Concorde Career College-San Diego

This is a single-minded trade school: 100% of degrees awarded are in health fields, with dental hygiene, medical assisting, and physical therapy assistant programs dominating. The 22:1 student-faculty ratio reflects its vocational focus—expect hands-on labs over seminar discussions. While the 73% retention rate outpaces many for-profits, the lack of published graduation rates (only '150% of program time' metrics exist) hints at the challenges of its accelerated timelines.

• Top Programs: Dental Hygiene (24-month program), Medical Assisting (8-9 months), Physical Therapy Assistant
• Student-Faculty Ratio: 22:1
• Specialization: 621 health degrees awarded in 2024 (all institutional awards)
• Retention Rate: 73%

Don't expect a traditional college experience—this is a commuter campus where students (average age likely mid-20s given the career-college model) zip in for classes and clinicals. The Instagram page shows scrubs-clad cohorts practicing tooth molds, not football games. That said, the campus has quiet study nooks in its Learning Resource Center and benches for lunch breaks between marathon lab sessions. Open houses emphasize meeting faculty over rah-rah spirit.

• Campus Vibe: Functional and career-focused, with 'study blocks' between work/life commitments
• Notable Spaces: Learning Resource Center (quiet study), outdoor seating areas
• Social Media Presence: Heavy on program showcases (e.g., dental lab demos) over traditional campus events

The payoff here is speed-to-employment, not prestige: graduates earn $36,427 median income one year out, typical for entry-level allied health roles. The 73% graduation rate (within 150% of program time) is decent for a career college but implies nearly 1 in 4 students don't complete their certificates or degrees. No data exists on licensure exam pass rates—a key metric for healthcare trade schools.

• Median Earnings 1 Year Post-Graduation: $36,427
• Graduation Rate: 73% (within 150% of program timeline)
• Outcome Focus: Immediate job placement in roles like dental hygienist ($40/hr median wage in CA)

At $24,305 net price (after average $4,616 in aid), Concorde isn't cheap for a certificate-focused school—but its 8-24 month programs avoid the long-term debt of a bachelor's. 73% of students receive federal Pell Grants (avg $5,124), and the Working Student Scholarship offers modest relief for those juggling jobs. Notably, 24% get institutional grants, suggesting some tuition discounting to keep enrollment stable.

• Net Price: $24,305
• Average Aid Package: $4,616
• Pell Grant Recipients: 73% ($5,124 avg)
• Institutional Grants: 24% ($966 avg)

Concorde-San Diego fills a specific niche: rapid upskilling for healthcare support roles with zero admissions barriers. Its 100% acceptance rate?Acceptance rateThe share of applicants a college admits in a given year. A 10% acceptance rate means it admits about 1 in 10 applicants. and lack of prerequisites make it accessible to career-changers, while the 73% graduation rate suggests the programs weed out those who can't handle the pace. For students clear-eyed about entering fields like dental assisting (where CA jobs grow at 9.1%), it's a pragmatic choice—but not a golden ticket.