Colleges · San Diego

Colleges in San Diego, CA

San Diego is home to 24 colleges with about 128,380 students on campus. The largest is University of California-San Diego, the most selective Alliant International University-San Diego (admits 0%). 8 more colleges are within 15 miles.

U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard & IPEDS

Colleges

24

degree-granting, in San Diego

Students on campus

128,380

fall enrollment, not counting online-only

Largest

University of California-San Diego

42,066 on campus

Most selective

Alliant International University-San Diego

admits 0% of applicants

Lowest net price

San Diego Mesa College

$5,814 a year after aid

Every college

All 24 colleges in San Diego

University of California-San DiegoUniversity or college · Public · 42,066 on campus 27%admitted$12knet price86%graduate$85kearnings San Diego State UniversityUniversity or college · Public · 36,799 on campus 36%admitted$15knet price76%graduate$65kearnings San Diego Mesa CollegeUniversity or college · Public · 11,593 on campus Openadmitted$6knet price35%graduate$45kearnings San Diego Miramar CollegeCommunity college · Public · 8,368 on campus Openadmitted$3knet price48%graduate$48kearnings San Diego City CollegeCommunity college · Public · 8,160 on campus Openadmitted$8knet price30%graduate$39kearnings University of San DiegoUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 8,030 on campus 52%admitted$30knet price84%graduate$87kearnings Point Loma Nazarene UniversityUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 3,547 on campus 84%admitted$39knet price77%graduate$64kearnings National UniversityUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 3,355 on campus Openadmitted$23knet price43%graduate$68kearnings United States UniversityUniversity or college · For-profit · 2,119 on campus Openadmitted—net price—graduate$81kearnings Alliant International University-San DiegoUniversity or college · For-profit · 1,412 on campus 0%admitted—net price—graduate$67kearnings California Western School of LawUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 616 on campus Openadmitted—net price—graduate—earnings North-West College-San DiegoUniversity or college · For-profit · 551 on campus Openadmitted$47knet price—graduate$41kearnings Pacific College of Health and ScienceUniversity or college · For-profit · 393 on campus Openadmitted$52knet price77%graduate$26kearnings Newschool of Architecture and DesignUniversity or college · For-profit · 241 on campus 100%admitted$53knet price62%graduate$69kearnings ICOHS CollegeCommunity college · Private nonprofit · 215 on campus Openadmitted$100knet price80%graduate—earnings Thomas Jefferson School of LawUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 213 on campus Openadmitted—net price—graduate—earnings California Miramar UniversityUniversity or college · For-profit · 203 on campus 18%admitted$12knet price50%graduate—earnings The Chicago School at San DiegoUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 139 on campus Openadmitted—net price—graduate$57kearnings Design Institute of San DiegoUniversity or college · For-profit · 107 on campus 100%admitted$44knet price80%graduate$47kearnings High Tech High Graduate School of EducationUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 105 on campus Openadmitted—net price—graduate—earnings Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery InstituteUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 48 on campus Openadmitted—net price—graduate—earnings San Diego Global Knowledge UniversityUniversity or college · For-profit · 39 on campus Openadmitted—net price45%graduate—earnings Franciscan School of TheologyUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 37 on campus Openadmitted—net price—graduate—earnings Ashford UniversityUniversity or college · For-profit · 24 on campus Openadmitted$31knet price11%graduate$35kearnings

University or collegeCommunity collegeBigger dot = more students on campus

Also in San Diego: Paul Mitchell the School-San Diego, CET-San Diego, Concorde Career College-San Diego, Associated Barber College of San Diego, California Barber and Beauty College, Riggins Urban Barber College (career schools).

Net price is the average a year after grants for families on federal aid; earnings are the median 10 years after starting. Sources: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard and IPEDS (Scorecard 06/10/2026 · IPEDS 2024 · fall 2023).

Within reach

Other colleges near San Diego

15 more colleges are within 30 miles of San Diego.

Grossmont CollegeCommunity college · Public · El Cajon6.7 mi8,594 students

ATA CollegeCareer school · For-profit · El Cajon8.1 mi106 students

San Diego Christian CollegeUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · Santee8.3 mi61 students

California Institute of Arts & Technology-National CityUniversity or college · For-profit · National City11.7 mi1 students

Cuyamaca CollegeCommunity college · Public · Rancho San Diego11.9 mi4,143 students

Southern California SeminaryUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · El Cajon12.7 mi58 students

Pima Medical Institute-Chula VistaCareer school · For-profit · Chula Vista14.6 mi675 students

Southwestern CollegeCommunity college · Public · Chula Vista15 mi13,521 students John Paul the Great Catholic UniversityUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · Escondido20.2 mi298 students

Westminster Theological Seminary in CaliforniaUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · Escondido20.6 mi101 students

5 more within 30 miles.

Straight-line distance from the center of San Diego. Degree-granting colleges with students on campus. Colleges marked › have their own page; the others are too small or don’t report enough to the Department of Education for one.