San Diego City College
- Graduation Rate
- 28% F
- Lower completion rate than most colleges
- Earnings (10yr)
- $38,503 C-
- Below average for college graduates
- Net Price
- $7,935 B+
- 54% less than the typical college
- Enrollment
- 10,441
Bottom line: A C+ overall grade — average outcomes for a U.S. college. 31.2× return on investment — every $1 spent returns $31.2 over 20 years.
Every $1 spent returns $31.2 over 20 years — debt pays back in ~under a year. Net gain: $958,647.
What The Data Says
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A C+ overall — outcomes trail most U.S. colleges on measured metrics.
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Graduation of 28% — 52% below the national average.
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Every $1 invested returns $31.2 over 20 years — an exceptional return.
About San Diego City College
San Diego City College is profiled below with full outcomes data from federal sources.
Interpretation generated from this school's federal outcomes, research, and mobility data.
Institutional Profile
- Institution Type
- Public Community College
- Carnegie Class
- Associate's College
- Enrollment
- 10,441
- Setting
- Urban
- Designations
- HSI
- Primary Strengths
- Humanities, Visual & Performing Arts, Business & Marketing, Health Professions
Why students choose San Diego City College
CollegeRanker Report Card
Graded on outcomes, against every U.S. college.
Each grade is this school's national percentile on a real outcome — earnings, value, mobility, and more.
How we grade →Admissions
This school does not report a competitive admit rate — most qualified applicants are admitted.
Check your odds →Net price + aid
Students pay about $7,935 a year after grants and scholarships — 54% below the typical U.S. college. See net price by family income below.
See cost & aid →Earnings + debt
Graduates earn a median of $38,503 ten years after enrolling — 6% below the typical college, against $7,689 in median debt.
See outcomes →Mobility + social capital
Strong cross-class social capital — an economic-connectedness score of 0.80 (Opportunity Insights).
See mobility →Overview
Over 10,000 students choose San Diego City College each year for its diverse programs and affordable education. With a net price of just $7,935, it stands out as a cost-effective option for many seeking higher education in California.
Data from Opportunity Insights highlights that graduates from San Diego City College earn an average of $38,503 ten years after enrollment. While the graduation rate is 28%, the college serves as a stepping stone for many students, especially those from lower-income backgrounds. Approximately 23% of students receive Pell Grants, indicating a strong commitment to accessibility for those who need it most.
Students interested in humanities, visual and performing arts, health professions, psychology, and business will find solid offerings here. The relatively low median debt of $7,689 allows graduates to enter the workforce with less financial strain. This environment is ideal for those who are motivated, seeking practical skills, and ready to engage in a vibrant urban campus.
Rankings
Can I Get In?
How selective San Diego City College is — and how your numbers stack up.
Tool
Will I Be Accepted?
Enter your credentials to see your chances at this school.
Academics & Admissions
Is It Hard to Get Into San Diego City College? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
As a public institution in San Diego, California, San Diego City College enrolls students across a range of programs. The graduation rate is roughly 28%.
- Retention Rate
- 61%
- Full-Time Faculty
- 37%
- Faculty Salary (mo)
- $10,502
- Student–Faculty Ratio
- 20:1
- Diversity Index
- 0.68
- First-Gen Students
- 58%
Can I Afford It?
What you'll actually pay after grants and aid — not the sticker price.
Cost & Financial Aid
How Much Does It Cost to Attend San Diego City College? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at San Diego City College is $10,002, but few families pay that. The number to watch is net price, what students actually pay each year after federal grants and institutional scholarships. Here it averages about $7,935. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $7,181 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $7,689 in federal student loans.
- In-State Tuition
- $1,146
- Out-of-State
- $10,002
- Avg Net Price
- $7,935
- Median Debt
- $7,689
- Pell Grant Rate
- 23%
- Federal Loan Rate
- 2%
What Families Actually Pay
- Family Income $0–$30K
- $7,181
- Family Income $30K–$48K
- $8,159
- Family Income $48K–$75K
- $10,265
- Family Income $110K+
- $17,766
What Happens After?
Earnings, debt, and where graduates actually land.
Students Like You
Tell us a little about yourself to see what students like you have typically experienced at San Diego City College — the net price for your income, your admission odds, and the outcomes that follow. These are patterns from federal data, not predictions.
Graduate Outcomes
Is San Diego City College Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of San Diego City College report median earnings of $38,503, a figure worth comparing against the cost of attendance before enrolling.
