Partnership of degrees

Southwestern College and California State University San Marcos have formalized a new partnership that brings bachelor’s degree programs to South County San Diego for the first time, addressing a long-standing gap in access to four-year higher education in the region.

During a ceremonial signing held Thursday at Southwestern College Chula Vista campus, officials from both institutions announced the launch of CSUSM @ SWC, a new University Center that will host the programs.

The collaboration will begin offering degrees in business administration, computer information systems and cyber security in Fall 2026. Two additional programs, human development with an emphasis on wellness coaching and bilingual speech-language pathology, will follow in Fall 2027.

“This partnership marks a turning point for South County,” said Dr. Mark Sanchez, superintendent and president of Southwestern College. “Together, we are not only expanding access to high-quality, affordable bachelor’s degrees, we are preparing our students to step directly into high-demand careers that power our regional economy. We are proud to welcome CSU San Marcos to South County.”

The degree offerings were selected based on findings from a 2023 Workforce and Education Needs Assessment conducted by the San Diego Regional Policy and Innovation Center, Southwestern College, and the City of Chula Vista. The report identified business, healthcare and technology as priority fields and found that 73% of the region’s high-priority occupations require a bachelor’s degree at entry.

With a population of more than 600,000, South County San Diego, anchored by Chula Vista, has historically lacked a public university offering four-year degrees. Officials said the absence has hindered the region’s ability to develop a skilled workforce to meet growing demand in key sectors such as technology, healthcare and education.
“At Cal State San Marcos, our mission has always been centered on access and student success—and this partnership with Southwestern College is a powerful extension of that commitment,” said Dr. Ellen Neufeldt, president of CSUSM.