2024 Best Colleges for Performing Arts in the San Diego Area

• La Jolla, CA•

• 4 Year

• •
  Rating 3.62 out of 5  3,910 reviews

Sophomore: So far UCSD has been an amazing second home, with so many resources available to me. I have ventured out of my comfort zone by joining clubs and meeting new people! The professors are always striving to help us students learn better and willing to lend a helping hand whenever we need further explanation. I have grown comfortable with my new environment and the school itself, and cannot wait to spend the rest of my undergraduate years here at UCSD.... Read 3,910 reviews

• grade A+

• Acceptance rate 34%

• Net price $15,632

• SAT range —

• San Diego, CA•

• 4 Year

• •
  Rating 3.76 out of 5  5,317 reviews

Freshman: Beyond the excellent academics, SDSU has a great social and school spirit atmosphere with amazing athletics and clubs. As an out-of-state freshman, the transition to college has been tough; however, the many welcoming communities between fun or academic clubs, intramural, club, and D1 sports, and various other excellent programs. There are countless wonderful opportunities, including those at the Mission Bay Aquatic Center (MBAC). Students (and others) can take classes for surfing, wakeboarding, paddle boarding, and more! So far, the surfing class has been a major highlight for me. Getting around is also extremely easy, which is a big deal as a freshman without a car. The trolley and bus system is free to students under 20, which is a major bonus for getting around San Diego, going to the MBAC, and getting other important places in SoCal (like the airport)! I also feel that SDSU is a very safe campus, and has overall been a wonderful experience filled with growth and learning. Go Tecs!... Read 5,317 reviews

• grade A minus

• Acceptance rate 38%

• Net price $6,867

• SAT range 1090-1300

• San Marcos, CA•

• 4 Year

• •
  Rating 3.74 out of 5  1,841 reviews

Junior: My experience at California State University San Marcos was pretty fun. I had amazing professors who actually loved to teach their subjects and were always so helpful when I needed it. The professors are usually very flexible and provide office hours to provide more help on assignments or just questions in general. Dorm life is a bit tricky, finding the right roommates can be tough and sometimes you go through processes of trial and error to find what is most comfortable and best for you. Campus food was very tasty! They had new types of food places added in the middle of campus. I loved the fact that there is a Starbucks on campus, I would always get a quick pick-me-up before my longest classes. Sometimes the lines can be long but that's expected! In general, San Marcos is a very nice area and there is so much to see and do. When you need a stress-free break from school, most students will take beach trips and relax. San Marcos is a very peaceful city.... Read 1,841 reviews

• grade B

• Acceptance rate 93%

• Net price $14,296

• SAT range 950-1130

• Chula Vista, CA•

• 2 Year

• •
  Rating 3.79 out of 5  1,248 reviews

Sophomore: The faculty is professional and understanding. Most professors will offer alternatives to cheaper or will provide free texts for the course. Coursework is quite easy to understand and resources for tutoring and learning are advertised well around campus. Campus resources are easy to find. Classes are cheap compared to other local campuses in San Diego County. FAFSA will provide more aid when attending this school in comparison to City College. Really chill student life- laid-back people. Housing and transportation are necessary to thrive in this environment! Healthy food options are limited, I recommend eating at home. Snacks are everywhere for convenience on and around campus. Safe area, in the third safest city in California.... Read 1,248 reviews

• grade B

• Acceptance rate 100%

• Net price $6,789

• SAT range —

• San Diego, CA•

• 4 Year

• •
  Rating 3.69 out of 5  1,936 reviews

Sophomore: My experience at USD has been positive so far! The campus is so pretty, so it's definitely a nice environment to learn within. I love how unique and consistent the architecture is, even with new buildings, and the view of Mission Bay is fun to see every day. My first-year housing experience (in Camino) was good. The bathrooms were recently renovated, so that was appreciated, and there were a lot of private bathroom spaces. All of my professors were so nice as well!... Read 1,936 reviews

• grade A

• Acceptance rate 53%

• Net price $34,155

• SAT range 1190-1370

• San Marcos, CA•

• 2 Year

• •
  Rating 3.78 out of 5  1,248 reviews

Alum: Not exactly the ideal "college experience" for incoming college freshman/sophomores, but still a great community college experience! I am really glad I spent my first two years of college at Palomar Community College instead of going straight to a university. I had a great community college experience at Palomar. Lots of good, well-funded programs, mostly pretty good professors, the campus is recently rebuilt, the price to attend is very affordable, theres a decent amount of affordable parking, pretty diverse student body, and overall has a quality comparable to a university in terms of academics. Because it's a commuter community college, the social life is obviously lacking, but that is to be expected. I really liked Palomar and more people should attend community college especially at Palomar.... Read 1,248 reviews

• grade B minus

• Acceptance rate 100%

• Net price $6,659

• SAT range —

• Oceanside, CA•

• 2 Year

• •
  Rating 4.04 out of 5  931 reviews

Sophomore: I loved the stem tutoring center and the free snacks available in the cafeteria. Staff including library and especially professors are very helpful and kind. You definitely have to advocate for yourself but I’m sure you do at other community colleges and universities. There aren’t many sports but there’s a ton of clubs to choose from. There are many other programs at miracosta such as accommodations for student learning, an honors society, transfer center and more. The counselors are great and are really helpful with financial aid, picking classes, and scholarships. I have definitely learned a lot and am excited to learn more going into my second year. Highly recommend!... Read 931 reviews

• grade B+

• Acceptance rate 100%

• Net price $6,946

• SAT range —

• El Cajon, CA•

• 2 Year

• •
  Rating 3.8 out of 5  1,273 reviews

Freshman: I love Grossmont College because of it's welcoming environment and eagerness to work with students. The school is very supportive of students like me seeking to transfer to a four year institution. Counselors go above and beyond into offering guidance and opportunities to anyone interested. Both staff and professors understand their student's backgrounds, develop in depth, comprehensible lectures, and offer support to their students. I feel like the staff values my presence there. I also like how I can still get the college feel with Grossmont's small campus size and tranquil environment. It allows me to get the student experience and adapt to the college life as a freshman without the overwhelming atmosphere of a larger university. Overall, I would highly recommend Grossmont College to anyone in San Diego pursuing higher education. It's a great place to continue your educational journey and explore your potential!... Read 1,273 reviews

• grade B

• Acceptance rate 100%

• Net price $5,999

• SAT range —

• San Diego, CA•

• 2 Year

• •
  Rating 3.88 out of 5  956 reviews

Sophomore: Overall, San Diego Mesa college is a perfectly fine school and honestly, probably your best choice in terms of community colleges in San Diego. They have a lot of opportunities and various resources to help disadvantaged students acclimate properly into the school. More often then not, the professors at Mesa are really passionate and inspiring within their classes - just be sure to always check ratemyprofessor first!... Read 956 reviews

• grade B+

• Acceptance rate 100%

• Net price $7,663

• SAT range —

• San Diego, CA•

• 2 Year

• •
  Rating 3.75 out of 5  913 reviews

Freshman: The professors here most definitely understand their subject well, but not all of them have the same level of teaching. The teachers who teach with constant interaction and participation and set expectations have seen greater progress and higher mean grades than those who lack the above. Some teachers use a copy-and-paste method form of teaching and quizzing and this takes away from the actual learning of concepts. Also, there are more subjects to learn about now than I have seen in previous years when I graduated high school back in 2017.... Read 913 reviews

• grade B minus

• Acceptance rate 100%

• Net price $8,370

• SAT range —