College & Career Opportunities for High School Graduates
Step 1: Research Careers & Education
- Search the Occupational Outlook Handbook to learn about careers, wages, and training.
- Research career information, training, or jobs with CareerOneStop.
- Visit a local career center for in-person job help.
- Visit 2-1-1 San Diego to search for local educational and career programs, or call 2-1-1 for live help from a community navigator.
- Search for jobs and find other career information and resources at CalJOBS.
- Visit San Diego Workforce Partnership to learn about career and training opportunities and find other information so you can make informed choices.
Step 2: Explore Job Training Opportunities & Colleges
Private Colleges in San Diego
Community Colleges in San Diego
- Imperial Valley
- MiraCosta
- Palomar
- San Diego Community College District
- Grossmont-Cuyamaca Community College District
- Southwestern College
Explore colleges at College Board.
Helpful Resources
Tuition Waivers
- Ask about tuition waivers if you are applying to a community college.
- San Diego Promise is a grant that makes tuition free for first-time students who enroll full-time at a community college.
EOPS Program and Support for First-Time Students
- Ask about EOPS and programs for first-time students. These programs often provide new students with mentoring, early registration, and other helpful resources.
- Grossmont College First Year Experience is one example of a community college support program for first-time students.
Financial Aid & Scholarships
- Financial aid is funding that you can apply for to help with college expenses (tuition, books, supplies, transportation, housing, etc.)
- This funding is provided by federal and state grants or scholarships awarded by your school or outside organizations.
- Scholarships are need or merit based. Learn more about scholarships.
- Your school’s financial aid office will process your financial aid application using information from the FAFSA (free application for federal student aid).
- Ask your school’s financial aid department about deadlines for your financial aid application. Finish the FAFSA early so that you receive the maximum available funding!
- The first step is to fill out the federal application for student aid (FAFSA) online. This form helps determine your eligibility for grants and scholarships. This information will be sent to schools you indicate on the form.
- Grants and scholarships do not have to be paid back.
- Always seek information from the official FAFSA website.
- Filling out the FAFSA form
- FAFSA videos on YouTube
How to Request Your High School Transcript
You may need to provide your high school transcript to the college where you apply for admission. Contact Smart Horizons (online school district) to request your high school transcript:
- Email: info@shcoe.org
- Telephone: (866) 999-7853