During this period, in 1938, the San Diego Vocational Junior College was established to offer training in technical-vocational skills to post high school students.

City College continued to grow during the 1950s and 60s as land was acquired to allow expansion through various blocks of today's northeast downtown San Diego.

It has since broadened its curriculum to include the general education college courses needed by students in the rapidly growing northern area of the city, as well as new transfer and vocational programs.

The projects have provided for updated infrastructure, safety upgrades and improvements to support ADA compliance, and extensive hardscape and landscape to create numerous outdoor learning and gathering spaces.

These have included state-of-the-art facilities to support in-demand career training and academic programs, including Health Information Management (which offers a Bachelor of Science Degree), Computer and Information Systems, Building Construction Technology, Culinary Arts, Child Development, and multiple other career or transfer fields.

These ave included facilities to support the Southern California Biotechnology Center, Advanced Transportation and Energy Center, and the San Diego Regional Public Safety Institute, which comprises the San Diego Law Enforcement Academy and the Fire Technology & EMT program.

As SDCCD's bond program is ending, no future construction or renovation projects are planned for the 2023–2024 school year.

Shared governance activities involve faculty, students and staff in the development of solutions to key policy and budget issues.

Functions that are the responsibility of the District administrative departments are intended to provide for efficiency and continuity of services and programs.

The board of trustees is responsible for establishing policies that govern all activities related to conducting the business of the district, the Colleges, and Continuing Education.

Development and review of policies and procedures are collegial efforts involving a variety of participatory governance groups.

For administrative matters, the Board relies primarily on the recommendations of staff with input from various constituencies in the development and review process.

Today, Miramar College offers over 120 certificates, associate degrees, and comprehensive 4-year university transfer programs and is home to the Southern California Biotechnology Center, the Advanced Transportation and Energy Center, and the San Diego Regional Public Safety Institute which provides training for nearly all law enforcement officers and firefighters within San Diego County and also trains EMTs and offers the only open water lifeguard degree in the world.

Today, the College of Continuing Education consists of seven campuses and 56 partnered locations throughout the city where instruction may be offered in collaboration with schools, community service providers, and other institutions.

San Diego Community Colleges offer over 130 individual disciplines with over 300 academic programs that lead to associate degrees or Certificates of Performance.

Academics are held within individual schools at each college which in turn are divided into separate departments holding their areas of study and instruction.