Local guidesMid-City & East San DiegoCollege Area
College Area
The College Area is a residential community inside the City of San Diego, California, on Montezuma Mesa, and it takes its name from San Diego State University.
Where is the College Area, and what is it like?
The College Area is a community in the Mid-City part of the City of San Diego, in San Diego County, California. It is not a separate city. It sits on Montezuma Mesa, overlooking Interstate 8. Kensington and Talmadge are to the west and the city of La Mesa is to the east.
The boundaries are Montezuma Road and Collwood Boulevard on the southwest, Interstate 8 on the north, 73rd Street on the east and El Cajon Boulevard on the south. The area includes smaller neighborhoods such as Catoctin Area, Dennstedt Point, East Falls View Drive and Saranac-Mohawk.
What is San Diego State University?
San Diego State University was founded on March 13, 1897, as the San Diego Normal School. It moved to Montezuma Mesa in 1931 from University Heights, and its main campus is at 5500 Campanile Drive. The campus covers 280 acres (113.3 ha).
The school was renamed several times: San Diego State Teachers College in 1923, San Diego State College in 1935, California State University, San Diego in 1972, and San Diego State University in 1974. It enrolled 38,369 students in fall 2024. Its teams are called the Aztecs.
What is the land like?
A large canyon in the middle of the SDSU campus, called Aztec Bowl, descends toward Alvarado Creek in Mission Valley. Canyon Crest Drive runs through the canyon from 55th Street to College Avenue.
Parks include Montezuma Park at 4929 Catoctin Drive and the College Area Community Garden on Zura Way.
What local history comes from the College Area?
Several neighborhoods were developed in the 1930s, and others were established after the war. The Campus Drive-In, with room for 900 cars, was built at College Avenue and El Cajon Boulevard and opened on August 18, 1948. Its last two features were shown in 1983.
In 1951 Robert O. Peterson opened the first Jack in the Box at 63rd Street and El Cajon Boulevard. It pioneered a drive-thru with a two-way intercom.
What businesses and services are in the College Area?
El Cajon Boulevard is a busy shopping street along the southern edge. South Campus Plaza, a university housing and commercial complex, stands on College Avenue. UC San Diego Health runs its East Campus Medical Center in the area, an acute care hospital.
The College-Rolando Branch of the San Diego Public Library is at 6600 Montezuma Road.
How do you get around the College Area?
The San Diego Trolley serves the SDSU Transit Center and the UC San Diego Health East station, both in the College Area. The SDSU trolley station sits under the Transit Center's bus plaza, and riders reach the plaza by elevator or stairs.
Since October 12, 2014, the SDSU Transit Center has also been the starting point for Metropolitan Transit System Rapid Route 215, a limited-stop service to downtown San Diego via El Cajon Boulevard and Park Boulevard.
What schools serve the College Area?
Besides the university, the area has Hardy Elementary and the Language Academy and Tubman Village Charter, which are part of the San Diego Unified School District. Blessed Sacrament Parish School is a private kindergarten to eighth grade school.
Dr. Bertha O. Pendleton Elementary School is at 6506 Solita Avenue.
Find a local business in College Area
College Area is covered by the Mid-City & East San Diego guide. Start with the businesses in College Area itself, or look across the whole guide by what they do.
Businesses in College AreaQuestions about College Area
- Is the College Area a city?
- No. It is a residential community inside the City of San Diego, California.
- Why is it called the College Area?
- It is named for San Diego State University, which moved to Montezuma Mesa in 1931.
- What are the boundaries of the College Area?
- Montezuma Road and Collwood Boulevard on the southwest, Interstate 8 on the north, 73rd Street on the east and El Cajon Boulevard on the south.
- Where did the first Jack in the Box open?
- In 1951 at 63rd Street and El Cajon Boulevard, in what is now the College Area.
- How do you reach San Diego State University by transit?
- The SDSU Transit Center has a trolley station under its bus plaza, and Rapid Route 215 has run from there to downtown since October 12, 2014.
- Is there a local business directory for College Area?
- Yes. College Area is covered by the Mid-City & East San Diego guide from Local Business America. It lists local businesses in College Area and the towns around it, and it is free to read.
- How do I list my business in College Area?
- Open the Mid-City & East San Diego guide and choose Claim your listing. If your business is not there yet, choose List your business. Claiming is free, and a person checks each claim.
- What does a business listing in College Area cost?
- Every business has a free listing with opening hours, a map and a link to your website. Essentials is $19 a month and adds a photo gallery, an enquiry form and your Google reviews. Premium is $39 a month and adds a boost to the top of your category and a do-follow link to your website.