San Diego State University is a public 4-year college in San Diego, California with 35,377 undergraduates. It admits 36% of applicants, costs an average of $13,243 a year after grants and graduates 78% of its students.
Figures from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, released October 15, 2026. What each number covers.
San Diego State University acceptance rate and admissions
San Diego State University admitted 36% of applicants for fall 2024, about 1 in 3. The median acceptance rate at 4-year colleges is 77%.
Test scores: Neither required nor recommended (as reported for fall 2024 admission). That means you can apply without SAT or ACT scores. Check the admissions office for the current policy.
San Diego State University tuition, cost and net price
| Tuition and fees, in-state (2025-26) | $9,180 |
|---|---|
| Tuition and fees, out-of-state (2025-26) | $25,500 |
| On-campus housing and food (2025-26) | $23,736 |
| Total cost of attendance (2024-25) | $26,045 |
| Average net price after grants (2024-25) | $13,243 |
Students who get federal aid pay an average of $13,243 a year after grants and scholarships, $12,802 less than the full cost of attendance. This figure covers in-state students.
What families pay, by income
Average yearly cost after grants for aided first-time students paying in-state tuition, by family income (2024-25):
Your own price depends on your family's full situation. Run San Diego State University's net price calculator for a personal estimate, or make a "what it costs us" card.
San Diego State University graduation rate, earnings and debt
- 78% of first-time, full-time students finished within six years (students who started in 2019).
- Former students earned a median of $73,494 a year, 10 years after they started (students who received federal aid and were working).
- Students who completed left with a median of $14,500 in federal student loans.
Earnings compared
Debt compared
Median debt is 20% of median earnings 10 years after entry. Many advisers suggest keeping total student debt below one year of expected pay. See the monthly payment.
San Diego State University majors and what graduates earn
San Diego State University awarded bachelor's degrees in 69 fields recently. The best-paid graduates four years out came from nursing ($120,799).
All 69 majors at San Diego State University
| Major | Graduates (2023-24) | Earnings 1 yr after | Earnings 4 yrs after | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nursing | 200 | $111,312 | $120,799 | $15,000 |
| Computer engineering | 70 | $79,102 | $116,842 | $21,498 |
| Electrical engineering | 101 | $81,083 | $106,416 | $12,600 |
| Computer science | 221 | $78,290 | $100,586 | $13,000 |
| Construction Engineering Technology/Technician | 17 | $89,358 | $100,564 | n/a |
| Aerospace engineering | 105 | $72,773 | $100,139 | $18,000 |
| Mechanical engineering | 186 | $77,287 | $97,825 | $15,000 |
| Civil engineering | 144 | $74,131 | $95,865 | $16,421 |
| Environmental engineering | 30 | $71,143 | $88,417 | $15,000 |
| Statistics | 22 | $55,412 | $83,076 | $14,870 |
| Microbiological Sciences and Immunology | 29 | $46,281 | $81,122 | n/a |
| Chemistry | 43 | $63,412 | $74,676 | $19,405 |
| Economics | 203 | $49,742 | $74,123 | $14,000 |
| Geology and earth sciences | 6 | $59,614 | $73,647 | n/a |
| Hospitality management | 62 | $51,837 | $70,113 | $18,750 |
| Business administration | 2,164 | $56,205 | $69,902 | $14,946 |
| Applied mathematics | 20 | $42,055 | $69,606 | $13,798 |
| International business | 100 | $52,339 | $69,141 | $15,000 |
| Biology | 252 | $43,128 | $68,861 | $13,812 |
| Public relations and advertising | 37 | $48,750 | $67,414 | $13,100 |
| Political science | 135 | $43,429 | $64,824 | $13,000 |
| Speech-language pathology | 139 | $30,611 | $61,510 | $13,250 |
| Communication | 303 | $44,976 | $61,389 | $14,000 |
| Public health | 170 | $40,070 | $60,904 | $16,066 |
| Kinesiology and exercise science | 406 | $32,896 | $59,914 | $13,781 |
| International relations | 34 | $39,660 | $59,733 | $19,709 |
| Liberal arts and general studies | 268 | $33,277 | $58,419 | $13,000 |
| Environmental science | 102 | $40,513 | $58,215 | $14,875 |
| Geography | 43 | n/a | $58,004 | $14,147 |
| Mathematics | 27 | n/a | $57,999 | n/a |
| History | 90 | $40,549 | $57,861 | $13,000 |
| Criminal justice | 547 | $40,445 | $57,510 | $12,500 |
