The San Diego Community College District serves approximately 100,000 students each semester through three two-year colleges and six Continuing Education campuses. The three colleges, San Diego City College, San Diego Mesa College, and San Diego Miramar College, offer associate degrees and certificates in occupational programs that prepare students for entry-level jobs, and arts and sciences programs that transfer to four-year colleges and universities. Continuing Education's Educational Cultural Complex (ECC) also offers classes leading to associate degrees and certificates.

The Continuing Education campuses offer adults the opportunity to renew their learning experiences through noncredit vocational, basic skills, life skills, and enrichment classes at sites throughout the city. A number of special programs are unique to the city, including KSDS-FM all-jazz radio, the Center for Competitive and Applied Technologies, and the Workplace Learning Resource Center.

The San Diego Community College District is governed by its five-member, locally elected Board of Trustees and three student members serving on a rotating basis. Shared governance activities involve faculty, students and staff in the development of solutions to key policy and budget issues. The five trustees are elected in even-numbered years to four-year terms by the voters of San Diego. The Chancellor, the District's chief executive officer, is responsible for carrying out the policies approved by the Board of Trustees.

The District is in the midst of $1.555 billion in new construction and renovations at the three colleges and Continuing Education campuses throughout the city.