San Diego, CA
San Diego State University is a public institution located in San Diego, California, situated in a large city. The university serves an undergraduate enrollment of 35,377 students with a student-to-faculty ratio of 27:1 and a graduation rate of 77.3%.
San Diego State University has a 36.2% acceptance rate, meaning roughly one-third of applicants gain admission. Admitted students typically had a 3.84 average high school GPA, with 30% ranking in their high school's top 10%.
| Applied | Admitted | Rate | Enrolled | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Men | 34,822 | 10,981 | 31.5% | 2,502 |
| Women | 47,978 | 17,536 | 36.6% | 3,660 |
San Diego State University admits 36.2% of applicants — a typical similar college admits 83%.
Each bar is the median of that group, with the number of schools in brackets. “Similar colleges” means the same control and the same predominant degree awarded. Groups of fewer than 15 schools are not shown.
San Diego State University's cost of attendance is $36,090, while the average net price students pay is $15,364. Students with lower incomes pay considerably less than the sticker price.
Graduates who borrowed carry a median monthly repayment of about $159.
After aid, San Diego State University costs $15,364 a year — about 5% more than a typical similar college.
Each bar is the median of that group, with the number of schools in brackets. “Similar colleges” means the same control and the same predominant degree awarded. Groups of fewer than 15 schools are not shown.
San Diego State University has a graduation rate of 77.3%, with median earnings of $52,620 six years after entry and $64,909 ten years after entry.
| Major | Graduates |
|---|---|
| Business Administration and Management,... | 2,156 |
| Psychology, General | 669 |
| Criminal Justice/Safety Studies | 542 |
| Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical... | 405 |
| Speech Communication and Rhetoric | 300 |
| Art/Art Studies, General | 278 |
| Liberal Arts and Sciences/Liberal Studies | 260 |
| Biology/Biological Sciences, General | 252 |
| Computer Science | 219 |
| Economics, General | 200 |
Median earnings eight years after entering San Diego State University are $61,120, and 70% of former students earn more than $25,000 six years after entry.
Six years after entry, former San Diego State University students earn $52,620 — 14% more than at a typical similar college.
Each bar is the median of that group, with the number of schools in brackets. “Similar colleges” means the same control and the same predominant degree awarded. Groups of fewer than 15 schools are not shown.
San Diego State University is a public institution located in San Diego, California's large city setting, with an undergraduate enrollment of 35,377 students. The student body includes 56.6% women, 41.2% first-generation students, and 31.7% Pell grant recipients.
Average head coach salary by program gender.
447 of 30,048 undergraduates, counting each athlete once regardless of how many sports they play.
1,711 of 34,050 undergraduates study entirely at a distance, against 731 of 5,191 graduate students.
San Diego State University is accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges Senior Colleges and University Commission.
Each bar is the median of that group, with the number of schools in brackets. “Similar colleges” means the same control and the same predominant degree awarded. Groups of fewer than 15 schools are not shown.
San Diego State University is in San Diego, CA, in what IPEDS classifies as a large city setting. The campus sits about 4.8 miles from the center of San Diego. There are 10 other colleges within 25 miles, and San Diego, CA is 4.8 miles away.
San Diego County scores 11.8 out of 20 on the EPA National Walkability Index — above average walkable. The index is a county-wide average of block groups, so it describes the surrounding area rather than the campus itself.
Undergraduates make up about 8.1% of San Diego's residents.
Every college that receives federal financial aid must publish its crime statistics each year under the Clery Act. These are the figures San Diego State University reported for 2024.
Read these numbers carefully. A Clery figure counts reports, not incidents. A university with active reporting channels, a large campus police force and a teaching hospital will record more offenses than one where the same events go unreported — so a higher count is not evidence of a more dangerous campus, and a low count is not evidence of a safe one. In 2024, 833 campuses with more than 1,000 students reported no offenses at all. Use these figures to ask a college questions, not to rank one against another.
Separately, San Diego State University reported 36 arrests and 942 disciplinary referrals for weapons, drug and liquor law violations on campus. Referrals for alcohol violations are usually the largest category at residential colleges and reflect how a school handles student conduct internally.
Common questions about San Diego State University admissions, costs, and outcomes.
San Diego State University has an acceptance rate of 36.2%. The university also offered waitlist places to 10,520 applicants, admitting 1,804 students from the waitlist.
The average high school GPA for admitted students is 3.84. Thirty percent of admitted students were in the top 10% of their high school class.
The total cost of attendance is $36,090 annually. Tuition and fees are $21,328. However, the average net price students actually pay is $15,364 after accounting for financial aid.
San Diego State serves 31.7% of undergraduates with Pell grants. The median federal debt at graduation is $15,000, and 23.2% of students borrow federal loans to help cover education costs.
San Diego State has a three-year loan repayment rate of 66.2%, indicating the percentage of borrowers making progress on their federal student loans within three years of entering repayment.
San Diego State has a graduation rate of 77.3%. The university serves a diverse student body, with 41.2% first-generation students and 56.6% women.
Graduates earn a median of $52,620 six years after entry and $64,909 ten years after entry. These earnings reflect career progression over time.
San Diego State has an undergraduate enrollment of 35,377 students. The student-to-faculty ratio is 27:1, and the campus is located in a large city setting in San Diego, California.
First-generation students make up 41.2% of San Diego State's undergraduate population, representing a significant portion of the student body.
Women comprise 56.6% of San Diego State's undergraduate enrollment, while men make up the remaining percentage of the student body.