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ChulaVista BayfrontPhoto: Port of San Diego · CC BY 2.0
Colleges in and near Chula Vista

Chula Vista is home to two colleges, with about 14,000 students on campus

Southwestern College (13,521 students on campus) and Pima Medical Institute-Chula Vista (675) are inside the city. About 8% of Chula Vista’s residents are enrolled in college, about the same as California (8%).

Southwestern College

From the U.S. Department of Education (College Scorecard, June 2026; IPEDS fall 2023 enrollment) and the Census Bureau’s American Community Survey, 2020–24. Straight-line distances from the center of Chula Vista. Colleges are described, not graded.

Within 15 miles
20
88,548 students on campus
Nearest college
1.4 mi
Southwestern College
Residents in college
8%
About the same as CA (8%)
Nearest community college
1.4 mi
Southwestern College · $1,344 tuition
Nearest public university
10.7 mi
San Diego State · $8,728 in-state
Median household income
$108K
prices below start here

What stands out about college in Chula Vista

Facts about the town and its distance to campus; each college’s own figures follow.

A community college in Chula VistaSouthwestern College has 13,521 students on campus in Chula Vista, 36% of whom graduate within three years.In-state price at San Diego StateLiving in California, San Diego State University charges $8,728 in tuition and fees; from out of state, $21,328. State residency rules decide which a new arrival pays.Students are 8% of residentsAbout the same as California (8%). The Census counts anyone enrolled, including part-time and online students.
Every college

Colleges within 15 miles of Chula Vista

15 private colleges within 15 miles, one public college within 10.7 miles, and five community colleges.

5 mi10 mi15 miSan Diego StateSouthwestern CollegeGrossmont CollegeChula Vista
University or collegeCommunity college
Southwestern CollegeCommunity college · Public · 13,521 on campus · In Chula Vista$13knet price36%graduate$40kearningsTuition and fees: $1,344 a year. The net price counts housing and food at full cost.Pima Medical Institute-Chula VistaUniversity or college · For-profit · 675 on campus · In Chula Vista$29knet price62%graduate$39kearningsEarnings are reported for all 13 campuses that file with it.Concorde Career College-San DiegoUniversity or college · For-profit · 178 on campus · 7.3 mi · San Diego100%admitted$25knet price76%graduate$39kearningsCuyamaca CollegeCommunity college · Public · 4,143 on campus · 9.1 mi · El Cajon · mostly online$7knet price41%graduate$32kearnings51% of its students study only online; price, graduation and earnings count them too.Tuition and fees: $1,346 a year. The net price counts housing and food at full cost.North-West College-San DiegoUniversity or college · For-profit · 551 on campus · 10 mi · San Diego$47knet price$41kearningsEarnings are reported for all 5 campuses that file with it.Newschool of Architecture and DesignUniversity or college · For-profit · 241 on campus · 10 mi · San Diego100%admitted$53knet price62%graduate$69kearningsSan Diego City CollegeCommunity college · Public · 8,160 on campus · 10.1 mi · San Diego$8knet price30%graduate$39kearningsTuition and fees: $1,146 a year. The net price counts housing and food at full cost.Thomas Jefferson School of LawUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 213 on campus · 10.4 mi · San DiegoGraduate students only; the Scorecard reports no undergraduate figures.San Diego State UniversityUniversity or college · Public · 36,799 on campus · 10.7 mi · San Diego36%admitted$15knet price76%graduate$65kearningsCalifornia Western School of LawUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 616 on campus · 10.8 mi · San DiegoGraduate students only; the Scorecard reports no undergraduate figures.ICOHS CollegeCommunity college · Private nonprofit · 215 on campus · 10.8 mi · San Diego$100knet price80%graduateThe Chicago School at San DiegoUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 139 on campus · 10.8 mi · San Diego$57kearningsEarnings are reported for all 8 campuses that file with it.California Miramar UniversityUniversity or college · For-profit · 203 on campus · 12.1 mi · San Diego18%admitted$12knet price50%graduateUnited States UniversityUniversity or college · For-profit · 2,119 on campus · 12.6 mi · San Diego$81kearningsGrossmont CollegeCommunity college · Public · 8,594 on campus · 13 mi · El Cajon$5knet price37%graduate$40kearningsTuition and fees: $1,332 a year. The net price counts housing and food at full cost.Pacific College of Health and ScienceUniversity or college · For-profit · 393 on campus · 13.4 mi · San Diego · mostly online$52knet price77%graduate$26kearnings56% of its students study only online; price, graduation and earnings count them too.Earnings are reported for all 3 campuses that file with it.ATA CollegeUniversity or college · For-profit · 106 on campus · 13.4 mi · El Cajon$19knet price89%graduate$35kearningsHigh Tech High Graduate School of EducationUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 105 on campus · 13.8 mi · San DiegoGraduate students only; the Scorecard reports no undergraduate figures.University of San DiegoUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 8,030 on campus · 14.3 mi · San Diego52%admitted$30knet price84%graduate$87kearningsPoint Loma Nazarene UniversityUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 3,547 on campus · 15 mi · San Diego84%admitted$39knet price77%graduate$64kearnings

Degree-granting colleges with 100 or more students on campus (fall 2023 enrollment, minus students who study only online). Admitted: share of applicants offered a place. Net price: the average a year after grants, for students on federal aid. Graduate: within 6 years (4-year colleges) or 3 (2-year). Earnings: median, 10 years after starting.

What it costs

What would your family pay?

The average a year after grants, for families on federal aid, at the colleges within 15 miles. Pick your family’s income.

