San Diego City College is a public institution offering associate degrees based in San Diego, California. It enrolls 10,441 students (a large student body), according to IPEDS 2023-24 data. Below you'll find verified data on admissions, cost, student outcomes, programs offered, and what graduates typically earn, all pulled from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard and IPEDS.
AccreditorWestern Association of Schools and Colleges Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges
Academic CalendarSemester
How It Measures Up
US College Data scores each college on four pillars (outcomes, value, affordability, and selectivity) on a 0–100 scale, ranked within its peer group (4-Year Open / Online). Scores are calculated from verified College Scorecard and IPEDS data, not opinion or paid placement. Where data is missing, that pillar isn't scored.
Good
68/100
UCD Score · 4-Year Open / Online
Outcomes41
Value75
Affordability49
Selectivity—
Admissions & Acceptance Rate
Admissions data is not yet reported for San Diego City College.
Acceptance Rate
—
SAT Range (25th–75th)
—
Not reported
ACT Range (25th–75th)
—
Not reported
Cost & Financial Aid
The real cost of attending San Diego City College isn't the sticker price. It's the net price,which is what most students actually pay after grants and scholarships. According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, the average net price is $7,935 per year. That's well below the typical net price for public colleges nationally.
Average Net Price
$7,935
Per year, after typical aid
Receive Pell Grants
23%
Need-based federal aid
Receive Federal Loans
2%
Borrowing to attend
Full Cost Breakdown
Published cost of attendance, the sticker price before grants and scholarships. Most students underestimate room & board and other expenses.
Tuition & Fees (in-state)
$1,146
Tuition & Fees (out-of-state)
$10,002
Room & Board (off-campus)
$31,243
Books & Supplies
$1,062
Other Expenses (off-campus)
$4,968
Total Cost of Attendance
$21,202
Net Price by Family Income
Aid is need-based, so net price varies by family income. Here's what each bracket typically pays after grants and scholarships.
Under $30,000
$7,181
$30,001 – $48,000
$8,159
$48,001 – $75,000
$10,265
$75,001 – $110,000
$15,594
Over $110,000
$17,766
Debt at Graduation
Cumulative federal-loan debt across the full borrowing distribution. The 10th and 90th percentiles bracket the typical range; the median sits in the middle.
$1,75010%percentile
$2,50025%percentile
$7,689Medianpercentile
$7,00075%percentile
$13,31390%percentile
Median Debt by Student Type
Median federal-loan debt at graduation broken down by demographic. Each slice's size is proportional to the dollar amount that group typically borrows.
GroupDebtvs Median
Pell recipients $5,110
↓ $2,579
No Pell $3,500
↓ $4,189
Dependent students $3,798
↓ $3,891
Independent students $4,500
↓ $3,189
Female students $4,500
↓ $3,189
Male students $4,500
↓ $3,189
Worth knowing:
Students who don't finish leave with a median debt of $4,500, less than completers ($7,689), but still a meaningful obligation without a degree in hand.
Graduation Rate & Retention
9% of full-time students who enrolled at San Diego City College graduate within six years, and 63% return for their second year, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
6-Year Graduation Rate
9%
Of students who graduate within six years
First-Year Retention
63%
Returning for their second year
What this means:
Lower than typical completion. Worth asking the school how they support students who fall behind.
After Graduation: Earnings & Outcomes
According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, students who entered San Diego City College earn a median of $38,503 ten years after first enrolling. That's close to the national median for U.S. colleges.
Median Earnings (10 yrs)
$38,503
Earning > $25K
61%
10 yrs after entry
Earnings Growth After Graduation
Median annual earnings 6, 8, and 10 years after students first enrolled.
Earnings by Demographic
Mean annual earnings 10 years after entry, segmented by demographic. Reveals gaps the headline median can't show.
By Gender
Female graduates
$31,100
Median earnings for female grads ten years after first enrolling here.
Male graduates
$39,900
Median earnings for male grads ten years after first enrolling here.
The gender gap:
Male graduates earn $8,800, about 22% more than female graduates ten years out. The gap reflects industry mix, role choice, and structural pay differences that exist across most US colleges.
Loan Repayment Progression
Share of completer-cohort borrowers paying down at least $1 of principal at the 1-, 3-, 5-, and 7-year mark. Climbing rates show graduates settling into careers and managing debt; flat or declining rates are a warning.
