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San Diego , CA
San Diego State University (SDSU) is a public research university located in San Diego, California. Established in 1897, SDSU is one of the largest and oldest universities in the state and is part of the California State University system. The university offers a wide range of academic programs through its seven colleges, including business administration, engineering, arts and sciences, education, professional studies, health and human services, and the Fowler College of Business. In addition to its academic excellence, SDSU is known for its vibrant campus community, diverse student body, and strong commitment to both local and global engagement.
SDSU is renowned for its strong emphasis on research and innovation. It is classified as a ôResearch University with high research activityö by the Carnegie Foundation, with numerous research centers and institutes dedicated to fields such as climate change, public health, cybersecurity, and wireless communications. The university also provides students with ample opportunities for internships, cooperative education, and other hands-on experiences that enable them to apply their classroom learning to real-world situations.
Apart from its academic offerings, SDSU boasts a vibrant campus life. With over 33,000 students enrolled, the campus is known for its active and engaged student body. Students have access to more than 300 different organizations and clubs that cater to a variety of interests, including music, sports, culture, community service, and more. The campus also hosts a wide range of events, including concerts, theater performances, athletic competitions, guest speakers, and cultural celebrations, providing a dynamic and enriching environment for students.
Overall, San Diego State University offers a rich and diverse educational experience, combining rigorous academic programs with a vibrant campus life. With its commitment to research, innovation, and community engagement, SDSU provides students with the tools and opportunities they need to succeed both inside and outside the classroom.
San Diego State University is a public university located in San Diego, CA and set in an urban environment. This institution follows a semester-based calendar. It has an acceptance rate of 35%. The freshman retention rate at San Diego State University is 91% and the six-year graduation rate is 76%.
For freshmen, the application deadline for this school is November 30. The transfer application deadline is November 30.
Read more about what you can expect if you get into San Diego State University.
Quick Facts
34,637
Total Number of Undergraduate Students
24:1
Student to Faculty Ratio
76%
Graduation Rate
Admissions
Knowing as much as possible about the school's criteria for admission improves your chances of getting admitted. Here are the most important facts you should know about admission at San Diego State University.
In 2025, the school accepted 32,561 new students. As far as admission difficulty is considered, based on data self-reported by the institution this school is moderately difficult to get into.
Test Scores
The latest reported average GPA of the enrolled students was 3.84. That means that you need a GPA that's above average in order to get into San Diego State University.
Deadlines
Be sure to apply to this school by November 30. For transfer students, the application deadline is November 30.
Retention Rate
What is the freshman retention rate? The freshman retention rate is the percentage of full-time students who entered the institution as freshmen in the previous academic year and returned for the fall term of the current academic year. This piece of data is important as it can reveal to the prospective students how many freshmen liked the school enough to return to it as sophomores.
As reported in 2025, the freshman retention rate for San Diego State University was 91%, which is an excellent retention rate only the most prestigious institutions achieve.
The graduation rate is another indicator to take into account. It reflects the proportion of students who obtain their degrees within the expected timeframe. At this academic institution, the proportion of students graduating in six years is 76%, which is considered an above-average graduation rate.
Student Body
Figuring out which school is the right fit for you is not a task you should take lightly. You can have a better understanding of the school's culture and way of life by learning more about the student body.
Main Student Body
The total number of students enrolled at San Diego State University in 2025 was 39,373.
The school reported an out-of-state student body portion of 16% for that year. The total number of undergraduate students enrolled at the institution was 34,637, 920 of which were international students. The number of transfer students at this school was 4,222.
Student Population Gender Ratio
With a coeducational student body, the school had 14,489 male and 20,027 female full-time students in 2025.
Student Population Diversity
When it comes to improving a sense of inclusion and belonging among students, there is no denying the importance of student diversity. An inclusive student body brings together individuals from diverse backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives. Find out more about different ethnic groups you can meet at San Diego State University.
In 2025, out of the total number of students enrolled at the institution, the number of students of Asian origin was 4,563, while the number of African American students was 1,187. 12,493 undergraduate students at this school identified as Hispanic/Latino and 2,592 identified with more than one race. The school also had 63 students who identified as Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander, and 55 American Indian or Alaska Native students. There were also 1,195 students whose ethnicity is unknown.
Cost
Before sending an application to any college or university, the financial component should be taken into account. The latest information on the expenses that most students at this school incur are detailed below.
Tuition and Fees
Wondering about tuition at San Diego State University? Here is what you need to know.
For the students who live in the area, the tuition cost was $6,450, as reported by public county or municipal institutions. For out-of-state students, tuition fees amounted to $19,770. For international students, tuition fees at this school amounted to $19,770, as well. Fees per academic year required of full-time students amounted to $2,730 in 2025.
| Category | Tuition | Fees | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Out-of-State | $19,770 | $2,730 | $22,500 |
| In-State | $6,450 | $2,730 | $9,180 |
Books and Supplies
The approximate price of books and supplies for a college or university should also be taken into consideration as another significant expense. Most students have to spend about $970 for books and supplies during their time at San Diego State University.
