City College public or private?
San Diego City College is a public institution located in San Diego, CA.
Is San Diego City College an HBCU?
No. San Diego City College is not flagged as an HBCU in the IPEDS institutional directory.
Is San Diego City College a tribal college?
No. San Diego City College is not flagged as a tribal college in IPEDS.
Is San Diego City College a Hispanic-serving institution (HSI)?
By the common federal eligibility proxy used here (≥25% Hispanic enrollment in College Scorecard), yes—San Diego City College reports 49.7% Hispanic enrollment share.
Is San Diego City College religiously affiliated?
No religious affiliation is reported for San Diego City College in IPEDS institutional characteristics.
Data Sources
This page uses data from the following sources:
- College Scorecard - U.S. Department of Education
- Institutional characteristics, costs, completion rates, and earnings data
- Data years: 2015-2024
- Source: collegescorecard.ed.gov
- Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)
- Employment and wage data by occupation
- Latest data: May 2024
- Source: bls.gov/oes
- O*NET Online - U.S. Department of Labor
- Occupational skills, knowledge, abilities, and work activities
- Database version: 28.0 (August 2023)
- Source: onetcenter.org
- IPEDS (Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System) - National Center for Education Statistics
- Institutional data, completions, enrollment, and financial aid
- Data years: 2015-2024
- Source: nces.ed.gov/ipeds
- Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS)
- Demographic and workforce data
- Latest data: 2023 ACS 5-Year Estimates
- Source: census.gov/acs
- Related geography & profiles
- California college profile
- California college costs
- California colleges by ROI
- California trade schools profile
- San Diego, California city profile
- Far West regional profile
- Urban (City) college profile
- Campus-setting profiles
- All state profiles
- Regional profiles
- National benchmarks
- School directory
- All schools in California
- California college costs
- California colleges by ROI
- California trade schools profile
- San Diego, California city profile
- Far West regional profile
- All state profiles
- Regional profiles
- National benchmarks
- School directory
- All schools in California
Data Processing: All data has been processed, cleaned, and aggregated for presentation. Where specific data points are unavailable, estimates are based on available data and clearly marked.
Last Updated: Data reflects the most recent available information as of January 2025.
Methodology
Data for this profile is sourced from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard dataset, which provides comprehensive information on institutions of higher education in the United States.
All financial figures are adjusted for inflation and represent the most recent available data. Graduation rates and completion times are calculated according to federal standards.