| Fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Type | Public two-year community college, one of three credit colleges in the San Diego Community College District (SDCCD); in-person, online and hybrid classes |
| Campus | 1, at 1313 Park Boulevard in downtown San Diego, California |
| Credentials | Associate degrees (AS, AA and transfer degrees), Certificates of Achievement, Certificates of Performance, and one bachelor’s degree (BS in Cyber Defense and Analysis) |
| Accreditation | ACCJC; reaffirmed for seven years in June 2024 with no compliance requirements |
| Federal aid | Yes, FAFSA school code 001273 |
| 2026-27 cost | $46 per unit for California residents; $423 per unit for nonresidents from Fall 2026 |
| Students | 13,872 in fall 2024; 22,539 across 2024-25 |
| Founded | 1914 |
| Facts checked | October 2026 |
Downtown San Diego’s public community college
San Diego City College is a public two-year college and one of the three credit colleges of the San Diego Community College District, alongside Mesa and Miramar. It opened in fall 1914, when the city schools board authorized college classes at San Diego High School, and today occupies one campus on Park Boulevard in downtown San Diego. Enrollment was 13,872 in fall 2024, and 22,539 different students took classes during 2024-25, according to the district’s draft Facts on File report for that year.
Most students attend part-time. Alongside transfer degrees, the college teaches career programs in nursing, HVAC, electricity, machining, manufacturing, cybersecurity, urban agriculture and design, and it also offers a bachelor’s degree, the BS in Cyber Defense and Analysis, approved by the California Community Colleges Board of Governors in January 2023.
Career programs at City College
Every program is taught at the Park Boulevard campus; some classes are also offered online or in hybrid form. The table shows the main career programs. The cost column is our arithmetic at the 2026-27 resident enrollment fee of $46 per unit, where the college states a unit total; it excludes the health fee, books and parking.
| Program | Credential | Length | Delivery | Prepares for | Enrollment fees, CA resident, 2026-27 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Associate Degree Nursing (RN) | AS | 2-year nursing curriculum | In person, with clinicals | NCLEX-RN | – |
| LVN to RN | AS | – | In person | NCLEX-RN (for licensed California LVNs) | – |
| Air Conditioning, Refrigeration & Environmental Control Technology (AIRE) | AS degrees, Certificates of Achievement, Certificate of Performance | – | – | HVAC/R certification training course | – |
| Electricity | AS, Certificate of Achievement; Lineman option | 2-year curriculum | – | California electrician certification exam | – |
| Machine Technology | Certificate of Achievement; CAM option AS; CNC options | – | – | – | – |
| Manufacturing Engineering Technology | AS (Electronics or Fabrication option), certificates | – | – | – | – |
| Cybersecurity | AS, about 70 units; Certificate of Achievement | – | – | CompTIA exams, including Security+ | About $3,220 |
| BS in Cyber Defense and Analysis | Bachelor’s, about 124 units | Upper-division portion 54 units | Online and in person (limited) | – | About $7,020 for the 54 BS units |
| Personal Trainer (Fitness Specialist) | Certificate of Achievement, 18 units | About 9 months from a fall start | In person, with internship | ACE and ACSM exams | $828 |
| Sustainable Urban Agriculture | AS, 23 units in the major | – | On-campus farm | – | – |
| Urban Farming Professional | Certificate of Achievement, 30 units | – | On-campus farm | – | $1,380 |
| Early Childhood Education | AS; Associate Teacher, Teacher and Master Teacher certificates | – | Includes supervised practicum | California Child Development Teacher Permit (education requirement) | – |
| Accounting | AS, 25-26 units in the major; CPA Prep certificate | – | – | – | – |
| Graphic Design | AS, Certificate of Achievement | – | – | – | – |
| Technical Theatre and Special Effects (FX) Makeup | Certificate of Achievement | – | – | – | – |
Nursing is approved by the California Board of Registered Nursing and accredited by ACEN. Cosmetology is approved by the Board of Barbering and Cosmetology, and Alcohol and Other Drug Studies is approved by CCAPP and accredited by CAADE. Apprenticeship programs run with sponsors including MTS, SDG&E (lineworker), the City of San Diego, Operating Engineers Local 501, Solar Turbines and GKN Aerospace; no electrical or HVAC apprenticeship is named.
Credentials come in two kinds. Certificates of Achievement are state-approved and appear on the transcript. Certificates of Performance are departmental: they do not appear on the transcript and are not eligible for financial aid.
What the main programs cover
Associate Degree Nursing (RN)
The generic ADN is a two-year nursing curriculum leading to an Associate in Science and the NCLEX-RN. Places are allocated by a lottery-based multi-criteria point system with a 75-point minimum. The fall 2026 application window closed on 14 September 2026, and the next opens in fall 2027 for students starting in fall 2028. Clinical rotations take place in health facilities, which require immunizations, a background check and a urine drug screen. Licensed California LVNs apply separately to the LVN-to-RN route, which includes a transition course; its 2026 window ran from 28 September to 12 October.
