San Diego State University

www.sdsu.edu

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2024 Undergraduate Tuition
$6,084
5.96% growth from 2023
2024 Average Net Price
$14,704
After Financial Aid
2024 Acceptance Rate
36.2%
89,972 Applicants
2024 Enrolled Students
41,137
86.5% Full-Time
2024 Graduation Rate
76.4%
4,315 Graduates

About

San Diego State University is a higher education institution located in San Diego County, CA. In 2024, the most popular Bachelors Degree concentrations at San Diego State University were General Business Administration & Management (2,164 degrees awarded), General Psychology (681 degrees), and Criminal Justice - Safety Studies (547 degrees).

In 2024, 10,928 degrees were awarded across all undergraduate and graduate programs at San Diego State University. 59.4% of these degrees were awarded to women, and 40.6% awarded men. The most common race/ethnicity group of degree recipients was hispanic or latino (3,895 degrees), 1.04 times more than then the next closest race/ethnicity group, white (3,752 degrees).

The median undergraduate tuition at San Diego State University is $6,084, which is $−25,768 less than the national average for Doctoral Universities ($31,852).

Photo by Stuart Seeger
Doctoral Universities: Higher Research ActivityDoctoral Universities

Costs

In 2024, the median undergraduate tuition at San Diego State University is $6,084, which is $25,768 less than the national average for Doctoral Universities ($31,852).

After taking grants and loans into account, the average net price for students is $14,704.

In 2024, 53% of undergraduate students attending San Diego State University received financial aid through grants. Comparatively, 23% of undergraduate students received financial aid through loans.

Tuition Costs

$6,084
2024 Undergraduate Tuition

In 2024, the cost of tuition at San Diego State University was $6,084. The cost of tuition at San Diego State University is $−25,768 less than than the overall (public and private) national average for Doctoral Universities ($31,852).

This chart compares the tuition costs of San Diego State University (in red) with those of other similar universities.

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Average Net Price

$14,704
2024 Value
24.6%
1 Year Growth

In 2024 San Diego State University had an average net price — the price paid after factoring in grants and loans — of $14,704. Between 2023 and 2024, the average net price of San Diego State University grew by 24.6%.

This chart compares the average net price of San Diego State University (in red) with that of other similar universities.

Average net price is calculated from full-time beginning undergraduate students who were awarded a grant or scholarship from federal, state or local governments, or the institution.

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Other Student Expenses

$19,370
Room and Board
$908
Books and Supplies

The average yearly cost of room and board at San Diego State University was of $19,370 in 2024. The cost of room and board increased by 8.04% between 2023 and 2024.

During the same period, the average yearly cost of books and supplies was $908. The cost of books and supplies decreased by 20.8% during the same period.

This chart compares the average student costs at San Diego State University (in red) with that of similar universities.

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Financial Aid by Income Level

53%
Undergraduates Receiving Financial Aid through Grants
23%
Undergraduates Receiving Financial Aid through Loans

53% of undergraduate students at San Diego State University received financial aid through grants or loans in 2024. This represents a decline of 39.8% with respect to 2023, when 88% of undergraduate students received financial aid.

This chart compares the average award discount at San Diego State University (in red) with that of other similar universities.

The average award discount is the ratio between the average grant or scholarship value, and the cost, which is the sum of out-of-state tuition, room, board, book, supplies, and other expenses.

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Admissions

San Diego State University received 89,972 undergraduate applications in 2024, which represents a 8.66% annual growth. Out of those 89,972 applicants, 32,561 students were accepted for enrollment, representing a 36.2% acceptance rate.

There were 41,137 students enrolled at San Diego State University in 2024. 85% of first-time enrollees submitted SAT scores with their applications.

San Diego State University has an overall enrollment yield of 20.4%, which represents the number of admitted students who ended up enrolling.

