US CollegesGetting in
San Diego City College has an open admission policy: it does not turn applicants away on grades or test scores, though some courses can have their own requirements.
What it costs
| Tuition and fees, students from California | $1,154 |
| Tuition and fees, students from elsewhere | $10,010 |
| Books and supplies | $1,062 |
| Average full cost of a year (tuition, living, books), before aid | $35,643 |
| Average net price after grants and scholarships | $18,693 |
The net price is what students who got federal aid paid on average for a year after grants and scholarships were taken off (for a public college, students from inside the state). It is 16% below the median net price of colleges in California on this site ($22,336). International students are normally charged the out-of-state tuition and do not receive US federal aid.
Net price by family income
| Family income a year | Average net price |
|---|---|
| Up to $30,000 | $18,568 |
| $30,001 to $48,000 | $21,354 |
| $48,001 to $75,000 | $18,978 |
| $75,001 to $110,000 | $17,512 |
| Above $110,000 | not reported |
For students who received federal aid. A negative figure means grants were larger than the cost counted.
For an estimate that fits your own family, use the college's net price calculator.
Results
| Measure | This college | CA median | US median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Students who come back for a second year | 61% | 76% | 73% |
| Students who finish their degree (within one and a half times the normal length) | 24% | 51% | 49% |
| Median earnings 10 years after starting | $44,127 | $53,420 | $53,132 |
| Median federal loan debt of those who finish | $10,500 | $17,297 | $19,994 |
Medians are the middle value of the colleges on this site in California and in the whole country. Completion and return rates count first-time, full-time students. Earnings and debt count students who received federal aid.
The students
25% of undergraduates receive a Pell Grant, the federal grant for students from lower-income families. 2% take a federal student loan. The undergraduate body is 53% women and 47% men. By undergraduate numbers it is number 57 of the 267 colleges in California on this site that report a size; the middle-sized one has 2,759.
Other colleges in California of a similar size
- Glendale Community CollegeGlendale, public
- Santiago Canyon CollegeOrange, public
- Irvine Valley CollegeIrvine, public
- MiraCosta CollegeOceanside, public
- Ventura CollegeVentura, public
- Santa Barbara City CollegeSanta Barbara, public
Common questions
How much is tuition at San Diego City College?
Published tuition and fees are $1,154 a year for students from California and $10,010 for others. Most students with aid pay less: see the net price.
What is the graduation rate of San Diego City College?
24% of first-time, full-time students finish within one and a half times the normal length of the course.
Source: College Scorecard, U.S. Department of Education, data released on 2 November 2026; checked in November 2026. Net price, debt and earnings describe students who received US federal aid. Costs change each year. This is official data for general information, not advice: confirm costs and admission rules on the college's own website and at collegescorecard.ed.gov.