San Diego State University
San Diego State University (SDSU) is a public research university in San Diego, California, United States. Founded in 1897, it is the third-oldest university and southernmost in the 23-member California State University (CSU) system. SDSU is the oldest higher education institution in San Diego; its academic roots were established as a normal school in University Heights, then known as the San Diego Normal School. In the fall of 2025, the university enrolled a record 41,184 students.
At a glance
- Acceptance rate: 36%
- Average net price: $14,704
- Undergraduate enrollment: 36,724
- Graduation rate (150%): 76%
- Graduation rate (200%): 77%
- 8-year Outcome Measures award rate: 83%
- Student to faculty ratio: 27:1
- Median earnings (10 years): $64,909
- Median earnings (8 years): $61,120
- Median earnings (6 years): $52,620
- Control: Public
- Locale: City, large
- Calendar: Semester
- City: San Diego, CA
Majors and programs
The most common programs at SDSU include Business Administration and Management, Psychology, Criminal Justice.
- Business Administration and Management (2,156 bachelor's) · median earnings $69,902 4 years after graduation · median debt $15,000
- Psychology (669 bachelor's) · median earnings $51,021 4 years after graduation · median debt $14,872
- Criminal Justice (542 bachelor's) · median earnings $57,510 4 years after graduation · median debt $13,499
- Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education (405 bachelor's) · median earnings $59,914 4 years after graduation · median debt $15,285
- Speech Communication and Rhetoric (300 bachelor's) · median earnings $61,389 4 years after graduation · median debt $15,000
- Art (278 bachelor's) · median earnings $35,416 4 years after graduation · median debt $10,299
- Liberal Arts and Sciences (260 bachelor's) · median earnings $58,419 4 years after graduation · median debt $12,838
- Biology (252 bachelor's) · median earnings $68,861 4 years after graduation · median debt $18,010
- Computer Science (219 bachelor's) · median earnings $100,586 4 years after graduation · median debt $16,866
- Economics (200 bachelor's) · median earnings $74,123 4 years after graduation · median debt $15,250
Degree mix: Business 43%, Engineering 12%, Computer Science 5%, Health 13%, Biological Sciences 5%, Psychology 12%, Communication 9%, Other 1%.
Award levels offered: Bachelor's, Master's, Doctoral.
Cost
SDSU students from families earning $0 to $30,000 pay about $9,910 a year after aid.
- Net price, $0 to $30,000: $9,910
- Net price, $30,001 to $48,000: $10,017
- Net price, $48,001 to $75,000: $12,697
- Net price, $75,001 to $110,000: $15,891
- Net price, $110,001 and above: $23,821
- In-state tuition and fees: $8,728
- Out-of-state tuition and fees: $21,328
- Books and supplies: $946
- On-campus room and board: $23,030
- Off-campus room and board: $17,672
- Off-campus with family: $5,022
- Typical cost of attendance: $27,780
- Sticker vs net gap: 47%
- Students receiving any aid: 100%
- Pell Grant recipients: 32%
- Federal loan recipients: 23%
- Average institutional grant: $6,866
- Average federal loan: $6,497
- Median debt at graduation: $15,000
Admissions
SDSU admits 36% of applicants. Of students admitted, 20% enrolled.
- Applications: 89,972
- Admitted: 32,561
- Enrolled: 6,629
- Yield (first-choice signal): 20%
Who actually goes here
- Undergraduates: 36,724
- Women: 58%
- Commuter share (estimated): 77%
- Part-time undergraduates: 9%
- Age 25 and older: 12%
- Graduate students: 3,930
- Graduation rate: 76%
- Come back after freshman year: 91%
- First-generation: 41%
Faculty and campus
- Full-time faculty: 56%
- Student to faculty: 27:1
- Professor salary: $145,590
- Associate professor salary: $121,733
- Assistant professor salary: $107,966
- On-campus housing capacity: 8,630
- Study abroad: Available
- Online programs: Available
Common questions
What is the SDSU acceptance rate? SDSU admits 36% of applicants, based on the latest IPEDS admissions file.
How much does SDSU cost? Students from families earning $0 to $30,000 pay about $9,910 a year after aid. Average net price is $14,704.
What majors does SDSU offer? Popular programs include Business Administration and Management, Psychology, Criminal Justice, Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education, Speech Communication and Rhetoric.
What is the average salary after SDSU? Median earnings 10 years after entry are $64,909 for Title IV aid recipients in College Scorecard.
What is the SDSU graduation rate? In the IPEDS Outcome Measures cohort, 83% earned an award within eight years. The first-time, full-time 150% graduation rate is 76%.
Scorecard earnings and debt cover Title IV aid recipients, not cash-pay or private-loan students. San Diego State University official site: https://sdsu.edu.