Acceptance Rate

36.2%
Acceptance Rate in 2024
32,561
Accepted Out of 89,972

In 2024, the undergraduate acceptance rate of San Diego State University was 36.2% (32,561 admissions from 89,972 applications). This is higher than the acceptance rate of 2023, which was 34.4%. Between 2023 and 2024, the number of applicants grew by 8.66%, while admissions grew by 14.2%.

This chart compares the acceptance rate of San Diego State University (in red) with that of other similar universities, and the chart below shows the acceptance rate by gender.

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SAT Scores

85%
Submission Percentage (2020)
4,132
Scores Submitted (2020)

85% of enrolled first-time students at San Diego State University in 2020 submitted SAT scores with their applications.

The following chart shows the average SAT scores for the 25th, 50th, and 75th percentile of applicants for each section of the test that they are evaluated on.

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Enrollment

San Diego State University had a total enrollment of 41,137 students in 2024. The full-time enrollment at San Diego State University is 35,588 students and the part-time enrollment is 5,549. This means that 86.5% of students enrolled at San Diego State University are enrolled full-time.

The enrolled student population at San Diego State University, both undergraduate and graduate, is 36.4% Hispanic or Latino, 33.1% White, 12.9% Asian, 7.12% Two or More Races, 3.45% Black or African American, 0.248% Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islanders, and 0.17% American Indian or Alaska Native.

Students enrolled at San Diego State University in full-time Undergraduate programs are most commonly Hispanic or Latino Female (21.5%), followed by White Female (19.7%) and White Male (14.7%). Students enrolled in full-time Graduate programs are most commonly Hispanic or Latino Female (26%), followed by White Female (19.7%) and Hispanic or Latino Male (11%).

Full-Time vs Part-Time Enrollment

86.5%
Full-Time Enrollment

The total enrollment at San Diego State University in 2024, both undergraduate and graduate, is 41,137 students. The full-time enrollment at San Diego State University is 35,588 and the part-time enrollment is 5,549. This means that 86.5% of students enrolled at San Diego State University are enrolled full-time compared with 78.1% at similar Doctoral Universities.

This chart shows the full-time vs part-time enrollment status at San Diego State University (in red) compares to similar universities.

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Retention Rate over Time

91%
2024 Retention Rate

Retention rate measures the number of first-time students who began their studies the previous fall and returned to school the following fall. The retention rate for full-time undergraduates at San Diego State University was 91%. Compared with the full-time retention rate at similar Doctoral Universities (84%), San Diego State University had a retention rate higher than its peers.

This chart shows the retention rate over time at San Diego State University (highlighted in red) compares to similar universities.

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Enrollment by Race & Ethnicity

Most Common Race or Ethnicity (2024)
  1. Hispanic or Latino
    14,962 enrolled students
  2. White
    13,607 enrolled students
  3. Asian
    5,308 enrolled students

The enrolled student population at San Diego State University is 36.4% Hispanic or Latino, 33.1% White, 12.9% Asian, 7.12% Two or More Races, 3.45% Black or African American, 0.248% Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islanders, and 0.17% American Indian or Alaska Native. This includes both full-time and part-time students as well as graduate and undergraduates. By comparison, enrollment for all Doctoral Universities is 45.5% White, 16.4% Hispanic or Latino, and 10% Black or African American.

Any student who is studying in the United States on a temporary basis is categorized as a "Non-Resident Alien", and the share of those students are shown in the chart below. Additionally, 1,392 students (3.38%) did not report their race.

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Graduates

In 2024, 2,056 more women than men received degrees from San Diego State University. The most common race/ethnicity group of degree recipients at San Diego State University is hispanic or latino (3,895 degrees awarded). There were 1.04 times more hispanic or latino recipients than the next closest race/ethnicity group, white (3,752 degrees).

The most common Bachelor's Degree concentration at San Diego State University is General Business Administration & Management (2,164 degrees awarded), followed by General Psychology (681 degrees) and Criminal Justice - Safety Studies (547 degrees).

