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San Diego State University
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 34%. The freshman retention rate at San Diego State University is 90%.
For freshmen, the application deadline for this school is November 30. The transfer application deadline is November 30.
Read more about what San Diego State University has to offer based on the most recent data this institution has reported.
Quick Facts
34%
Acceptance Rate
23:1
Student to Faculty Ratio
Admissions
You need to discover as much as you can about the entrance requirements of the school in order to maximize your chances of being accepted. Discover some essential facts about admission policy and requirements at San Diego State University.
In 2024, the school accepted 28,433 new students. Looking at entrance difficulty level for all or most incoming freshmen, 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 3.86. That means that you need a GPA that's above average in order to get into San Diego State University.
Deadlines
The last day for submitting applications to San Diego State University is November 30. When submitting your application as a transfer student, note that the application deadline is November 30.
34%
Acceptance Rate
Retention Rate
The percentage of freshmen at a college or university who stay on for their second year is known as the freshman retention rate. Why is that metric important? Because it tells you if the majority of freshmen enjoyed their first year at a school enough to come back.
The freshman retention rate for San Diego State University was 90% in 2024, which is an amazing retention rate only the most prestigious institutions have.
Student Body
Making the choice of which school is the best place for you is not simple. 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
That year, the institution had an out-of-state student body percentage of 15. 4,777 students enrolled as transfer students.
Cost
One of the most crucial things to take into consideration when applying to any college or university is the financial component. Here are some important facts on San Diego State University costs that most students encounter at this school.
Tuition and Fees
Here are some facts that can be useful if you were curious about San Diego State University estimated tuition price.
Tuition fees for area resident were $6,084, as reported by public county or municipal institutions. For students who don't live in the state in which the university is located, the tuition was $18,684 in 2024. For the students coming from abroad, tuition at this school was $18,684, as well. Full-time students in 2024 were required to pay additional fees in the amount of $2,644.
| Tuition | Fees | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Out-of-State | $18,684 | $2,644 | $21,328 |
| In-State | $6,084 | $2,644 | $8,728 |
Books and Supplies
The approximate price of books and supplies for a college or university should also be taken into consideration as another important expense. The cost of books and supplies for full-time students of this school is estimated at about $946.
Boarding
Besides tuition, another cost to consider is the price of housing in the dorms and eating at the school cafeteria. What is the typical amount colleges and universities charge for lodging and meals?
In 2024, room and board cost at San Diego State University amounted to $22,824 a year.
| Tuition | $ 6,084 |
| Room and Board | $ 22,824 |
| Book and Supplies | $ 946 |
| Total Expense | $ 29,854 |
Financial Aid
There are different types of financial support: grants, loans, scholarships, and work-study programs. 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 consider.
According to the most recent data, 2,814 freshmen were awarded financial aid. The average amount of financial aid given to students was $15,076.
Need-based
Need-based financial aid is exactly what it sounds like — it’s awarded based on the determined financial need.
11,646 students were designated 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 total number of students (including freshmen) who were determined to have financial need was estimated to be 16,328. The amount of federal need-based scholarships/grants awarded to the students at this institution summed up to $63,358,405, and state $70,128,622.
$2,612
Average Amount of Aid Received
Non-Need Based
Non-need-based financial aid is any type of financial aid provided to a student who does not meet the criteria for 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.
10,365 students, including freshmen, obtained institutional non-need-based scholarship or grant aid at this institution in 2024. 2,041 full-time freshmen were awarded institutional non-need-based scholarship or grant aid. The total dollar amount of federal non-need-based scholarships/grants awarded to the studens at this school was $63,358,405 while the state aid is $27,847. The total amount of institutional scholarships and awards that were not based on financial need was $4,587,913. This includes endowment, alumni, other institutional awards, and also external funds awarded by the institution, but doesn't include athletic aid and tuition waivers. $4,344,849 was the amount that the students at this institution got from external sources (like Kiwanis and National Merit).
Majors
Faculty
23:1
Student to Faculty Ratio
The student-to-faculty ratio can tell you a lot about the teaching resources a school provides for its students.
In 2024, this ratio at San Diego State University was 23:1. That means that there were 23 times more students than teachers at this school. The faculty of this school consists of 2,154 members, according to the most recent data reported. Out of that number, there were 1,129 male and 1,103 female faculty members.
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 campus life at San Diego State University.
Its campus is 560 acres in size.
Student Organizations
A student organization is run by students at a university or a college institution, whose membership typically consists only of current students and/or alumni.
The number of student organizations and groups with open membership at this school is 400. That includes sororities and fraternities. 11 percent of male and 12 of female students participate actively in different organizations at San Diego State University. The student organization that gathers the largest number of students is Social Fraternities/Sororities, followed by Society for Human Resource Management and Dance Marathon at SDSU. Other popular student organizations at this school are Andres Bonifacio Samahan and Aztec Gaming.
Students who like 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. You have a talent for media and communication? San Diego State University publishes its own newspaper and has its own radio station.
Student Services
San Diego State University provides a number of services vital for a comfortable and secure life on campus.
There are emergency phone and alarm devices available around the clock. Dormitory entrances at the school are electronically operated. There is a 24-hour 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 all you need for a comfortable stay.
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. There is campus employer recruitment for all the students. This school offers alumni networking opportunities, which could be excellent 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 34%.
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The most recent reported freshman retention rate for San Diego State University is 90%.
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.