San Diego Mesa College

Sitting adjacent to the Tecolote Canyon Natural Park, San Diego Mesa College is perched on a 104-acre suburban campus on a mesa in the Clairmont neighborhood of downtown San Diego in southern California. As the largest community college in the city, Mesa College is part of the San Diego Community College District to serve the educational needs of over 24,500 students each semester. Taking pride in its high academic standards, personal approach to education, and excellent programs, Mesa College is considered among the most successful of California's two-year public community colleges.

Tracing its roots back to 1914 when community college education began in San Diego, the Board of Education of the San Diego City Schools first authorized post-secondary classes for San Diego high school students. However, Mesa College first opened its doors in 1964 and initially offered educational opportunities to just 1,800. Despite its rather humble beginnings, San Diego Mesa College has grown to become one of the largest community colleges in California with some of the highest regarded learning facilities.

Fully accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC), San Diego Mesa College offers students a diverse array of courses and programs leading to the Associate of Arts (AA) or Associate of Science (AS) degree. Among the most unique degree programs provided at Mesa College are in Animal Health Technology, Black Studies, Building Construction Technology, Chicano Studies, Child Development, Dance, Fashion, Interior Design, Multimedia, Political Science, Real Estate, and Web Development. With one of the highest student transfer rates in the state, many graduates excel when they transfer to the University of California and California State University campuses as well as other four-year institutions nationwide.

San Diego Mesa College provides extensive collegiate experiences for students, including opportunities in student government, special interest clubs, performance groups, and a host of campus activities to build leadership skills. Within the Pacific Coast Athletic Conference (PCAC) of the California Community College Athletic Association (CCCAA), the Mesa College Olympians fields 19 intercollegiate teams for badminton, baseball, basketball, cross country, football, sand volleyball, soccer, softball, swimming, tennis, track and field, volleyball, and water polo. Some of the most notable alumni include film star Annette Bening, coach Mike Martz, NFL quarterback Tony Banks, and NFL fullback Justin Green.