In 2024,  the most specialized majors across all degree types at San Diego State University, meaning they have significantly more degrees awarded in that concentration than the national average across all institutions, are Parks, Recreation, & Leisure (428 degrees awarded), Communications (581 degrees), and Language & Linguistics (139 degrees).

Common Jobs by Major

Other managers
Most Common Job

The most common jobs for people who hold a degree in one of the 5 most specialized majors at San Diego State University are Other managers (440,557 people), Lawyers, & judges, magistrates, & other judicial workers (406,840 people), Elementary & middle school teachers (243,916 people), Police officers (185,286 people), and Chief executives & legislators (180,248 people).

The most specialized majors at San Diego State University in 2024 are Parks, Recreation, & Leisure (428 degrees awarded), Communications (581 degrees), Language & Linguistics (139 degrees), Social Sciences (814 degrees), and Protective Services (550 degrees) (as of 2024).

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Highest Paying Jobs by Major

Surgeons
Highest Paying Job

The highest paying jobs for people who hold a degree in one of the 5 most specialized majors at San Diego State University are Surgeons, Physicians, Securities, commodities, & financial services sales agents, Magnetic resonance imaging technologists, and Nuclear medicine technologists and medical dosimetrists

The most specialized majors at San Diego State University are Parks, Recreation, & Leisure (428 degrees awarded), Communications (581 degrees), Language & Linguistics (139 degrees), Social Sciences (814 degrees), and Protective Services (550 degrees) (as of 2024).

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Common Industries by Major

Elementary & secondary schools
Most Common Industry

The most common industries for people who hold a degree in one of the 5 most specialized majors at San Diego State University are Elementary & secondary schools (641,833 people), Justice, public order, & safety activities (517,929 people), Colleges, universities & professional schools, including junior colleges (447,132 people), Legal services (349,178 people), and Computer Systems Design (335,637 people).

The most specialized majors at San Diego State University are Parks, Recreation, & Leisure (428 degrees awarded), Communications (581 degrees), Language & Linguistics (139 degrees), Social Sciences (814 degrees), and Protective Services (550 degrees) (as of 2024).

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Majors Awarded

IPEDS uses the Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP) standard, so the categories may not match the exact concentrations offered by San Diego State University.
Most Common (2024)
  1. General Business Administration & Management
    2,164 degrees awarded
  2. General Psychology
    681 degrees awarded
  3. Criminal Justice - Safety Studies
    547 degrees awarded

In 2024, the most common bachelors degree concentration at San Diego State University was General Business Administration & Management with 2,164 degrees awarded.

This visualization illustrates the percentage of degree-majors recipients from bachelors degree programs at San Diego State University according to their major.

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Sex Breakdown for Common Majors

4,436
Degrees Awarded to Men
in 2024
6,492
Degrees Awarded to Women
in 2024

In 2024, 4,436 degrees were awarded to men at San Diego State University, which is 0.683 times less than the number of degrees awarded to females (6,492).

This chart displays the sex disparity between the top 5 majors at San Diego State University by degrees awarded.

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Most Common Male Majors

In 2024, 1,275 degrees were awarded to men at San Diego State University in General Business Administration & Management, which is 1.13 times more than the 1,124 female recipients with that same degree.

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Most Common Female Majors

In 2024, 1,124 degrees were awarded to men at San Diego State University in General Business Administration & Management, which is 0.882 times less than the 1,275 male recipients with that same degree.

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Time to Complete

54%
100% Completion Time
78%
150% Completion Time

In 2024, 54% of students graduating from San Diego State University completed their program within 100% "normal time" (i.e. 4 years for a 4-year degree). Comparatively, 78% completed their degrees within 150% of the normal time, and 80% within 200%.

The following chart shows these completion rates over time compared to the average for the Doctoral Universities Carnegie Classification group.

Graduation rate is defined as the percentage of full-time, first-time students who received a degree or award within a specific percentage of "normal time" to completion for their program.