Air conditioning, refrigeration and environmental control (AIRE)
AIRE is City College’s HVAC/R program. Besides the AIRE Associate in Science, it offers degrees in Mechanical Systems Project Development, Mechanical Systems & Solid-State Electronics Technician, and HVAC/R Mechanical Systems Installation & Repair. Certificates of Achievement range from Basic HVAC/R Mechanical Systems Installation to Advanced Air Conditioning & Direct Digital Control, Heating, Air Conditioning & Solar Energy, and HVAC Systems Design, and there is also a Basic Refrigeration & Control Systems Certificate of Performance. A course called HVAC/R Certification Training is part of the program; the page does not name EPA 608 or NATE.
Electricity
The Electricity program is a two-year curriculum for an Associate in Science or Certificate of Achievement, and the college says it prepares students to apply for and take the State of California electrician certification exam. A Lineman option (degree or certificate) points toward line work, and an Electrical Control Systems certificate toward controls. An Electrical Recertification Preparation certificate is also offered, and the college says electives can meet California’s recertification requirements for electricians working for or as C-10 contractors. The college does not say whether the program is tied to an apprenticeship.
Machine Technology
Machine Technology emphasizes CAD/CAM and CNC work. Students learn manual and CAD/CAM CNC programming, conventional and CNC machining, print reading, machine setup and inspection. Awards include a Certificate of Achievement, a Computer Aided Manufacturing option as an Associate in Science or certificate, and a CNC Technology option, along with short CNC Operator, CNC Technology and Computer Aided Manufacturing Certificates of Performance, which are not aid-eligible. The program does not claim NIMS credentials, so ask which industry certifications, if any, the courses lead to.
Cybersecurity and the Cyber Defense bachelor’s
The Cybersecurity Associate in Science has 36 units in the major and about 70 in total, alongside a Certificate of Achievement and shorter certificates in Network Security I and II and Cyber Operations. Prep courses cover CompTIA A+, Network+, Cloud+, Security+, Linux+, CySA+ and PenTest+. Graduates can apply to the Bachelor of Science in Cyber Defense and Analysis, about 124 units in all, which uses competitive multi-criteria admission and requires the AS in Cybersecurity or an equivalent. Online and in-person places are limited, and applications for the fall 2027 cohort open on 2 November 2026.
Personal Trainer certificate
The Personal Trainer Certificate, formerly called Fitness Specialist and listed as the Physical Education Fitness Specialist Certificate of Achievement, is 18 units and targets the ACE and ACSM certification exams. It includes an internship course (EXSC 288) and a work-experience course (EXSC 270), and students who start in fall can finish in about nine months. Kinesiology courses in the same department lead toward transfer rather than a job credential; this certificate is the career route.
Fees, the San Diego Promise and financial aid
California community colleges charge a per-unit enrollment fee rather than tuition for state residents, and have no separate in-district rate. For 2026-27, the district’s fee schedule sets the enrollment fee at $46 per unit for all students; nonresidents, including international students, pay $377 per unit in nonresident tuition on top, up from $369 before Fall 2026. Students also pay a health fee of $23 each fall and spring semester ($17 in summer), the rate in force since Fall 2025, and a $2 student representation fee each semester. Parking is $40 a semester ($25 with financial aid), and Associated Students membership is $8 a year.
| 2026-27 | California resident | Nonresident |
|---|---|---|
| Per unit | $46 | $423 ($46 enrollment fee + $377 nonresident tuition) |
| 15 units, one semester, with health and representation fees | $715 | $6,370 |
| Full-time year, 30 units | About $1,430 | About $12,740 |
| Bachelor’s (BS) courses, per unit | $130 ($46 + $84 bachelor’s fee) | – |
The figures above are our arithmetic from the district’s rates, before aid and excluding books and parking. Niche puts the college’s average net price at $10,040 a year.
City College takes federal student aid (FAFSA school code 001273), but Certificates of Performance are not aid-eligible, which matters for short options such as Tax Preparer, CNC Operator and Basic Refrigeration.
- San Diego Promise: the district’s Promise program covers up to two years of enrollment fees and health fees, and adds peer mentors, success coaches and counselors, with book grants for students with financial need. It has three tracks: first-time college students; returning SDCCD students who have been out for three main semesters; and special populations, including Continuing Education students and alumni, LGBTQIA+ students, current or former foster youth, veterans, and justice-involved and undocumented students.
- Military students: the college offers classes, counseling and enrollment help on base at Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego and Naval Base San Diego, and was designated Military Friendly in 2023.
Open admission, with a lottery for nursing
Admission to SDCCD colleges is open, with no minimum GPA: high-school graduates, people who passed the CHSPE or GED (450+ average) or hold a Certificate of Completion, anyone 18 or older, emancipated minors and concurrently enrolled high-school students can apply. A self-reported high-school GPA is used only for course placement. One application covers City, Mesa and Miramar; the steps are to apply, file the FAFSA, send transcripts, complete orientation and an education plan, then register and pay.
Two programs select students. Nursing uses the lottery-based point system described above, and the Cyber Defense bachelor’s uses competitive multi-criteria screening. The fall 2026 semester began on 24 August 2026, and the college offers in-person, online and hybrid classes.
