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Imperial beach ca 1Photo: Kotoviski photographed by Henryk Kotowski · CC BY-SA 3.0
Colleges in and near Imperial Beach

Pima Medical Institute-Chula Vista is 4 miles from Imperial Beach

No college sits inside Imperial Beach’s boundary, but Pima Medical Institute-Chula Vista’s campus in Chula Vista, with 675 students on campus, is 4 miles from the center of town, and Southwestern College is 8.6 miles away in Chula Vista. About 7% of Imperial Beach’s residents are enrolled in college, about the same as California (8%).

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 Imperial Beach. Colleges are described, not graded.

Within 15 miles
17
75,705 students on campus
Nearest college
4 mi
Pima Medical Institute-Chula Vista
Residents in college
7%
About the same as CA (8%)
Nearest community college
8.6 mi
Southwestern College · $1,344 tuition
Nearest public university
14.7 mi
San Diego State · $8,728 in-state
Median household income
$86K
prices below start here

What stands out about college from Imperial Beach

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

A college 4 miles awayPima Medical Institute-Chula Vista has 675 students on campus in Chula Vista, 62% of whom graduate within three years.A community college 8.6 miles awaySouthwestern College in Chula Vista: tuition and fees $1,344 a year for California residents.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 7% 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 Imperial Beach

14 private colleges within 15 miles, one public college within 14.7 miles, and three community colleges.

5 mi10 mi15 miSan Diego StateSouthwestern CollegeSan Diego City CollegeImperial Beach
University or collegeCommunity college
Pima Medical Institute-Chula VistaUniversity or college · For-profit · 675 on campus · 4 mi · Chula Vista$29knet price62%graduate$39kearningsEarnings are reported for all 13 campuses that file with it.Southwestern CollegeCommunity college · Public · 13,521 on campus · 8.6 mi · Chula Vista$13knet price36%graduate$40kearningsTuition and fees: $1,344 a year. The net price counts housing and food at full cost.Concorde Career College-San DiegoUniversity or college · For-profit · 178 on campus · 9.5 mi · San Diego100%admitted$25knet price76%graduate$39kearningsNewschool of Architecture and DesignUniversity or college · For-profit · 241 on campus · 10.5 mi · San Diego100%admitted$53knet price62%graduate$69kearningsSan Diego City CollegeCommunity college · Public · 8,160 on campus · 10.7 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 · 10.8 mi · San DiegoGraduate students only; the Scorecard reports no undergraduate figures.The Chicago School at San DiegoUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 139 on campus · 11 mi · San Diego$57kearningsEarnings are reported for all 8 campuses that file with it.California Western School of LawUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 616 on campus · 11.2 mi · San DiegoGraduate students only; the Scorecard reports no undergraduate figures.ICOHS CollegeCommunity college · Private nonprofit · 215 on campus · 11.3 mi · San Diego$100knet price80%graduateHigh Tech High Graduate School of EducationUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 105 on campus · 13 mi · San DiegoGraduate students only; the Scorecard reports no undergraduate figures.Point Loma Nazarene UniversityUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 3,547 on campus · 13.2 mi · San Diego84%admitted$39knet price77%graduate$64kearningsUnited States UniversityUniversity or college · For-profit · 2,119 on campus · 13.8 mi · San Diego$81kearningsNorth-West College-San DiegoUniversity or college · For-profit · 551 on campus · 14.1 mi · San Diego$47knet price$41kearningsEarnings are reported for all 5 campuses that file with it.San Diego State UniversityUniversity or college · Public · 36,799 on campus · 14.7 mi · San Diego36%admitted$15knet price76%graduate$65kearningsCalifornia Miramar UniversityUniversity or college · For-profit · 203 on campus · 14.8 mi · San Diego18%admitted$12knet price50%graduateUniversity of San DiegoUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 8,030 on campus · 14.9 mi · San Diego52%admitted$30knet price84%graduate$87kearningsPacific College of Health and ScienceUniversity or college · For-profit · 393 on campus · 15 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.

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 Imperial Beach’s median household income ($86,111) falls.

San Diego City College10.7 mi · San Diego · sticker $21,202 · tuition $1,146$15,594a year
San Diego State University14.7 mi · San Diego · sticker $27,780$15,891a year
California Miramar University14.8 mi · San Diego · sticker $19,067$16,995a year
Southwestern College8.6 mi · Chula Vista · sticker $22,104 · tuition $1,344$18,484a year
University of San Diego14.9 mi · San Diego · sticker $78,720$27,012a year
Concorde Career College-San Diego9.5 mi · San Diego · sticker $30,461$28,668a year
Pima Medical Institute-Chula Vista4 mi · Chula Vista · sticker $33,209$31,325a year
Point Loma Nazarene University13.2 mi · San Diego · sticker $60,488$33,003a year
North-West College-San Diego14.1 mi · San Diego · sticker $49,552$48,695a year
Pacific College of Health and Science15 mi · San Diego · mostly online · sticker $54,944$52,468a year
Newschool of Architecture and Design10.5 mi · San Diego · sticker $62,004—a year
ICOHS College11.3 mi · San Diego · sticker $108,002—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 Imperial Beach: 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 →Pima Medical Institute-Chula VistaSouthwestern CollegeSan Diego City CollegePoint Loma Nazarene UniversitySan Diego StateUniversity of San Diego
San Diego State University76% graduate$65k earnings$15k typical debt
Southwestern College36% graduate$40k earnings$4k typical debt
San Diego City College30% graduate$39k earnings$8k typical debt
University of San Diego84% graduate$87k earnings$23k typical debt
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

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).

Questions about college near Imperial Beach

Is Imperial Beach a college town?

No. About 7 of every 100 Imperial Beach residents are enrolled in college (Census, 2020–24), about the same as California (8). The nearest campus, Pima Medical Institute-Chula Vista, is 4 miles away in Chula Vista.

What colleges are near Imperial Beach?

17 colleges are within 15 miles. The largest: San Diego State University (14.7 miles, 36,799 students on campus), Southwestern College (8.6 miles, 13,521) and San Diego City College (10.7 miles, 8,160).

What is the closest community college to Imperial Beach, and what does it cost?

Southwestern College in Chula Vista, 8.6 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 Imperial Beach. 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 →