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Graduation Rate by Race and Sex

Showing demographic groups with ≥ 5 graduating students.
Asian Female
Highest Graduation Rate (86%)

The student demographic with the highest graduation rate in 2024 at San Diego State University is Female and Asian (86% graduation rate). Across all Doctoral Universities, Asian Female students have the highest graduation rate (75.5%).

The department of education defines graduation rate as the percentage of full-time, first-time students who received a degree or award within 150% of "normal time" to completion.

The National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) categorizes any student who is studying in the United States on a temporary basis as a "Non-Resident Alien", and the graduation rate of those students is shown in the chart below. Additionally, 2.23% of graduates (96 students) did not report their race.

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Race & Ethnicity by Share

Most Common Student Race or Ethnicity (2024)
  1. Hispanic or Latino
    3,895 degrees awarded
  2. White
    3,752 degrees awarded
  3. Asian
    1,376 degrees awarded

The most common race/ethnicity at San Diego State University is hispanic or latino (3,895 degrees awarded). There were 1.04 times more hispanic or latino recipients than the next closest race/ethnicity group, white (3,752 degrees).

3.55% of degree recipients (388 students) did not report their race.

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Race & Ethnicity by Sex

Most Common Sex Demographic (2024)
  1. Hispanic or Latino Female
    2,512 degrees awarded
  2. White Female
    2,195 degrees awarded
  3. White Male
    1,557 degrees awarded

The most common race/ethnicity and sex grouping at San Diego State University is hispanic or latino female (2,512 degrees awarded). There were 1.14 times more hispanic or latino female recipients than the next closest race/ethnicity group, white female (2,195 degrees).

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Operations

San Diego State University has an endowment valued at nearly $479M, as of the end of the 2024 fiscal year. The return on its endowment was of 42.1M (8.79%) compared to the 7.99% average return (38.5M on 482M) across all Doctoral Universities.

In 2024, San Diego State University had a total salary expenditure of 1.04B. San Diego State University employs 329 Professors, 260 Associate professors and 249 Lecturers. Most academics at San Diego State University are Male Professor (193), Male Associate professor (141), and Female Lecturer (140).

The most common positions for non-instructional staff at San Diego State University are: Community, Social Service, Legal, Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports and Media, with 534 employees, Business and Financial Operations, with 346 employees, and Office and Administrative Support with 319 employees.

Endowment

$479M
2024 Endowment
10.3%
growth from 2023

San Diego State University has an endowment valued at about $479M, as of the end of the 2024 fiscal year. The endowment of San Diego State University grew 10.3% from the previous year. The value of their endowment was $3.29M lower than than the median endowment of Doctoral Universities according to the Carnegie Classification grouping.

This line chart shows how the endowment at San Diego State University (in red) compares to that of some similar universities.

The small bar chart below shows the endowment quintiles for all universities in the Doctoral Universities: Higher Research Activity Carnegie Classification grouping.

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Government Grants and Contracts

Grants & Contracts
  1. $7.05M - Federal
  2. $506k - State
  3. $349k - Local

As of 2024, San Diego State University received $7.05M in grants and contracts from the federal government, $506k from state grants and contracts, and $349k from local grants and contracts.

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Salary Expenditure

$333M
2024 Salaries
0%
growth from 2023

In 2024, San Diego State University paid a median of $333M in salaries, which represents 32% of their overall expenditure ($1.04B) and a 0% growth from the previous year.

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Instructional Salaries

$128M
Instructional Salaries
1,060
Number of Employees

In 2024, San Diego State University paid a total of $128M to 1,060 employees working as instructors, which represents 38.5% of all salaries paid.

This is compared to a median of $6.16M (2.17%) for similar Doctoral Universities.

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Occupations by Share

In 2024, the most common positions for non-instructional staff at San Diego State University were Community, Social Service, Legal, Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports and Media with 534 employees, Business and Financial Operations with 346 employees, and Office and Administrative Support with 319 employees.

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