Accreditation and results
City College is accredited by the Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges (ACCJC). After a site visit in February 2024, the Commission voted in June 2024 to reaffirm accreditation for seven years, with no compliance requirements and one recommendation for improvement that does not identify a current deficiency. A midterm report is due on 15 March 2028, and the next full accreditation review is scheduled for 2030-31.
The nursing program publishes the clearest results. Its first-time NCLEX-RN pass rate was 100% in 2022, 2023 and 2025, above the national rate each year; there was no graduating class in 2024. Completion is lower than the pass rate: in 2025, 47 of 56 students who started the RN or LVN-to-RN program finished (about 84%), and in 2023 only 4 of 9 LVN-to-RN starters did. The program reports six-month survey response rates but no employment rate.
| Measure | City College | National | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| NCLEX-RN first-attempt pass rate | 100% | 86.6% | 2025 |
| NCLEX-RN first-attempt pass rate | No graduating class | – | 2024 |
| NCLEX-RN first-attempt pass rate | 100% | 87.8% | 2023 |
| NCLEX-RN first-attempt pass rate | 100% | 79.9% | 2022 |
| Nursing completion (RN and LVN-to-RN starters who finished) | 47 of 56 (about 84%) | – | 2025 |
| Nursing completion (RN and LVN-to-RN starters who finished) | 49 of 67 | – | 2023 |
Third-party websites show federal graduation rates for the college that disagree with each other, and we could not check them against federal data, so we do not give one here. The Graphic Design program says more than 70% of graduates find work or transfer within three months, without a year or definition. We found no published pass rates for cosmetology or other licensing exams.
Before you enroll
- Plan nursing a year or more ahead. The fall 2026 RN application window closed on 14 September, the next opens in fall 2027 for students starting in fall 2028, and admission is by points and lottery, so meeting the 75-point minimum does not guarantee a place.
- Check which certificate you are signing up for. Certificates of Performance, such as Tax Preparer, CNC Operator or Basic Refrigeration, do not appear on your transcript and cannot be paid for with financial aid.
- The LVN 30-unit option is not a degree. Its graduates take the NCLEX-RN as non-graduates, which limits practice outside California.
- Nonresidents pay more than nine times the resident rate: $423 per unit against $46 in 2026-27.
- There is no student housing yet. An eight-story, 797-bed building on campus has been announced; construction was expected to begin in 2026, and we found no opening date. Classes at the military bases are for people with base access, not the public.
One campus on Park Boulevard
All programs meet at 1313 Park Boulevard, San Diego, CA 92101. Classes held at Marine Corps Recruit Depot, Naval Base San Diego, high schools and community sites are extensions of this campus, not separate campuses. The Educational Cultural Complex belongs to the San Diego College of Continuing Education, a different SDCCD college.
Help for student parents and other groups
In 2026 the college joined the national FamilyU Cohort for student parents, which runs through June 2028 and focuses on childcare access and flexible scheduling. An AANHPI Connections Center opened in the Business & Technology Building in summer 2025. Several programs build in work experience, including the Personal Trainer internship and the apprenticeship sponsor programs.
What students say
On Niche, San Diego City College is rated 3.8 out of 5 from 964 reviews, with an overall grade of B (checked October 2026). Reviewers most often praise knowledgeable, approachable professors, tutoring and counseling help, flexible class options, a diverse and inclusive campus, and good preparation for transfer. The most common complaints are slow responses and weak communication from some offices, trouble getting counseling at peak registration, safety concerns linked to the downtown location and nearby homelessness, and little promotion of internships and employer networking; only 47% of Niche respondents say it is easy to get the classes they want. The reviews cover the whole college, and we could not tell whether they were invited by the school or posted in bursts. No other platform we checked has 25 or more reviews.
Facts checked October 2026.
Programs & Courses
Nursing and Health
- Associate Degree Nursing (RN)
- LVN to RN
- Personal Trainer (Fitness Specialist) certificate
- Alcohol and Other Drug Studies
Skilled Trades and Manufacturing
- Air Conditioning, Refrigeration & Environmental Control Technology (AIRE)
- Electricity (including Lineman option)
- Machine Technology (CAD/CAM and CNC)
- Manufacturing Engineering Technology
- Electronics
- Apprenticeship programs
Agriculture
- Sustainable Urban Agriculture
- Urban Farming Professional
- Urban Gardening
Business
- Accounting
- Business Studies
- Small Business Management (Entrepreneur)
- Computer Business Technology
Computer and Information Technology
- Cybersecurity
- BS in Cyber Defense and Analysis
- Computer Information Systems (IT Management)
Design, Media and Performing Arts
- Graphic Design
- Music Production / Digital Music Technology
- Technical Theatre and Special Effects (FX) Makeup
- Radio, Television & Film
- Digital Journalism
- Photography
Education and Human Services
- Child Development / Early Childhood Education
- Human Services
- Mental Health Work
Cosmetology
- Cosmetology
- Esthetician
- Nail Technician
Campus Locations
San Diego, CA 1313 Park Boulevard, San Diego, CA 92101