Boarding
Besides tuition, another cost to consider is the price of housing in the dorms and eating at the school cafeteria. What do schools typically charge for accommodation and meals?
The cost of room and board (on campus) per academic year at San Diego State University was $18,453 in 2025. The cost of a dorm room only at this school in 2025 totaled $10,605 for one academic year.
| Expense Category | Amount |
|---|---|
| Tuition | $ 6,450 |
| Room and Board | $ 18,453 |
| Book and Supplies | $ 970 |
| Total Expense | $ 25,873 |
Financial Aid
Grants, loans, scholarships, work-study programs: these are all types of financial help for students. If you want to find out more about need-based and non-need-based aid at San Diego State University, here are some recent data you should take into consideration.
According to the most recent data, 2,672 freshmen were awarded financial aid. Students of this school received an average of $18,068 in financial help.
Need-based
Financial aid that a student can receive if they are determined to have financial need and meet other eligibility requirements is known as need-based aid.
16,951 students gained some form of need-based financial aid. Need-based college-administered scholarship and grant aid at San Diego State University is available to international students. The overall number of students (including freshmen) who were determined to have financial need was 18,428. The amount of federal need-based scholarships/grants awarded to the students at this institution stood at $79,638,015, and state $83,152,781.
$2,358
Average Amount of Aid Received
Non-Need Based
Any financial aid given to a student who does not meet the requirements for need-based aid is considered non-need-based aid. The most popular forms of non-need-based financial aid for students are loans and grants, like Direct Unsubsidized Stafford Loans, Graduate PLUS Loans, Parent PLUS Loans, and the Teacher Education Access for College and Higher Education (TEACH) Grant.
3,478 students, including freshmen, got institutional non-need-based financial aid at this school in 2025. Institutional grants or scholarships that are not based on financial need were given to 746 full-time freshman. The total dollar amount of federal non-need-based scholarships/grants awarded to the studens at this school was $79,638,015 while the state aid is $9,559. The total amount of non-need-based institutional scholarships/grants was $3,404,600. This includes endowment, alumni, other institutional awards, and also external funds awarded by the institution, but doesn't include athletic aid and tuition waivers. The amount the students of this school received from external sources (e.g. Kiwanis, National Merit) was $4,270,513 USD.
Majors
Faculty
24:1
Student to Faculty Ratio
Knowing more about a school's faculty can help you gauge the caliber of the education it can provide to you.
According to the most recent data, the student-faculty ratio at San Diego State University was 24:1: that means 24 students per one teacher. The total number of faculty teaching at the institution is 2,222. This number included 1,041 male and 1,181 female faculty members. The fact that female faculty members outnumber the male ones at this school is telling of the importance gender equality has at San Diego State University.
Student Population Diversity Graph
Campus Life
It is not all about learning and grades at San Diego State University: campus life is a crucial component of your educational experience. Find out some details about social life at San Diego State University.
Its campus is 560 acres in size.
Student Organizations
Involvement in student organizations can make your educational experience more dynamic and gratifying.
There are 426 student organizations and groups with open membership at this school. Sororities and fraternities are included in that number. 11 percent of male and 12 of female students are involved in different organizations at San Diego State University. The most popular student organization is Andres Bonifacio Samahan, followed by Social Fraternities/Sororities and Women in Business. Other popular organizations among the students at San Diego State University are American Marketing Assoc and Weber Honors College.
Those who have a talent for music can join the San Diego State University band or chorus. There is a drama club you can join if acting is something that interests you. Interested in media and communication? San Diego State University publishes its own newspaper and has its own radio station.
Student Services
San Diego State University offers a number of services necessary for a pleasant and safe life on campus.
There are phone and alarm devices that can be accessed 24/7 for emergency situations. The school's dormitory entrances are operated electronically. There is a round-the-clock security patrol. This school has a health clinic with personal/psychological counseling. In addition, other services like Legal Services, Veteran's Affairs and Women's Center are available to the students of San Diego State University.
All in all, campus life at San Diego State University is rich and vibrant and provides everything most students need.
Career Services
Having career services at a college or university can mean a great deal for your career planning, so find out what you can expect at San Diego State University.
Career Counselling
At San Diego State University, there is both group career counseling for all students and individual career counseling for all students. There are a job bank and job fairs. Job interviews are also available to students through the career center. The school has campus employer recruitment for all the students. This school offers alumni networking opportunities, which could be a great asset for your future career.
FAQ
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San Diego State University is located in San Diego, CA.
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San Diego State University offers need-based college-administered scholarship and grant aid to international students.
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According to the latest information, the acceptance rate for San Diego State University is 35%.
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According to the latest information, the freshman retention rate for San Diego State University is 91%.
Contact Information
Data Source: IPEDS and Peterson's Databases © 2023 Peterson's LLC All rights reserved. Portions of this content were co-written with OpenAI's GPT-3.5 model.
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Data Source: IPEDS and Peterson's Databases © 2023 Peterson's LLC All rights reserved.
Portions of this content were co-written with OpenAI's GPT-3.5 model.