San Diego is also a center for education and research, with both public and private colleges and universities.  There are the three major universities in the City.  The University of California at San Diego (UCSD) is in a gorgeous location between La Jolla and Del Mar.  San Diego State University (SDSU) is surrounded by commercial and residential neighborhoods, including La Mesa, Normal Heights, North Park, Hillcrest, and Mission Valley.  And the University of San Diego (USD) is in Linda Vista, near Mission Bay and Pacific Beach, but also close to Downtown.

The City is also served by many schools and community colleges offering academic courses and vocational training, with the vocational courses often customized to meet the special needs of area employers.

There are 187 public schools in the San Diego Unified School District, including 26 children centers, 120 elementary schools, 10 charter schools, and 57 middle, junior high, senior high, atypical schools and other program sites.