About us

San Diego College of Continuing Education (SDCCE) is the adult education division of the San Diego Community College District (SDCCD). As the largest provider of noncredit education in California, SDCCE’s mission is to provide accessible, equitable, and innovative quality education and career training to adult students. SDCCE has offered free career training and classes continuously for more than 100 years.

Founded in 1914 on the principles of inclusion and social justice, SDCCE welcomes every immigrant, refugee and underserved population to fulfill educational goals. At SDCCE, adult students find a fun and positive learning environment for every skill level. Students come from across 50 states and from 159 foreign countries, to learn in more than 70 free career training programs and in thousands of free classes. In addition to a traditional schedule of fall, spring and summer semesters, many programs enroll year-round in an open-entry, open-exit format and offer classes in the evenings, weekends and online allowing students to pursue higher education or career training while maintaining other responsibilities and active lives.

SDCCE’s short-term free career training programs include areas within Business, Accounting/Business Information Worker, Automotive, Child Development, Clothing and Textiles, Computers and Information Technology, Digital Media, Culinary, , HVAC (Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning), Healthcare, Plumbing, Upholstery and Welding. Additional free classes include High School Diploma/Equivalency, English as Second Language, and Emeritus (classes with instruction focused for age 55+). Programs are available at seven campuses in San Diego from the Barrio Logan community in the south, to Miramar in the north. Students also attend classes at over 200 community locations.

SDCCE was one of the first community college continuing education institutions in California to meet the standards for independent accreditation from the Western Association of Schools and Colleges. Noncredit classes are free because SDCCE is part of the California system of higher education.

Transitioning Students to Careers and College

Students attend classes for many reasons: some are returning to education to complete high school diplomas or equivalencies after being away from school for years, and SDCCE helps them succeed and in many cases, transition to continue higher education. Professionals including doctors, lawyers and engineers can be found in computer labs learning advanced software applications, or the latest trends in media technology to help them excel in a current job. Thousands of adults are in hands-on environments learning a new trade or preparing to enter the workforce.

students in a classroom

SDCCE students who are enrolled at City, Mesa or Miramar College: 4,469

SDCCE is one of the largest “feeders” in the San Diego region that transitions students to City, Mesa, and Miramar colleges. SDCCE students benefit from credit-by-exam agreements with SDCCD colleges, enabling those who choose to continue with their education to receive college credit for training completed at SDCCE.

Certificates of completion

SDCCE awards more certificates of completion annually than any other noncredit adult educational institution in the state of California.

  • 235 High School Diplomas
  • 9,951 Program Certificates

Student educational goals

Basic Skills Improvement Certificate Program Advancement Educational Development High School or Equivalency New Career Preparation Transition to College Undecided Other 21%​ 4​% 9%​ 20%​ 4%​ 11%​ 17%​ 8%​ 6​%
four students

Education of students

BA/BS Degree or Higher AA/AS Degree College No Degree Never Attended College 33%​ 9%​ 31%​ 27%

Age of students

9% 18-24 25-29 9% 19% 30-39 40-49 14% 50+ 49%
student working on laptop
students doing tai chi

Race/ethnicity of students

African American Asian / Pacific Islander Filipino Latinx Multiple Ethnicities Other White 7​% 16%​ 3%​ 34%​ 2%​ 34%​ 1%

Dedicated Faculty and Staff

Faculty and staff are at the heart of SDCCE. Each is dedicated to creating a supportive learning environment for student success. Faculty experts come from around the globe, bringing with them real-world diversity, experience and top academic credentials including Masters and Doctorate degrees. SDCCE administrators, faculty and staff have thousands of years of combined experience in adult education. The commitment to organizational success and student achievement results in SDCCE faculty and staff being recognized locally and nationally.

faculty staff meeting

Community Partnerships

SDCCE works closely with the community to build a successful future for adults in San Diego. Collaborations and partnerships leverage resources, and make communities stronger. SDCCE is proud to be part of a teamwork approach to building regional success and have many examples of leadership from organizations in San Diego.

  • Air Pollution Control District County of San Diego
  • Alliance for African Assistance
  • American Medical Response
  • American Personal & Private Chef Association
  • ARC of San Diego
  • BAE Systems
  • Balboa Nursing and Rehabilitation
  • Center for Community Solutions
  • Cesar Chavez Service Clubs
  • City Heights Community Collaborative
  • City Heights Community Development Corporation
  • City of San Diego Library
  • City of San Diego Office of Economic Development
  • City of San Diego Promise Zone
  • Communication and Electronics Association
  • Computers 2 San Diego Kids
  • Connect 2 Careers
  • County of San Diego Health and Human Services Agency
  • County of San Diego Probation Department
  • District Attorney CARE Center
  • East County Veterans Collaborative
  • East Region Collaborative Network
  • Employee Rights Center
  • Fair Housing
  • Family Health Centers of San Diego
  • Father Joe’s Villages
  • Feeding San Diego
  • Gafcon
  • GRID Alternatives
  • I-CAR (Inter-Industry Conference on Auto Collision Repair)
  • Innovation High School
  • International Iron Workers Local 229
  • International Rescue Committee
  • Jacobs and Cushman San Diego Food Bank
  • Jacobs Center for Neighborhood Innovation
  • Jewish Family Services
  • Job Corps
  • KRA/South Metro Career Center
  • Kaiser Permanente Mobile Health Van
  • Kyocera
  • La Maestra Community Health Centers Dental
  • Lincoln Electric
  • Lincoln High School Cluster
  • MCAS Miramar
  • Mental Health America
  • Midway Museum
  • NASSCO
  • National Conflict Resolution Center
  • Neighborhood House Association
  • Qualcomm
  • READ San Diego
  • RISE San Diego
  • SANDAG
  • SAY (Social Advocates for Youth)
  • San Diego Airport
  • San Diego Blood Bank
  • San Diego Brain Injury Foundation
  • San Diego Gas & Electric
  • San Diego Housing Commission
  • San Diego LGBT Community Center
  • San Diego Rescue Mission
  • San Diego Self Sufficiency Program
  • San Diego Sheet Metal Local 206
  • San Diego Unified School District
  • San Diego Veterans Coalition
  • San Diego Workforce Partnership
  • San Diego Youth Development Office
  • Second Chance
  • Sempra Utilities

Mission: San Diego College of Continuing Education commits to student success and community enrichment by providing tuition-free, accessible, equitable, and innovative quality education and support services to diverse learners in pursuit of lifelong learning, training, career advancement, and pathways to credit college. read more »