Family income

Starts at $75–110k, where Chula Vista’s median household income ($108,032) falls.

Grossmont College13 mi · El Cajon · sticker $14,027 · tuition $1,332$9,677a year
Cuyamaca College9.1 mi · El Cajon · mostly online · sticker $16,690 · tuition $1,346$12,665a year
San Diego City College10.1 mi · San Diego · sticker $21,202 · tuition $1,146$15,594a year
San Diego State University10.7 mi · San Diego · sticker $27,780$15,891a year
California Miramar University12.1 mi · San Diego · sticker $19,067$16,995a year
Southwestern CollegeIn Chula Vista · sticker $22,104 · tuition $1,344$18,484a year
University of San Diego14.3 mi · San Diego · sticker $78,720$27,012a year
Concorde Career College-San Diego7.3 mi · San Diego · sticker $30,461$28,668a year
Pima Medical Institute-Chula VistaIn Chula Vista · sticker $33,209$31,325a year
Point Loma Nazarene University15 mi · San Diego · sticker $60,488$33,003a year
North-West College-San Diego10 mi · San Diego · sticker $49,552$48,695a year
Pacific College of Health and Science13.4 mi · San Diego · mostly online · sticker $54,944$52,468a year
Newschool of Architecture and Design10 mi · San Diego · sticker $62,004—a year
ICOHS College10.8 mi · San Diego · sticker $108,002—a year
ATA College13.4 mi · El Cajon · sticker $26,134—a year

The average a year after grants and scholarships, for first-time, full-time students on federal aid, from the College Scorecard. Your own price depends on your aid package; every college has a net price calculator. For community colleges the net price counts housing and food at full cost, so tuition is shown beside it. “—”: not reported for that income.

Outcomes

Do students finish, and does it pay?

Each dot is a college within 15 miles of Chula Vista: across is the share who graduate, up is what they earn ten years after starting.

$0$20k$40k$60k$80k$100k0%25%50%75%100%Graduate →Southwestern CollegeCuyamaca CollegeSan Diego City CollegeSan Diego StateGrossmont CollegeUniversity of San Diego
San Diego State University76% graduate$65k earnings$15k typical debt
Southwestern College36% graduate$40k earnings$4k typical debt
Grossmont College37% graduate$40k earnings$9k typical debt
San Diego City College30% graduate$39k earnings$8k typical debt
University of San Diego84% graduate$87k earnings$23k typical debt
Cuyamaca College41% graduate$32k earnings
Point Loma Nazarene University77% graduate$64k earnings$23k typical debt
Pima Medical Institute-Chula Vista62% graduate$39k earnings*$10k typical debt
Pacific College of Health and Science77% graduate$26k earnings*$12k typical debt
Newschool of Architecture and Design62% graduate$69k earnings$31k typical debt
Concorde Career College-San Diego76% graduate$39k earnings$10k typical debt
ATA College89% graduate$35k earnings$6k typical debt

Graduation: first-time, full-time students within 6 years (4-year colleges) or 3 years (2-year). Earnings: median, 10 years after starting, for students who got federal aid. *Reported for all the campuses that file together: Pima Medical Institute-Chula Vista (13); Pacific College of Health and Science (3).

Majors

What students study in Chula Vista

Share of bachelor’s and associate degrees by field across Chula Vista’s 2 colleges, weighted by undergraduates; then the biggest programs.

Liberal arts 20%Health professions 17%Business 16%Social sciences 6%Psychology 6%Interdisciplinary 5%Everything else 31%

Biggest programs

Business Administration, Management and OperationsSouthwestern College · 280 graduates a year
$51k4 yrs out
Psychology, GeneralSouthwestern College · 199 graduates a year
$42k4 yrs out
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and HumanitiesSouthwestern College · 189 graduates a year
$40k4 yrs out
Criminal Justice and CorrectionsSouthwestern College · 155 graduates a year
$50k4 yrs out
SociologySouthwestern College · 102 graduates a year
$42k4 yrs out
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical NursingSouthwestern College · 62 graduates a year
$113k4 yrs out
Communication and Media StudiesSouthwestern College · 39 graduates a year
$37k4 yrs out

College Scorecard: degree shares (PCIP; each college’s six largest fields are kept, the rest count as everything else) and the field-of-study file, median earnings 4 years after graduating.

Questions about college in Chula Vista

Is Chula Vista a college town?

No. About 8 of every 100 Chula Vista residents are enrolled in college (Census, 2020–24), about the same as California (8). The largest campus in the city, Southwestern College, has 13,521 students on campus.

What colleges are in Chula Vista?

Southwestern College and Pima Medical Institute-Chula Vista are inside the city.

What is the closest community college to Chula Vista, and what does it cost?

Southwestern College in Chula Vista, 1.4 miles away. Tuition and fees are $1,344 a year for California residents; the federal net price, $12,671, counts housing and food at full cost.

How much does San Diego State University cost if we live in California?

Tuition and fees are $8,728 a year in-state and $21,328 from out of state. After grants, families on federal aid paid an average of $9,910 (under $30,000 income) to $23,821 (over $110,000), housing and food included.

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Colleges: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard and IPEDS (Scorecard 06/10/2026 · IPEDS 2024 · fall 2023 enrollment). “On campus” is fall enrollment minus students who study only online. Distances are straight-line from the center of Chula Vista. Residents in college, age, rent and poverty (including poverty without college students, table B14006): U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020–24. Colleges are described, not graded; the College town label marks towns where 15% or more of residents are enrolled. How TownRatings describes colleges →