- 6 Years After Entry
- $31,504
- 8 Years
- $35,417
- 10 Years
- $38,503
- Debt-to-Earnings
- 0.2x
- Earning > $25K
- 42%
Earnings Trajectory
Graduation by Timeframe
- 100% (61)
- 7%
- 100% (61)
- 7%
- 100% (61)
- 7%
- 100% (61)
- 7%
How San Compares
Dot right of center = above national average.
Net Price by Family Income
What families actually pay after aid, by income bracket.
College ROI Calculator
Is San Diego City College Worth It?
A data-driven look at the return on your educational investment — using real federal data.
Yes — for most students, San Diego City College delivers a positive return. Over four years, the typical net price is $7,935/year ($31,740 total). Graduates earn $38,503 at ten years, and over a 20-year career we project $990,387 in total earnings — a net gain of $958,647 (31.2× your investment). The median debt is $7,689, which takes less than a year to pay back at typical earnings. With a 28% graduation rate, the path to that return is well-tested. This is a exceptional ROI compared to national averages.
- Total Cost (4yr)
- $31,740
- Projected 20yr Earnings
- $990,387
- Net Return
- $958,647
- ROI Multiple
- 31.2×
- Cost Per Year
- $7,935
- Median Debt
- $7,689
- Debt Payback
- Less than 1 yr
- Graduation Rate
- 28%
Does It Change Lives?
Mobility, social capital, and innovation — does it move people up?
Top Programs
The fields San Diego City College awards the most degrees in, by share of completions. Where federal field-of-study data exists, we show what graduates in that major earned early in their careers. Each links to its degree guide — or see what someone with your income, scores, and major would pay and earn here in the Students Like You simulator.
- Humanities 23%
- Visual & Performing Arts 9%
- Business & Marketing 8% $28,574 early-career
- Health Professions 7% $85,376 early-career
- Biology & Biomedical 7% $37,831 early-career
- Psychology 6% $31,037 early-career
- Culinary & Personal Services 6% $18,918 early-career
- Social Sciences 5%
Early-career median earnings by major (typically 1–2 years after completion, bachelor's level where available), in today's dollars (CPI-adjusted). Source: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard field of study. Distinct from the school-wide 10-year median; suppressed for small programs.
Top Careers
Where these majors tend to lead — common career paths for San Diego City College's most popular programs, ranked by median pay with our proprietary scorecard insights.
- CChief Executive Officer$189,520 · 3% growthAdaptable 64
- C+IT Manager$169,510 · 15% growthAdaptable 52
- CHR Manager$136,350 · 5% growthAdaptable 64
- CPharmacist$136,030 · 3% growthResilient 82
- CSales Manager$135,160 · 4% growthAdaptable 64
- B-Optometrist$131,860 · 9% growthResilient 96
- CPurchasing Manager$131,350 · 5% growthAdaptable 64
- B+Physician Assistant$130,020 · 28% growthResilient 96
Frequently Asked Questions
Is It Hard to Get Into San Diego City College? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
As a public institution in San Diego, California, San Diego City College enrolls students across a range of programs. The graduation rate is roughly 28%.
How Much Does It Cost to Attend San Diego City College? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at San Diego City College is $10,002, but few families pay that. The number to watch is net price, what students actually pay each year after federal grants and institutional scholarships. Here it averages about $7,935. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $7,181 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $7,689 in federal student loans.
Is San Diego City College Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of San Diego City College report median earnings of $38,503, a figure worth comparing against the cost of attendance before enrolling.
How Connected Is San Diego City College? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks
Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs below average at San Diego City College. Its economic connectedness score is 0.80, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias sits near the middle of the range (0.07). Around 4% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Similar Schools
Schools with similar outcomes, selectivity, and student profiles to San Diego City College.
- Grand Rapids Community CollegeGrand Rapids, MI · Close peer20% grad $38,377 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
- Glendale Community CollegeGlendale, CA · Close peer35% grad $41,540 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
- Metropolitan Community College-Kansas CityKansas City, MO · Close peer31% grad $40,796 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
- Cape Fear Community CollegeWilmington, NC · Close peer34% grad $38,654 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate
- Los Angeles City CollegeLos Angeles, CA · Close peer27% grad $36,190 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
- Tulsa Community CollegeTulsa, OK · Close peer28% grad $39,746 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
Social Capital
Data: Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas
How Connected Is San Diego City College? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks
Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs below average at San Diego City College. Its economic connectedness score is 0.80, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias sits near the middle of the range (0.07). Around 4% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Research Note