Cuyamaca College
Cuyamaca College is a public community college in El Cajon, California, offering 197 degree and certificate programs at $46/unit with the highest SDSU transfer rate among regional community colleges, serving east San Diego County students.
- Company typePublic
- Founded1976
- HeadquartersEl Cajon, United States
- Headcount1,001–5,000
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Cuyamaca College does
Cuyamaca College is a public community college located in El Cajon, California, established in 1976 and operated under the Grossmont-Cuyamaca Community College District (GCCCD). It offers 197 degree and certificate programs organized around eight Academic and Career Pathways, serving traditional college students, high school dual-enrollment students, online learners, international students, and the broader east San Diego County community. The college differentiates through its $46-per-unit tuition, the Grossmont-Cuyamaca College Promise (Two Years Free for eligible full-time students), the highest regional transfer admission rate to San Diego State University (SDSU), and recognized leadership in Career and Technical Education.
The college's operating technology stack consists of third-party platforms rather than proprietary systems: Canvas LMS for online coursework, a Self-Service student portal for administrative functions, and 25Live Pro for event and facility scheduling. Enrollment is conducted through the statewide OpenCCC Apply portal shared across all 116 California community colleges, and the college is implementing the Common Course Numbering system statewide for Fall 2025. Revenue derives primarily from per-unit tuition ($46/unit), state apportionment, local property tax allocations, and a growing facility rental program covering the 364-seat Ciccati Performing Arts Center, a 92-seat Digital Theatre, student center meeting spaces, and athletic facilities. Cuyamaca College is accredited by the ACCJC and is positioned as a low-cost on-ramp to a bachelor's degree for the east San Diego County region.
Cuyamaca College firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Cuyamaca College
- Legal name
- Cuyamaca College
- Website
- https://cuyamaca.edu
- Company type
- Public
- Founded year
- 1976
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1,001–5,000 employees
- Short description
- Cuyamaca College is a public community college in El Cajon, California, offering 197 degree and certificate programs at $46/unit with the highest SDSU transfer rate among regional community colleges, serving east San Diego County students.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Cuyamaca College industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Community College Education
- NAICS
- Junior Colleges (61121)
- SIC
- Services-Educational Services (8200)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Public Community Colleges (EDAHADAA)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Comprehensive Community Colleges (Transfer + Workforce) (EDAHADAE)
Keywords
Where Cuyamaca College is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- El Cajon
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Cuyamaca College business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Tuition and Enrollment Fees: Students pay tuition at $46 per unit. The college generates revenue through enrollment fees from credit courses. Financial aid and the Promise program support student affordability.
- Facilities Rental: Campus facilities including the Ciccati Performing Arts Center, digital theatre, student center spaces, classrooms, gym, and athletic fields are available for rental to community members and organizations with for-profit and non-profit rate structures.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Annual | Per-unit tuition rate for all students |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels4 records
Cuyamaca College product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Cuyamaca College is a public community college delivering associate degrees, certificates, and transfer preparation across 197 programs organized into eight Academic and Career Pathways. Educational services are delivered through on-campus instruction at its El Cajon campus, fully online coursework via Canvas LMS, and dual enrollment for high school students, with structured transfer pipelines to San Diego State University (SDSU) and regional career technical education programs.
Product overview
Cuyamaca College is a community college offering a unified educational platform centered on its Academic and Career Pathways framework, with eight structured programs guiding students toward transfer and career success. The institution provides core educational services including the Library, Student Support Services, Canvas learning management system, and the Two-Year Promise tuition program. Physical facilities include the Samuel M. Ciccati Performing Arts Center (364-seat theatre and 92-seat digital theatre), Student Center meeting spaces, and athletic facilities (gym, fitness courts, fields). The college recently launched Common Course Numbering for Fall 2025 to improve transfer processes across the California community college system.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Academic and Career Pathways A structured educational program framework offering eight pathways that guide students toward seamless transfer opportunities and careers, encompassing associate degrees, certificates, and transfer preparation across diverse fields.
- Cuyamaca College Library
Quantifiable outcome
- Highest transfer admission rate to SDSU among regional community colleges
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Cuyamaca College
Customer profileSegments5 records
Ideal customer profiles5 records
Cuyamaca College technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature3 records
Cuyamaca College partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Five partnerships are on record, tiered core.
- Grossmont-Cuyamaca Community College District (GCCCD)coreGCCCD is the governing district overseeing both Cuyamaca College and Grossmont College. The district provides administrative services including human resources, public safety, purchasing, and technology infrastructure shared between the two colleges.
