“A faith-rooted liberal arts community shaping graduates for purposeful lives in greater San Diego.”
San Diego Christian College (SDCC) is a small private Christian liberal arts college located in El Cajon, California, within the greater San Diego metropolitan area. Founded in 1970 and grounded in a biblical worldview, SDCC cultivates an intimate academic community where faith and scholarship intersect. With approximately 500 students, the college maintains small class sizes that foster close faculty-student relationships and a personalized educational experience uncommon at larger institutions. Students consistently cite a tight-knit campus culture and strong sense of community as defining features of their time at SDCC. Academically, SDCC offers more than 35 undergraduate majors and concentrations spanning business, psychology, education, communication, kinesiology, and the liberal arts. Every major is integrated with a Christian worldview through a comprehensive general education curriculum. The kinesiology and rehabilitation science program is particularly notable, preparing graduates for professional programs in physical therapy, occupational therapy, and chiropractic care. Business administration remains the most popular major, equipping students with practical leadership skills and ethical frameworks rooted in Christian values. The education department is also well-regarded, producing graduates sought after in K–12 settings throughout Southern California. Campus life at SDCC centers on community, service, and spiritual growth. Located just 15 miles from downtown San Diego, students enjoy ready access to one of America's most vibrant coastal cities — with world-class beaches, a thriving professional job market, and a diverse multicultural scene — while living on a close-knit residential campus. Students from more than 14 countries bring international perspectives to campus, and dedicated orientation programming eases their transition to the United States. The college's mission of developing the whole person — intellectually, spiritually, and professionally — shapes every dimension of student life, from chapel services to internship placements across the San Diego region.
Visa, OPT, H-1B alumni outcomes, and acceptance rates by country — sourced from FOIA, USCIS H-1B Hub, and DHS SEVIS.
Early Action
Top academic scholarship consideration; decision by December 1
Priority
Top academic scholarship consideration; decision by February 2
Regular Decision
Early scholarship consideration; decision within 3 weeks
Rolling Admission
Regular scholarship consideration
The deep admissions playbook beyond the headline acceptance rate — round-by-round breakdowns, nationality data, requirements, and contact paths.
Tuition & Fees (All Students)
$27,528 – $28,012
/yr
Beyond the sticker price — every named scholarship, the financial aid policy, need-aware notes, and a personalized net-cost estimate.
How life on campus actually feels — clubs, sports, traditions, housing realities, and how the school integrates with its city.
Prepares students for dynamic careers in business grounded in strong Christian ethics and management principles.
Challenges students to become competent, confident communicators across media and interpersonal contexts.
Develops exceptional educators who integrate faith and learning in K-12 settings throughout California.
Prepares students for graduate programs in physical therapy, occupational therapy, and chiropractic care.
Explores human behavior and mental processes through scientific inquiry and Christian thought.
4 years
The most popular major at SDCC, blending practical management skills with ethics and leadership grounded in a Christian worldview.
4 years
A pre-professional pathway preparing students for graduate study in physical therapy, occupational therapy, and chiropractic care.
4 years
Combines rigorous psychological science with a Christian perspective on human nature, behavior, and counseling.
Where alumni go after graduation — top industries, grad-school continuation, and the qualitative outcomes story.
Sticker price (annual, out-of-state): $28,012
Net-cost estimate is US-resident-only — international applicants are typically excluded from need-based aid at most schools and should treat the sticker price as the planning baseline.