3 accredited schools across the San Diego metro area trained 402 EMTs in 2023–24. Here’s how they compare on cost, length and size, plus what the job pays locally.
Updated October 2026 · Data: IPEDS 2023–24, BLS May 2025
Sorted by number of 2023–24 graduates (IPEDS), a proxy for program size and stability.
Public two-year college in San Marcos that reported 232 EMT graduates in 2023–24, the 3rd-most in the state. Annual in-district tuition (before fees): $1,288 ($10,584 out of state).
This public two-year college in San Diego County graduated 129 EMT students in 2023–24. Annual in-district tuition (before fees): $1,288 ($9,436 out of state).
Private nonprofit four-year institution in San Diego that reported 41 EMT graduates in 2023–24. Annual in-district tuition (before fees): $13,320.
3 accredited schools in the San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA metro area graduated 402 EMT students in 2023–24. The largest was Palomar College with 232.
Emergency Medical Technicians in the San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA metro earn a median $43,620 a year ($20.97/hour), per BLS May 2025 data. That compares with $46,380 statewide and $44,470 nationally.
EMT courses commonly run one academic semester or an accelerated few weeks, plus clinical or field ride-along hours.