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Overall Niche Grade
How are grades calculated?Data Sources
Academics
gradeB+
Value
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Diversity
gradeA+
Campus
gradeA
Athletics
gradeA
Party Scene
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Professors
gradeB
Location
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Dorms
gradeC+
Campus Food
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Student Life
gradeA+
Safety
gradeB
editorial
San Diego State is a highly rated public university located in San Diego, California. It is a large institution with an enrollment of 28,634 undergraduate students. Admissions is fairly competitive as the San Diego State acceptance rate is 39%. Popular majors include Business, Psychology, and Liberal Arts and Humanities. Graduating 78% of students, San Diego State alumni go on to earn a starting salary of $37,700.
About
About San Diego State...
- Hispanic-Serving Institution
- Public College
- SAT/ACT Optional
Athletic Division
NCAA Division I-FBS
Athletic Conference
Mountain West Conference
Compare to Other Colleges
- California
- San Diego
San Diego State University Rankings
Niche rankings are based on rigorous analysis of key statistics from the U.S. Department of Education and millions of reviews.
See All San Diego State University Rankings
SDSU Admissions
Acceptance Rate
39%
Application Deadline
Deadline for application submissions. Please contact the school for more details.
November 30
SAT Range
1090-1300
ACT Range
22-29
Application Fee
$70
SAT/ACT
Considered but not required
High School GPA
Required
Early Decision/Early Action
No
Application Website
Students also applied to ...
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University of California - San Diego
gradeA+
University of California - Irvine
gradeB+
University of California - Santa Cruz
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California State University - Long Beach
gradeA+
University of California - Santa Barbara
gradeB
San Francisco State University
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University of California - Davis
More
Read More About Admissions
Will You Get Into SDSU?
Test Scores and High School GPA for San Diego State University
See Other CollegesCost
Net Price
$13,017/ year
National
$15,523
Average cost after financial aid for students receiving grant or scholarship aid, as reported by the college.
Average Total Aid Awarded
$9,934/ year
National
$7,535
Students Receiving Financial Aid
98%
Find Private Student Loans
Find College Scholarships
Find college scholarships
Academics
Professors
gradeB
Based on faculty accomplishments, salary, student reviews, and additional factors.
Student Faculty Ratio
22:1
Evening Degree Programs
Yes
74%
of students agree that professors put a lot of effort into teaching their classes.317 responses
37%
of students agree that it is easy to get the classes they want.402 responses
50%
of students agree that the workload is easy to manage.402 responses
Read More About Academics
Majors
Most Popular Majors
Business
1,875 Graduates
Psychology
699 Graduates
Liberal Arts and Humanities
588 Graduates
Criminal Justice and Safety Studies
417 Graduates
Physical Education Teaching and Coaching
406 Graduates
Communications
331 Graduates
Biology
285 Graduates
Computer Science
259 Graduates
Arts
247 Graduates
Mechanical Engineering
244 Graduates
More
See All Majors
Online
Programs Offered Entirely Online
Total number of complete undergraduate programs offered online or through distance learning.
Offers Online Courses
College offers distance education courses.
Yes
Online Certificate Programs
Total number of certificate degree programs offered online or through distance education.
Online Associates Programs
Total number of associate degree programs offered online or through distance education.
Online Bachelor's Programs
Total number of bachelor's degree programs offered online or through distance education.
Explore All Online Majors
How Students Learn
Based on class setting of student enrollment.
Mix of Online and on Campus
57%
On Campus
40%
Online
3%
Students
Full-Time Enrollment
28,634Undergrads
Part-Time Undergrads
3,560
Undergrads Over 25
12%
Pell Grant
24%
Varsity Athletes
2%
Poll
What one word or phrase best describes the typical student at this school?
Based on
282 responses
Fun but studious -
37%
Good mix of fun and studious
31%
Fun
8%
GREAT VIBES
8%
Dedicated
5%
Delinquent criminal party people
2%
Great crowd
2%
More
Read More About the Students
Campus Life
Freshmen Live On-Campus
No data available —
Poll
52%
of students say that Greek life is pretty big.462 responses
Poll
69%
of students say varsity sports are a big part of campus life.503 responses
Poll
What one word or phrase best describes your school?
Based on
304 responses
Work hard, play hard
27%
Difficult yet fun
25%
Very balanced
14%
Hard but crazy fun
7%
Laid back
7%
Sociable
7%
Just transferred
3%
More
Read More About Campus Life
After College
Median Earnings 6 Years After Graduation
$51,000/ year
National
$33,028
Graduation Rate
78%
National
49%
Employed 2 Years After Graduation
92%
National
83%
80%
of students feel confident they will find a job in their field after graduation.205 responses
Read More About Life After Graduation
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gradeA
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gradeA+
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gradeB+
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San Diego State University Reviews
Rating 3.77 out of 5 5,437 reviews
Rating 5 out of 5
My overall experience at San Diego State University has definitely been an rollercoaster of emotions to say the least. I believe that for my first year at San Diego State University has been a blend of academic excellence, social enjoyment, and community involvement. The inclusive environment, vibrant social life, and exceptional clubs have made it an outstanding experience. Even as a Black student at San Diego State University, my first year has been an enriching and memorable experience that I will forever remember. Specifically, SDSU prides itself on being inclusive and welcoming. As a Black student, I have found numerous resources and support networks tailored to my needs. The Black Resource Center (BRC) has been particularly valuable, providing a space for cultural expression, academic support, and community building. I’m excited for the years to come and to continue building on the foundation I’ve established during my freshman year.
- Sophom*ore
- 6 days ago
Rating 5 out of 5
I love the availability of resources that we have accessible to us! Through housing, healthcare, academics, and campus life we always have someone there to assist us. I also appreciate the events being hosted for students to bring a large student body together and make us feel closer.
- Sophom*ore
- 2 days ago
Rating 4 out of 5
I had the unique experience of transferring to San Diego State University during the pandemic. My junior year was fully online so I didn't get to experience campus life or get a feel for the community the school has built, as it's very hard to make connections with a lot of people through a screen. The professors were all very understanding and accommodating. In my time here I learned a lot of valuable information from professors who are well spoken and knowledgable. It never felt like the coursework I was given was just busywork, but applicable to what my career goal was. My senior year I did partially online and on campus, but at this point I just wanted to be finished. I wish I had given campus life a bigger chance that way I could've made connections with other people, but unfortunately I didn't get to experience that side of SDSU. However, I can attest that their academics were and still are very valuable to me!
- Alum
- 2 months ago