| Public administration | 53 | $44,736 | $57,264 | $15,750 |
| Parks and recreation | 14 | $46,097 | $57,093 | n/a |
| Social work | 80 | $42,357 | $56,674 | $11,000 |
| Ethnic, Cultural Minority, Gender, and Group Studies | 38 | $35,158 | $55,230 | $16,700 |
| Nutrition Sciences | 60 | $34,411 | $55,115 | $13,249 |
| Interdisciplinary studies, other | 169 | $41,317 | $55,072 | $14,821 |
| Journalism | 121 | $43,326 | $53,997 | $15,333 |
| Anthropology | 48 | $40,983 | $53,991 | $13,000 |
| Allied health (PA, radiography, therapy and more) | 1 | n/a | $53,621 | n/a |
| Philosophy | 26 | n/a | $53,390 | n/a |
| Sociology | 164 | $37,982 | $53,387 | $12,337 |
| Social Sciences, General | 42 | $38,735 | $52,095 | $13,000 |
| Psychology | 681 | $33,788 | $51,021 | $13,000 |
| English | 126 | $31,796 | $49,406 | $15,000 |
| Romance languages | 79 | $33,274 | $49,167 | $9,000 |
| Teacher education by grade level | 141 | $36,537 | $48,471 | $14,000 |
| Radio, TV and digital media | 86 | $31,944 | $43,485 | $15,000 |
| Linguistics | 21 | $29,617 | $42,922 | n/a |
| Music | 65 | $25,783 | $42,090 | $19,587 |
| Theater | 49 | $27,400 | $41,812 | $15,000 |
| Fine and studio arts | 285 | $27,669 | $35,416 | $15,000 |
| Urban Studies/Affairs | 24 | $38,722 | n/a | n/a |
| Physics | 21 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| East Asian Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics | 14 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Construction Management | 14 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| International/Globalization Studies | 11 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Linguistics and Anthropology | 6 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Astronomy | 6 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Dance | 6 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies | 5 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Gerontology | 4 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Religious studies | 4 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Area Studies | 2 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Classics and Classical Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics | 2 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Slavic, Baltic and Albanian Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics | 1 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Germanic Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics | 0 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Physical Sciences, General | 0 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
Four-year earnings: graduates of 2017-18 and 2018-19, measured in 2022 and 2023, in 2024 dollars. Fields with few graduates have no published earnings.
Graduate programs at San Diego State University
83 graduate programs awarded degrees recently. Largest first.
Show 83 graduate programs
Students and location
- 35,377 degree-seeking undergraduates (fall 2024)
- 57% women, 43% men
- 27 students for every faculty member
- Setting: large city
- Accredited by Western Association of Schools and Colleges Senior Colleges and University Commission
Frequently asked questions
What is the acceptance rate at San Diego State University?
San Diego State University admitted 36% of applicants for fall 2024, according to the U.S. Department of Education.
How much does San Diego State University cost?
Tuition and fees for 2025-26 are $9,180 for in-state students and $25,500 for out-of-state students. After grants and scholarships, aided students paid an average net price of $13,243 a year in 2024-25.
Is San Diego State University test-optional?
For fall 2024 admission, San Diego State University reported that test scores were: neither required nor recommended. Policies change, so confirm with the admissions office.
What is the graduation rate at San Diego State University?
78% of first-time, full-time students finished within six years.
How much do San Diego State University graduates make?
Former students who received federal aid earned a median of $73,494 a year 10 years after they started, in 2024 dollars.
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More: all colleges in California · colleges in San Diego · San Diego State University on the College Scorecard
Source: U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard, data release of October 15, 2026. What each figure means and the year it covers.