For nearly 30 years, the City of Chula Vista has had a bold vision: to bring world-class higher education to the heart of South County. Now, that dream is finally gaining momentum—and on a scale few imagined.

Chula Vista is planning to build a groundbreaking multi-university super-campus—an innovation-driven educational hub that could transform the region’s future.

Why South County Needs a University

South County is home to more than half a million residents, yet it currently has no full-service university. In fact, Chula Vista is the largest city in California without a four-year institution. This means that local students often face long commutes or have to move away to pursue bachelor’s or advanced degrees.

Local leaders and educators believe it’s time to change that—and provide new opportunities right here in the community.

The Vision: A University Innovation District

The plan is to create a vibrant University Innovation District on a 383-acre site east of Interstate 805, near Chula Vista’s Millenia urban village. This district would blend academics, housing, research, retail, and green space—creating an environment where learning and innovation thrive.

At full build-out, the district could include:

• Space for 20,000 students and 6,000 faculty/staff
• 4 million square feet of academic space
• 2 million square feet of innovation district uses (tech and business hubs)
• 1.6 million square feet of student and faculty housing
• 2 million square feet of market rate and affordable housing
• 160 acres of preserved open space
• Connections to public transit and the nearby U.S.-Mexico border

A Collaborative Approach: Multiple Universities, One Campus

Instead of building a single, standalone university, Chula Vista is following an innovative model based on the Auraria Campus in Denver. There, multiple universities share facilities, collaborate on research, and serve a broad range of students.

The proposed Chula Vista super-campus would bring together:

• UC San Diego
• San Diego State University
• Cal State San Marcos
• Southwestern College (Chula Vista’s two-year community college)

Mexican universities may also offer programs on campus—taking advantage of the district’s unique cross-border location.

Programs Starting Soon

Excitingly, the first programs are already taking shape:

• Fall 2025: The new Millenia Library and classroom building opens—marking the first phase of the University Innovation District.
• Fall 2025: San Diego State will launch a Doctor of Nursing Practice program in Chula Vista, helping address the critical nursing shortage in California.
• Fall 2026: A new Bachelor of Science in Nursing cohort will start through SDSU, in partnership with Southwestern College.
• 2026: UC San Diego will offer a bachelor’s in public health program on-site.
• Additional programs in public administration, homeland security, cybersecurity, business, early childhood education, and healthcare are also being explored.

Students will benefit from state-of-the-art simulation labs, flexible degree pathways, and new opportunities for hands-on learning close to home.

The Road Ahead

While there’s still work to do—such as finalizing governance, securing additional funding, and building out the full campus—the momentum is strong.

Assemblymember David Alvarez, a driving force behind the project, says:

“We’re going to create something that doesn’t exist in California. The only way to make an argument that a university was needed here was to demonstrate that there were workforce needs that weren’t being met.”

The University Now Initiative (UNI), a partnership between the City of Chula Vista and Southwestern College (with state support), is helping identify key academic programs and workforce priorities.

Why This Matters

This super-campus could be a game-changer for South County—and for the entire San Diego region.
It will:
✅ Make higher education more accessible
✅ Support in-demand industries like healthcare and technology
✅ Boost the local economy with new jobs and businesses
✅ Help revitalize eastern Chula Vista with new housing, retail, and innovation hubs
✅ Foster cross-border educational partnerships

In short, it’s about creating opportunities, right here in our backyard.

Final Thoughts

Chula Vista’s university journey hasn’t always been easy. Past efforts struggled to gain traction, and for years it seemed like the dream might not happen. But thanks to renewed leadership, creative thinking, and community support, this vision is finally moving forward.

If successful, Chula Vista’s University Innovation District could serve as a model for other regions across the country—and give South County residents a new reason to take pride in their hometown.

Stay tuned… the future of higher education in Chula Vista is just getting started.