Climbing: graduates increasingly paying down debt ↑
29.8 pts
across 6 years
What this signals:
Moderate. Only 67% of graduates are paying down principal seven years out.
Who Studies Here
San Diego City College is home to 10,441 students, a large student community. Some distinctive traits: 58% are first-generation college students, 89% study part-time.
Total Enrolled
10,441
Part-Time
89%
First-Generation
58%
Race & Ethnicity Breakdown
Undergraduate student body composition reported to the US Department of Education.
GroupShareStudents
Hispanic 49.7%5,188
White 22.6%2,357
Asian 10.2%1,064
Black 9.6%1,001
Other 6.9%716
International 0.1%13
Student Life & Campus Culture
Where students live, learn, and connect at San Diego City College. The campus setting, housing profile, and signals that shape day-to-day life here.
Setting
Large CitySan Diego, California
Housing
Commuter campusNo on-campus housing
Adult Learners
39%of students are 25 or older
Athletics
NCAAathletic-conference member
Academic Calendar
Semesterscheduling structure
Designation
Hispanic-Serving Institution (HSI)
What You Can Study
San Diego City College offers
an extensive catalog of programs:
55 distinct programs across
30 majors.
Below are its strongest majors, each with flagship programs and typical earnings.
Open a major to explore it in depth, or browse the full program catalog.
The student-to-faculty ratio at San Diego City College is 21:1, on the higher side.
Student : Faculty
21:1
Students per instructional faculty member
Instruction / Student
$3,539
Annual instructional spending per enrolled student
Avg Faculty Salary
$93,088
9-month equivalent across all ranks
Faculty by Rank
227 instructional faculty across 1 ranks.
The rank mix shows how many senior faculty are teaching versus contingent or junior staff, with average salary equated to a 9-month contract.
Rank
Faculty Count
Share
Avg Salary
Instructors
227
100%
$93,088
Pros & Cons of San Diego City College
A quick at-a-glance summary of how San Diego City College tends to stack up for prospective students,weighing its data, size, setting, and cost profile together.
PROS
Very affordable net price after aid
Low typical debt at graduation
First-gen-friendly student body
Flexible part-time enrollment options
CONS
Larger class sizes than typical
Low completion rate, many students don't graduate within six years
First-year retention is below typical
Earnings outcomes are on the lower side
Predominantly serves middle- and upper-income families
Best for:
Based on the data, San Diego City College is a fit for
families focused on keeping net cost low; working adults or students needing part-time study options.
Frequently Asked Questions about San Diego City College
Quick answers to the questions most students and parents ask. Every answer below is calculated from verified government data about San Diego City College.
How much does San Diego City College cost?
The average net price after aid at San Diego City College is $7,935 per year, this is what students typically pay after grants and scholarships are applied. Net price data: College Scorecard 2023-24.
Is San Diego City College worth it?
Solid return on investment. Graduates earn a median of $38,503 ten years after entering, against an average net price of $7,935 per year. That's roughly 4.9x earnings-to-cost. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.
What is San Diego City College known for?
San Diego City College is best known for its programs in Liberal Arts, Liberal Arts, Psychology. These are the most popular fields by completed degrees, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
What do San Diego City College graduates earn?
Median earnings 10 years after entering San Diego City College are $38,503, based on College Scorecard 2023-24 federal earnings data for Title IV recipients.
Is San Diego City College accredited?
Yes. San Diego City College is accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges.
How many students attend San Diego City College?
San Diego City College enrolls 10,441 students, per IPEDS 2023-24 fall enrollment data.
What is the graduation rate at San Diego City College?
San Diego City College graduates 9% of full-time students within six years, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
Is San Diego City College a public or private college?
San Diego City College is a Public institution.
Where is San Diego City College located?
San Diego City College is located in San Diego, California.
What programs does San Diego City College offer?
San Diego City College offers 55 distinct programs. The most popular include Liberal Arts, Liberal Arts, Psychology.
What is the student-to-faculty ratio at San Diego City College?
The student-to-faculty ratio at San Diego City College is 21:1, per IPEDS 2023-24 data.
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Free, data-backed guides to help you decide, built on the same federal data as this profile.
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Original data analyses built on the same federal data as this profile. Rankings, outliers, and patterns, no opinions.
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