San Diego State University

School Overview: Acceptance Rate, Tuition, and More

San Diego, CA

$5,742

Avg in-state tuition

$17,622

Avg out-of-state tuition

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About San Diego State University

School Type: Public

Status: Non-profit

Accreditation: Regional

Religious Affiliation: N/A While the student experience is largely unaffected at most schools with religious affiliations, some schools place more of an emphasis on religion. Learn how religious affiliations may impact students' experience.

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 31,491, and admissions are very selective, with an acceptance rate of 37%. The university offers 93 bachelor's degrees, has an average graduation rate of 76%, and a student-faculty ratio of 27:1. Tuition and fees for in-state students are $5,742, while tuition and fees for out-of-state students are $17,622.

BestColleges.com

Rankings

Learn more about how this school compares to other schools with rankings by BestColleges.

Admissions Breakdown

Acceptance Rate Insight

This school has a competitive acceptance rate.

This school is a little more selective about its students. Competitive acceptance schools welcome 15-50% of all applicants.

37% of students were accepted during the 2020-2021 school year. Sometimes schools with midrange acceptance rates have higher standards of entry but are still accessible to many students who apply.

Retention Rate Insight

Students remain enrolled in this school at a higher rate than other schools.

This typically means students are happy with their school selection and wish to continue their education there.

Learn more about how we determine school awards

89% of full-time students stayed to continue their studies the following academic year. These students started in Fall 2019 and returned in Fall 2020.

Graduation Rate Insight

76% of students graduated out of all full-time, first-time students who began their studies in Fall 2014. Keep in mind many students who enroll are not typically first-time students, as most are adult learners. Therefore, the number of first-time students is traditionally low.

Application Considerations

Test scores Required

High school transcript Required

High school rank Not required or recommended

Letter of recommendation Not required or recommended

High school GPA Required

Open admission No

Completion of college prep program Required

Test of English as a foreign language (TOEFL) Not required or recommended

Transfer Credit Policy

Dual enrollment Yes

Credit for qualified life experience* Yes

Advance placement (AP) credits Yes

*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 Percentile 22-29

SAT 25th-75th Percentile 1090-1300

Learning Environment

Student Body Stats

This school has a student body of more than 15,000 students.

Learn more about how we determine school awards

36k

Students enrolled

99%

Online student enrollment

27:1

Student to faculty ratio

Ways Students Can Learn

Online Check Bold
On-campus Check Bold
Hybrid The program is a combination of on-campus and online learning and varies per program. Check Bold
International Online classes are available for students around the world. Check Bold

Demographics

White

34%

Hispanic

33%

Asian

13%

Two or more races

6%

Non-U.S. Citizen

5%

Unknown

4%

Black

4%

American Indian/Alaska Native

0%

Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander

0%

Female student population

57%

Socio-economic diversity

26% of students received an income-based Federal Pell Grant intended for low-income students.

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Online Programs

Offers Online Programs

Yes

Online Programs

13

Total Online Enrollment

35,821

Student Location Breakout

Percent of Programs Online

94% On-campus

6% Online

Types of Online Programs Offered

Certificates X Bold Not offered

Associate X Bold Not offered

Bachelor's Check Bold 6% online

Graduate Certificate Check Bold 3% online

Master's Check Bold 7% online

Doctorate X Bold Not 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 for the 2020–2021 academic year.

Costs to Consider Price
Books and supplies $1,079
On-campus room and board $18,531
On-campus other expenses $2,910
Off-campus (not with family) room and board $13,860
Off-campus (not with family) other expenses $3,515
Off-campus (with family) other expenses $3,986

Total Undergraduate Cost

Total cost by category In-state Out-of-state
On-campus $28,262 $40,142
Off-campus without family $24,196 $36,076
Off-campus with family $10,807 $22,687

Financial Breakdown

Students Receiving Aid

Federal Grant Aid

26%

State Grant Aid

41%

Institution Grant Aid

25%

Pell Grant

26%

Average Aid Awarded

Federal Grant Aid $5,671
State Grant Aid $2,744
Institution Grant Aid $7,471
Pell Grant Aid $5,349

Financial Outlook

$15k

Average student debt after graduation

$42k

Average salary 6 years after starting school

Varsity Athletic Teams

NCAA Division I-FBS

of the overall student body is a member of an athletic team.

Participation

Men Women
  • Basketball
  • Football
  • Golf
  • Lacrosse
  • Rowing
  • Soccer
  • Softball
  • Swimming Diving
  • Tennis
  • Volleyball
  • Water Polo
  • All Track Combined
  • Baseball

Degrees Awarded by Program

Degrees given for the 2020-2021 academic year.

1

Architecture And Related Services

BA

MA

DOC

2

Area, Ethnic, Cultural, And Gender Studies

BA

MA

DOC

3

Biological And Biomedical Sciences

BA

MA

DOC

4

Business, Management, Marketing, And Related Support Services

BA

MA

DOC

5

Communication, Journalism, And Related Programs

BA

MA

DOC

6

Computer And Information Sciences And Support Services

BA

MA

DOC

7

Education

BA

MA

DOC

8

Engineering Technologies/Technicians

BA

MA

DOC

9

Engineering

BA

MA

DOC

10

English Language And Literature/Letters

BA

MA

DOC

11

Foreign Languages, Literatures, And Linguistics

BA

MA

DOC

12

Health Professions And Related Clinical Sciences

BA

MA

DOC

13

History

BA

MA

DOC

14

Liberal Arts And Sciences, General Studies And Humanities

BA

MA

DOC

15

Mathematics And Statistics

BA

MA

DOC

16

Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies

BA

MA

DOC

17

Natural Resources And Conservation

BA

MA

DOC

18

Parks, Recreation, Leisure, And Fitness Studies

BA

MA

DOC

19

Philosophy And Religious Studies

BA

MA

DOC

20

Physical Sciences

BA

MA

DOC

21

Psychology

BA

MA

DOC

22

Public Administration And Social Service Professions

BA

MA

DOC

23

Security And Protective Services

BA

MA

DOC

24

Social Sciences

BA

MA

DOC

25

Visual And Performing Arts

BA

MA

DOC

Resource

Financial Aid Overview

Resource

Understanding Grants & Scholarships

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Data collected from the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS), [2020-2021]. In the absence of IPED 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.