Cuyamaca College

  • Since 1978, Cuyamaca College has provided a solid education to students, whether they�re beginning their university degree at Cuyamaca, returning to school to launch a career or to acquire new skills or enrolling in an innovative occupational program. With its vision of �Learning for the Future,� Cuyamaca College offers a wide scope of challenging courses, from drafting technology and child development to paralegal training, from computer and information science or ornamental horticulture to automotive technology. With 49 degree programs and 46 certificates offered at Cuyamaca College, learning opportunities abound under the tutelage of highly-qualified, dynamic instructors imbued with a love of teaching.

School Highlights

Cuyamaca College serves 8,905 students (23% of students are full-time).
Minority enrollment is 53% of the student body (majority Hispanic), which is less than the state average of 77%.

Quick Facts (26-27)

  • Enrollment: 8,905 students
  • In-state tuition: $1,386
  • Out-state tuition: $6,896
  • Minority enrollment: 53%
  • Source: Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS)

School Overview

The teacher population of 160 teachers has declined by 58% over five years.
Cuyamaca College
(CA) Community College Avg.
Carnegie Classification
Associate's Colleges
Associate's Colleges: High Transfer-Mixed Traditional/Nontraditional
Institution Level
At least 2 but less than 4 years
At least 2 but less than 4 years
Institution Control
Public
Public
Year Founded
1978
Total Faculty
160 staff
72 staff
School Calendar
AccreditationAccred.
Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges (ACCJC)

Student Body

The student population of Cuyamaca College has stayed relatively flat over five years.
The Cuyamaca College diversity score of 0.66 is less than the state average of 0.71. The school's diversity has stayed relatively flat over five years.
Total Enrollment
8,905 students
6,850 students

Showing 2012–2025. View full 19-year historical data

Student-Teacher Ratio
56:1
44:1
# Full-Time Students
2,018 students
1,034 students

Showing 2012–2025. View full 19-year historical data

# Part-Time Students
6,887 students
5,816 students

Showing 2012–2025. View full 19-year historical data

# Enrollment Undergraduate
8,905 students
2,055 students
# Full-Time Undergraduate Students
2,018 students
967 students

Showing 2013–2025. View full 19-year historical data

# Part-Time Undergraduate Students
6,887 students
5,850 students
% American Indian/Alaskan
1%
n/a
% Asian
5%
12%

Showing 2008–2025. View full 19-year historical data

% Hispanic
34%
46%

Showing 2008–2025. View full 19-year historical data

% Black
4%
7%

Showing 2008–2025. View full 19-year historical data

% White
47%
23%

Showing 2010–2025. View full 19-year historical data

% Two or more races
4%
5%
% Unknown races
5%
6%
Diversity Score
0.66
0.71

Showing 2011–2025. View full 19-year historical data

College Completion Rate (Students who graduate in less than 4 years)
32%
42%

Showing 2015–2025. View full 19-year historical data

Median Earnings 10 Years After Entry (measured in 2022-2023, in 2024 dollars)
$45,171
$46,345

Points are in the dollars of their own College Scorecard release, and the colleges behind the state line differ by period. The lines do not show inflation-adjusted growth.

Tuition & Financial Aid

The public in-state tuition of $1,386 is more than the state average of $1,238. The in-state tuition has stayed relatively flat over four years.
The public out-state tuition of $6,896 is more than the state average of $6,634. The out-state tuition has declined by 30% over four years.
In-State Tuition Fees
$1,386
$1,238
Out-State Tuition Fees
$6,896
$6,634
% Students Receiving Some Financial Aid
82%
85%

Showing 2012–2025. View full 19-year historical data

Median Debt for Graduates (Year 2008)
$3,448
$6,625
Median Debt for Dropouts
$5,615
$6,272
Source: 2025 (or latest year available) Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS)

School Notes

  • Cuyamaca College is located in the community of Rancho San Diego at 900 Ranch San Diego Parkway in the City of El Cajon on a 165-acre site which was at one time a part of the Old Monte Vista Ranch. Cuyamaca College is one of two colleges serving the Grossmont-Cuyamaca Community College District. The building site was acquired by the Board of Trustees in September 1972, and the College officially opened in the Fall of 1978. The second phase of buildings was completed in January 1980. In 1989, the Learning Resource Center opened. The campus consists of eight classroom buildings and is also the site of the Heritage of the Americas Museum and the Water Conservation Garden. In the Spring of 1995, Rancho San Diego Parkway, the Fury Lane entrance road, was completed providing students easier access to the College. In the Fall of 1995, the College dedicated a new 20.3 acre physical education facility with a fitness center, gym, tennis and volleyball courts, soccer and ball fields and an olympic track. Construction implementation is occurring on an incremental basis in response to the growing community surrounding the College and to meet the educational needs in the Grossmont-Cuyamaca Community College District. The College is designed to provide a comprehensive curriculum of programs and course of study, and when completed, will accommodate an enrollment of approximately 15,000 students in 2015. The mission of Cuyamaca College's Financial Aid Office is to ensure access and eliminate financial barriers to post-secondary education for all eligible students, by providing student centered support services that will promote student success, persistence, retention, equal educational opportunities and enable them to fully develop their individual potential.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does Cuyamaca College cost?
Cuyamaca College's tuition is approximately $1,386 for In-State students and $6,896 for Out-State students.
What schools are Cuyamaca College often compared to?
Cuyamaca Collegeis often viewed alongside schools like Grossmont College by visitors of our site.

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Quick Facts (26-27)

  • Enrollment: 8,905 students
  • In-state tuition: $1,386
  • Out-state tuition: $6,896
  • Minority enrollment: 53%
  • Source: Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS)

Related School Videos

Did You Know?

The average community college acceptance rate in San Diego County, CA is 88%. Read more about national community college acceptance rates.

San Diego County, CA community colleges have a diversity score of 0.71, which is lower than the national average of 0.74. The most diverse community college in San Diego County, CA is North-West College-San Diego. Read more about community college diversity statistics in the USA.

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