Photo: Der-wuppertaler · CC BY-SA 3.0San Diego City College is 4.8 miles from National City
No college sits inside National City’s boundary, but San Diego City College’s campus in San Diego, with 8,160 students on campus, is 4.8 miles from the center of town. About 7% of National City’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 National City. Colleges are described, not graded.
What stands out about college from National City
Facts about the town and its distance to campus; each college’s own figures follow.
Colleges within 15 miles of National City
16 private colleges within 12.6 miles, one public college within 7.8 miles, and six community colleges.
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 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.
Starts at $48–75k, where National City’s median household income ($66,841) falls.
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.
Do students finish, and does it pay?
Each dot is a college within 15 miles of National City: across is the share who graduate, up is what they earn ten years after starting.
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 National City
Is National City a college town?
No. About 7 of every 100 National City residents are enrolled in college (Census, 2020–24), about the same as California (8). The nearest campus, Concorde Career College-San Diego, is 2.6 miles away in San Diego.
What colleges are near National City?
22 colleges are within 15 miles. The largest: San Diego State University (7.8 miles, 36,799 students on campus), Southwestern College (6.2 miles, 13,521) and San Diego Mesa College (10.4 miles, 11,593).
What is the closest community college to National City, and what does it cost?
San Diego City College in San Diego, 4.8 miles away. Tuition and fees are $1,146 a year for California residents; the federal net price, $7,935, 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.
Neighbors talk college
Students, parents, alumni and the neighbors next door.
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 National City. 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 →