San Diego State University — College Profile

About

As a major public research institution in Southern California, San Diego State University is widely recognized for its top-ranked programs in international business, entrepreneurship, nursing, engineering, and public health. Campus life is high-energy and community-oriented, shaped by a sun-drenched coastal setting, robust Greek and cultural organizations, and passionate school spirit surrounding Division I Aztec athletics. SDSU particularly distinguishes itself through its nationally leading study abroad participation rates and its transformative SDSU Mission Valley development, which expands hands-on research, housing, and entertainment around Snapdragon Stadium.

Wikipedia:San Diego State University (SDSU) is a public research university in San Diego, California, United States. Founded in 1897, it is the third-oldest university and southernmost in the 23-member California State University (CSU) system. SDSU is the oldest higher education institution in San Diego; its academic roots were established as a normal school in University Heights, then known as the San Diego Normal School. In the fall of 2025, the university enrolled a record 41,184 students.

Location

San Diego, CA, 92182-0001 · City campus

✈

Nearest airport from college

SAN · San Diego

7 mi away

Open in Google Maps

Cost & aid

Cost of attendance

These figures are federal data and may be out of date.

In-stateOut-of-state

Tuition & fees$8,728$21,328

Housing & food (on campus)$23,030$23,030

Books & supplies$946$946

Cost of attendance$27,780$40,380 est.

Average net price$15,364Not published

Out-of-state prices

Tuition & fees$21,328

In-state: $8,728

Housing & food (on campus)$23,030

Books & supplies$946

Cost of attendance$40,380 est.

In-state: $27,780

Average net priceNot published

In-state: $15,364

est. = the in-state cost of attendance with out-of-state tuition swapped in; no out-of-state figure is published.

Source: U.S. College Scorecard

Net price by family income · in-state students, 2023-24

$0–30k

$9,910

$30–48k

$10,017

$48–75k

$12,697

$75–110k

$15,891

$110k+

$23,821

Your family's actual price → San Diego State University net price calculator

Source: U.S. College Scorecard

Merit aid · 2025-26

Awarded without financial need. Students with financial need can get merit awards too; they're counted as need-based aid.

Average award$2,390

First-years who got one413

Source: San Diego State University's Common Data Set — the school's own yearly report of its admissions and aid figures (PDF).

Outcomes

Completion

Within 6 yrs

77%

Entered 2017–18

Within 4 yrs

56%

Back for yr 2

91%

Transferred

8 yrs after starting · first-time, full-time students

79% graduated · 14% transferred · 7% left or unknown · none still enrolled

Earnings · measured 2020 & 2021

6 yrs after entry$52,620

10 yrs after entry$64,909

Debt

Median at graduation$15,000

Monthly payment$159

Middle 50% owe$6.1k–$23.5k

90th percentile$30,591

Green marks a figure above the typical Doctoral University: 70% graduate within 6 yrs, $63,395 earned 10 yrs after entry.

Admissions

Getting in · applied for fall 2024

Admit rate

36%

Test policy

Not required

Per College Scorecard

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Essay prompts

If San Diego State University asks for supplemental essays, the prompts are in the school's application.

Student Body

Gender

Men 43%Women 57%

Who enrolls

Faculty ratio

27 : 1

Pell grant

32%

First-gen

41%

Family income

$32,530

Independent

26%

Veterans

Age at entry

22.0

Part-time

Race & ethnicity

White

34%

Hispanic

37%

Black

Asian

13%

Two or more

Non-resident

Unknown

Varsity sports

NCAA Division I-FBS · EADA 2024-25

Baseball
Men's
Basketball
Men's · Women's
Football
Men's
Golf
Men's · Women's
Lacrosse
Women's
Soccer
Men's · Women's
Softball
Women's
Swimming and Diving (combined)
Women's
Tennis
Men's · Women's
Track and Field and Cross Country (combined)
Women's
Volleyball
Women's
Water Polo
Women's

Programs & Earnings

Bachelor's degrees by annual completions · 4yr national median earnings

Median earnings, all programs · measured 2020 & 2021

After 6 yrs

$52,620

After 10 yrs

$64,909

Business Administration, Management and Operations2008

Psychology, General646

Criminal Justice and Corrections415

Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness354

Biology, General276

Communication and Media Studies261

Mechanical Engineering259

Fine and Studio Arts254

Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other244

Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities227

Computer Science206

Economics197

Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing195

Political Science and Government169

Sociology169

Public Health169

Type your major above to highlight and detail relevant programs.

Institutional

Resources

Endowment

$479M

Full-time faculty

50%

Faculty salary

$13,042/mo

Teaching spend

$8,619

per student

Federal loans

23%

Classification

Carnegie type

Doctoral University

Research activity

R1 — very high research

$182M research spending · 142 research doctorates a year

Undergraduate profile

Four-year, selective admissions