San Diego State University
School Overview: Acceptance Rate, Tuition, and More
About San Diego State University
School Type: Public
Religious Affiliation: Not applicable
Status: Non-profit
Military Friendly: No
Accreditation: regional
San Diego State University is a large public university located on an urban campus in San Diego, California. It has a total undergraduate enrollment of 32,896, and admissions are highly selective, with an acceptance rate of 34%. The university offers 94 bachelor's degrees, has an average graduation rate of 78%, and a student-faculty ratio of 23:1. Tuition and fees for in-state students are $5,742, while tuition and fees for out-of-state students are $17,622.
Rankings
Learn more about how this school compares to other schools with rankings by BestColleges.
- #1 Ranked in The Best MSN Programs in California
- #1 Ranked in Best Online Criminal Justice Degree Programs of 2024
- #1 Ranked in Best Online Colleges in California 2024
- #2 Ranked in The Best Colleges for LGBTQ+ Students
- #4 Ranked in Cheapest and Most Affordable Online Colleges of 2024
- #6 Ranked in Best Public Administration Programs
- #9 Ranked in Best Speech Pathology Programs
- #10 Ranked in Best Colleges for Hispanic Students
- #16 Ranked in The Best College for LGBTQ+ Students In Each State
- #42 Ranked in 50 Best Graduate Nursing Schools in America
Admissions Breakdown
Acceptance Rate
Full-Time Student Retention Rate
Six-Year Graduation Rate of Full-Time, First-Time Students
Application Considerations
Test scoresNot considered for admission, even if submitted (Test Blind)
High school transcriptRequired
High school rankNot considered for admission, even if submitted
Letter of recommendationNot considered for admission, even if submitted
High school GPARequired to be considered for admission
Open admissionNo
Completion of college prep programRequired
Test of English as a foreign language (TOEFL)Required to be considered for admission
Transfer Credit Policy
Dual enrollmentNo
Credit for qualified life experience*Yes
Advance placement (AP) creditsYes
*This can include previous jobs, trainings, licenses/credentials, or seminars. You may need to complete an exam or provide a portfolio to earn credit.
SAT & ACT
ACT 25th-75th Percentile23-29
SAT 25th-75th Percentile1130-1340
Learning Environment
Student Body Stats
38k
Students enrolled
58%
Online student enrollment
23:1
Student to faculty ratio
Ways Students Can Learn
Demographics
White
35%
Unknown
4%
Black
4%
Hispanic
37%
Two or more races
7%
Non-U.S. Citizen
4%
Asian
13%
American Indian/Alaska Native
0%
Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander
0%
Socio-economic diversity
24% of students received an income-based Federal Pell Grant intended for low-income students.
Explore Similar Schools
Online Programs
Offers Online Programs
Yes
Online Programs
34
Total Online Enrollment
21,887
Student Location Breakout
Bar graph visual depicting student location breakout percentages.58% online, 42% on-campus.
Percent of Programs Online
87% On-campus
13% Online
Types of Online Programs Offered
CertificatesNot offered
AssociateNot offered
Bachelor's7% online
Graduate Certificate43% online
Master's8% online
DoctorateNot offered
Student Charges
Tuition and Required Fees
| Student Level | In-state | Out-of-state |
|---|---|---|
| Undergraduate | $5,742 | $17,622 |
| Graduate | $7,176 | $16,680 |
Cost of Undergraduate Attendance
Costs based on full-time, first-time degree- or certificate-seeking undergraduates.
| Costs to Consider | Price |
|---|---|
| Books and supplies | $908 |
| On-campus room and board | $21,630 |
| On-campus other expenses | $2,130 |
| Off-campus (not with family) room and board | $17,110 |
| Off-campus (not with family) other expenses | $2,796 |
| Off-campus (with family) other expenses | $2,452 |
Total Undergraduate Cost
| Total cost by category | In-state | Out-of-state |
|---|---|---|
| On-campus | $30,410 | $42,290 |
| Off-campus without family | $26,556 | $38,436 |
| Off-campus with family | $9,102 | $20,982 |
Financial Breakdown
Students Receiving Aid
Federal Grant Aid
24%
State Grant Aid
40%
Institution Grant Aid
90%
Pell Grant
24%
Average Aid Awarded
Financial Outlook
$15k
Average student debtafter graduation
$42k
Average salary 6 years after starting school
Varsity Athletic Teams
NCAA Division I-FCS
of the overall student body is a member of an athletic team.
Participation
- Baseball
- Basketball
- Football
- Golf
- Soccer
- Tennis
- All Track Combined
- Lacrosse
- Softball
- Swimming Diving
- Volleyball
- Water Polo
Degrees Awarded by Program
| # | Programs | BA | MA | Doc |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Architecture And Related Services. | |||
| 2 | Area, Ethnic, Cultural, Gender, And Group Studies. | |||
| 3 | Biological And Biomedical Sciences. | |||
| 4 | Business, Management, Marketing, And Related Support Services. | |||
| 5 | Communication, Journalism, And Related Programs. | |||
| 6 | Computer And Information Sciences And Support Services. | |||
| 7 | Education. | |||
| 8 | Engineering. | |||
| 9 | Engineering/Engineering-Related Technologies/Technicians. | |||
| 10 | English Language And Literature/Letters. | |||
| 11 | Foreign Languages, Literatures, And Linguistics. | |||
| 12 | Health Professions And Related Programs. | |||
| 13 | History. | |||
| 14 | Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting And Related Protective Services. | |||
| 15 | Liberal Arts And Sciences, General Studies And Humanities. | |||
| 16 | Mathematics And Statistics. | |||
| 17 | Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies. | |||
| 18 | Natural Resources And Conservation. | |||
| 19 | Parks, Recreation, Leisure, Fitness, And Kinesiology. | |||
| 20 | Philosophy And Religious Studies. | |||
| 21 | Physical Sciences. | |||
| 22 | Psychology. | |||
| 23 | Public Administration And Social Service Professions. | |||
| 24 | Social Sciences. | |||
| 25 | Visual And Performing Arts. |
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Data collected from the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) and Peterson’s Data — typically from the most recently available cohort year. In the absence of this data, information was collected directly from the school and is accurate as of the date of collection. Contact the school directly for the most current and complete information.