San Diego, CA · Public · 35,377 undergraduates · urban
San Diego State University
Selective
SDSU combines broad professional programs with direct access to San Diego's biotech, defense, tourism and cross-border economy.
Institutional profile
Well established Strong in affordability, and strong in mobility.- Admission
- 34.4% admitted
- Price by income
- Resident and nonresident prices differ
- Completion
- 81.8%
82,800 applicants in the reported year
Compare recent average annual costs by household income
$64,909 median earnings 10 years after enrollment
What sets San Diego State University apart
Academic design
Business, engineering, public health, communication and international business are prominent undergraduate areas.
Campus pattern
Main campus has its own trolley station and is connected directly to central San Diego.
Career & value signal
Regional employers span biotechnology, defense, healthcare, tourism, government and international trade.
Can I get in?
34.4% admitted
Start with the academic record, then make the intended direction and school-specific fit concrete.
Recent applicant pool
82,800About 34 in every 100 applicants were admitted.
Record over scores
No score range is published for the entering class, so the transcript, the course rigor, and the required materials carry the file.
Admission by residency
Harder for residents
Degree-seeking, first-time, first-year students · Fall 2025
San Diego State University admitted 31.3% of California applicants and 90.7% of applicants from other states. Out-of-state applicants were admitted at 2.9 times the resident rate. California students took 78% of the seats in the entering class.
26,565 admitted from 84,805 applicants
8,202 admitted from 9,043 applicants
942 admitted from 1,596 applicants
In the season card
Where your GPA sits in the entering class
The full entering-class GPA distribution for San Diego State University, in nine bands from 4.0 down, with your own record marked on it.
See where I landIn the season card
What San Diego State University weighs when it reads a file
See how this college describes the role of grades, testing, essays, recommendations, activities, and demonstrated interest.
- Course rigor
- GPA
- Test scores
- Essay
- Recommendations
- Extracurriculars
- Demonstrated interest
What moves the application
The evidence that separates a strong file
Show preparation for this curriculum
Business, engineering, public health, communication and international business are prominent undergraduate areas.
Make institutional fit specific
SDSU combines broad professional programs with direct access to San Diego's biotech, defense, tourism and cross-border economy.
Use the application route carefully
Keep academic direction and school-specific choices coherent across the application.
How to apply
Rounds, route, and required materials
Build the calendar around the earliest realistic application round and assemble each required item once.
$70 application fee
Major and program admission
Some fields have their own entry path.
The college admit rate above covers the university as a whole. These requirements apply only to the named program.
BusinessAdmits separately
What this program asks for, and when it closes.
Communication and journalismAdmits separately
What this program asks for, and when it closes.
Computer scienceAdmits separately
What this program asks for, and when it closes.
Teacher preparationAdmits separately
What this program asks for, and when it closes.
EngineeringAdmits separately
What this program asks for, and when it closes.
Health professionsAdmits separately
What this program asks for, and when it closes.
Hospitality and hotel managementAdmits separately
What this program asks for, and when it closes.
NursingAdmits separately
What this program asks for, and when it closes.
Can I afford it?
Compare annual cost by household income.
Start with the average net price for your income range, then set that estimate beside your other realistic options.
College funding
Scholarships and financial aid
Review available aid, application requirements, and renewal terms.
San Diego State University publishes two merit awards, the largest reaching $10,000 to $20,000 a year. Each one requires a separate scholarship application.
Open across the university · Merit · Competitive · Has a dated deadline
Open across the university · Merit · Competitive
In the season card
These two awards, by name
What each one is called, what it pays, what it asks of you, and the date one of them closes - which is usually earlier than the application for admission.
- The name of each award
- What it pays
- The grades and scores it asks for
- The deadline
- What to send, and where
In the season card
Average annual cost by household income at San Diego State University
Compare recent average net prices across five federal income ranges and estimate a 4-year cost for yours.
- $0–30k
- $30–48k
- $48–75k
- $75–110k
- $110k+
Is it worth it?
Completion, debt, and earnings
Read completion, borrowing, field mix, and earnings together. One university-wide earnings figure does not describe every student path.
Degree completion across the reported entering cohort
First-year students who return for year two
And what that comes to against what they earn.
Reported 10 years after enrollment
Academic portfolio
Largest bachelor’s fields
How many students finish in each field, and median earnings four years after completing the program.
Business Administration, Management and Operations
Admits separately
Psychology, General
Criminal Justice and Corrections
Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness
Biology, General
What is campus life like?
San Diego State University beyond the classroom
Main campus has its own trolley station and is connected directly to central San Diego.
A defining academic feature
Business, engineering, public health, communication and international business are prominent undergraduate areas.
What shapes an ordinary week
Main campus has its own trolley station and is connected directly to central San Diego.
Where the degree can lead
Regional employers span biotechnology, defense, healthcare, tourism, government and international trade.