Higher education in San Diego, California 2024

San Diego is a large California city with a high standard of living, developed educational and business spheres, and a rich social life. The development of the scientific sector and companies working in the field of high technology has brought San Diego to the top of the developing cities of the West coast of the USA.

San Diego is a bright and distinctive city, the venue of the largest international Comic-Con festival: Money Magazine placed San Diego on the 5th place in the list of "The Best Cities to live in". It is attractive to tourists due to the developed beach infrastructure, an abundance of amusement parks.

Being the second largest city in California, San Diego provides ample opportunities for higher education for international students. Research institutes and humanitarian programs attract attention more than the climate, culture and many attractions of the region.

The largest university in the area is the University of California San Diego (UCSD). The university is the southernmost campus of the University of California system and the second largest employer in the city. It is the only university in the city that is classified as "R1: Doctoral studies are a very high research activity", it ranks 7th in terms of research expenditures in the country. The city has a UCSD medical school, three ABA accredited law schools.

San Diego's higher education landscape offers a diverse range of options, from community colleges to prestigious universities. The journey often begins at community colleges, which provide vocational training or the foundational two years of a bachelor's degree program. With 113 community colleges in California serving over 1.7 million students annually, many students secure guaranteed placements at public universities in California for completing their bachelor's degrees through a system known as a university transfer.

For both American and international students, bachelor's, master's, and PhD degrees are accessible at both public and private higher education institutions. These institutions are renowned for their academic excellence and are often highly ranked globally.

The bachelor's degree, typically a four-year program, lays the foundation for a professional career. A master's degree offers deeper specialization and the chance to enhance professional value through focused study. The MBA (Master of Business Administration) is tailored for managers and business owners, offering intensive courses over 1 to 1.5 years, highly valued in the global job market.

Sam Jones

Recruitment Director for Partnership with INTO Universities (Europe and Central Asia)

What firstly should be considered when choosing a university? Subjects, employer value, percentage of employment in the first year after graduation?

It depends on the student - everyone determines the most important criteria for himself. I would advise you to take several rankings and compare them with each other, plus take into account the cost of the course, the location of the university and its scale, the percentage of graduates' employment. See where graduates continue their studies or where they go to work.

Universities in San Diego cater to a broad spectrum of disciplines, with oceanography, STEM, engineering, and pharmacy being particularly popular. The proximity to tech companies and research institutes provides ample employment opportunities for graduates. The cost of higher education for international students ranges from $12,500 to $40,000 per academic year. Prominent universities include:

• California State University, San Marcos

• California Western School of Law

• San Diego Christian College

• National University

• San Diego State University

• University of California San Diego

• University of Phoenix

• University of San Diego

• Northern Arizona University

• Thomas Jefferson School of Law

To enroll in a bachelor's program at universities, applicants typically need:

• A secondary education certificate (Advanced Placement preferred)

• SAT/ACT scores

• TOEFL or IELTS language exam results, often requiring scores between 5.5 to 6.0 or higher, depending on the field of study

This is the basic requirement, though individual universities may request additional documents. International students must also complete an online application, provide financial proof (account statements or sponsorship letters), secure medical insurance, and obtain a study visa after receiving an invitation from an educational institution.

For master's degree applications, letters of recommendation, resumes, and motivation letters are often essential. MBA and doctoral programs have stringent selection criteria, requiring proof of relevant work experience, research plans, or proposed work for doctoral studies.