- Grossmont CollegecoreSister college within GCCCD district. Cuyamaca and Grossmont share district resources, academic coordination, and the Promise program for free tuition benefits. Students may cross-enroll between institutions.
- San Diego State University (SDSU)corePrimary transfer destination for Cuyamaca College students. Cuyamaca maintains the highest transfer admission rate to SDSU among regional community colleges, with structured pathways for degree completion.
- California Community Colleges Chancellor's OfficecoreState-level governing body for all 116 California Community Colleges. Oversees curriculum standards, common course numbering rollout, student complaint processes, and accreditation compliance across the system.
- Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges (ACCJC)coreRegional accrediting body for California Community Colleges. Cuyamaca College maintains accreditation through ACCJC, which standards ensure academic quality and federal financial aid eligibility.
Scale indicators5 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Cuyamaca College competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Mt. San Antonio College: Large California community college known for CTE leadership and transfer pathways; comparable to Cuyamaca in scale, program breadth, and workforce alignment, though serving a different regional market.
- Grossmont College: Sister community college within the Grossmont-Cuyamaca Community College District (GCCCD); shares district resources, the Promise program, and cross-enrollment, and competes for East San Diego County students with overlapping Associate degree and transfer offerings.
- Palomar College: North San Diego County community college with a wide range of associate degrees, certificates, and transfer pathways; competes with Cuyamaca for transfer-oriented students in the broader San Diego region.
- MiraCosta College: Coastal North San Diego community college offering transfer, associate, and CTE programs that overlap directly with Cuyamaca's academic and career pathway catalog.
- San Diego Miramar College: Another San Diego Community College District college offering associate degrees, workforce training, and transfer pathways, including programs in technical fields that overlap with Cuyamaca's CTE catalog.
- Coastline College: Orange County-based California community college with a heavy focus on online learning; competes with Cuyamaca's Canvas-based online program for fully remote students across California.
- Southwestern College: Regional California community college serving the South Bay San Diego area with associate degrees, transfer preparation, and CTE programs; competes with Cuyamaca for similar transfer and CTE-bound students.
- San Diego Mesa College: San Diego Community College District institution offering associate degrees, transfer pathways, and CTE programs to a similar regional student population; competes with Cuyamaca for transfer-bound students in the San Diego market.
Regional players
- Imperial Valley College: Southern California community college serving Imperial County; offers similar associate, transfer, and CTE programs but in a geographically distinct catchment from Cuyamaca.
Broad incumbents
- San Diego State University (SDSU): Primary transfer destination for Cuyamaca students; broader four-year university whose admissions and articulation policies directly shape Cuyamaca's transfer value proposition and recruitment funnel.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Cuyamaca College social profiles
Digital presenceCuyamaca College financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Cuyamaca College leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Cuyamaca College funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds1 record
Investors1 record
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Cuyamaca College M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Cuyamaca College
What does Cuyamaca College do?
Cuyamaca College is a public community college delivering associate degrees, certificates, and transfer preparation across 197 programs organized into eight Academic and Career Pathways. Educational services are delivered through on-campus instruction at its El Cajon campus, fully online coursework via Canvas LMS, and dual enrollment for high school students, with structured transfer pipelines to San Diego State University (SDSU) and regional career technical education programs.
Is Cuyamaca College a public or private company?
Cuyamaca College is a public company. It is classified as state government owned and is currently operating.
When was Cuyamaca College founded?
Cuyamaca College was founded in 1976. It employs 1,001 to 5,000 people.
Where is Cuyamaca College based?
Cuyamaca College is headquartered in El Cajon, United States, in the North America region.
How does Cuyamaca College make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Tuition and Enrollment Fees are the primary driver. The others are facilities Rental.
Who are Cuyamaca College's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Mt. San Antonio College, Grossmont College, Palomar College, MiraCosta College, San Diego Miramar College, Coastline College, Southwestern College and San Diego Mesa College. Imperial Valley College is listed as a regional player. San Diego State University (SDSU) is listed as a broad incumbent.
Does Cuyamaca College have an API?
No public API is recorded for Cuyamaca College.
What industry is Cuyamaca College in?
Cuyamaca College's product category is Community College Education. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EDAHADAA, Public Community Colleges, with a secondary code of EDAHADAE, Comprehensive Community Colleges (Transfer + Workforce). Its NAICS code is 61121 and its SIC code is 8200.