National university
#16 Best value colleges in the West in AmericaSan Diego State University
San Diego, CA · Public · 4-year
Your real cost
Average price after aid $15,364 a year
Median debt at graduation: $15,000 (all students)
Estimate your own price · the college’s net price calculator
Campus tour
SDSU Drone Campus Tour from Above #CampusTour · From the college’s official YouTube channel. Plays from YouTube when you tap it.
Rankings
Where this college places on our top lists. Lists are worked out from official data and our own research; places in the top quarter of each list are shown. See every list
In America
- Best colleges for criminal justice in America#29 of 1,046
- Best colleges for social work in America#29 of 605
- Best colleges for exercise science and kinesiology in America#46 of 950
- Best colleges for nursing in America#54 of 1,068
- Best colleges for accounting in America#60 of 1,132
- Best colleges for marketing in America#50 of 834
Show 29 more
- Best value colleges in America#44 of 674
- Best colleges for business in America#107 of 1,563
- Best colleges for finance in America#52 of 744
- Best colleges for communications and journalism in America#90 of 1,238
- Best colleges for education in America#99 of 1,318
- Colleges with the lowest student debt in America#53 of 684
- Best colleges in America#171 of 1,829
- Colleges with the best earnings for the price in America#66 of 681
- Best colleges for psychology in America#139 of 1,418
- Best test-optional colleges in America#147 of 1,481
- Best colleges for biology and pre-med in America#141 of 1,358
- Most affordable colleges with strong academics in America#73 of 690
- Best colleges for English in America#138 of 1,283
- Best colleges for history in America#141 of 1,247
- Best colleges for art and design in America#136 of 1,187
- Best colleges for mathematics in America#144 of 1,215
- Best colleges for chemistry in America#143 of 1,162
- Best colleges for political science and pre-law in America#140 of 1,116
- Best colleges for music in America#136 of 1,063
- Best colleges for computer science in America#96 of 750
- Colleges with the highest graduation rates in America#245 of 1,829
- Best colleges for engineering in America#110 of 749
- Best value colleges in the West in America#16 of 103
- Most selective colleges in America#110 of 683
- Lowest net price for middle-income families in America#112 of 682
- Best colleges for economics in America#139 of 788
- Best large colleges in America#46 of 256
- Best colleges for NCAA Division I athletes in America#82 of 367
- Colleges that pay for themselves fastest in America#149 of 598
In California
- Best colleges for criminal justice in California#2 of 40
- Best colleges for social work in California#2 of 26
- Best colleges for exercise science and kinesiology in California#4 of 49
- Best colleges for nursing in California#7 of 53
- Best colleges for finance in California#3 of 22
- Best colleges for marketing in California#3 of 22
Show 16 more
- Best colleges for education in California#8 of 56
- Most affordable colleges with strong academics in California#11 of 63
- Colleges with the lowest student debt in California#11 of 61
- Best colleges for accounting in California#8 of 42
- Best colleges for business in California#17 of 88
- Best colleges in California#25 of 128
- Best test-optional colleges in California#21 of 100
- Lowest net price for middle-income families in California#13 of 61
- Best value colleges in California#13 of 59
- Best value colleges in the West in California#13 of 59
- Best colleges for psychology in California#17 of 74
- Best colleges for art and design in California#18 of 75
- Colleges with the best earnings for the price in California#15 of 62
- Best colleges for communications and journalism in California#17 of 70
- Best colleges for music in California#18 of 70
- Most selective colleges in California#15 of 57
Academic Excellence
Each measure counts for the share shown.
- Graduation rate 35% of scoreThis measure counts for 35% of the Academic Excellence score.76%
- First-year retention 20% of scoreThis measure counts for 20% of the Academic Excellence score.91%
- Entering students' test scores 15% of scoreThis measure counts for 15% of the Academic Excellence score.Not reported
- Student-to-faculty ratio 15% of scoreThis measure counts for 15% of the Academic Excellence score.27 to 1
- Instructional spending per student 15% of scoreThis measure counts for 15% of the Academic Excellence score.$8,619
Bars show points on each measure’s scale. How Academic Excellence is computed.
Source: College Scorecard (College Scorecard, most recent cohorts (data release 06/10/2026))
What families pay, by income
Average yearly price after grants and scholarships, for students who receive federal aid.
| Family income | Price after aid |
|---|---|
| Up to $30,000 | |
| $30,001–$48,000 | |
| $48,001–$75,000 | |
| $75,001–$110,000 | |
| Over $110,000 |
Full cost of attendance before aid: $27,780 a year.
Use the college’s net price calculator for your own estimate.
Cost and value
Federal data: what families pay after aid, what graduates earn, and what they owe.
| Undergraduate students Fall enrollment (IPEDS) | 34,050 |
|---|---|
| Men and women College Scorecard, fall 2023 | Men 43% · Women 57% |
| First-generation students College Scorecard | 41% |
| First-year students from another state IPEDS, fall 2023 | 24% |
| Total students | 39,241 |
| Average net price (per year) After grants and scholarships, for students receiving federal aid | $15,364 |
| Cost of attendance (per year) | $27,780 |
| Median federal debt at graduation | $15,000 |
| Graduation rate First-time, full-time students finishing within 150% of normal time | 76% |
| Graduation rate for Pell grant recipients College Scorecard, within 6 years | 76% |
| Graduation rate for first-generation students College Scorecard, within 6 years | 75% |
| Borrowers paying down their loans within 3 years College Scorecard, within 3 years | 66% |
| First-year retention | 91% |
| Median earnings 10 years after entry | $64,909 |
| Admission rate | 36% |
| Application fee IPEDS, 2023–24 | $70 |
| Typical rent HUD fair market rent, FY2026 | About $2,459 a month for a one-bedroom |
| Students receiving Pell grants | 32% |
Value: Exceptional · Top 5% (how it’s computed)
Sources: College Scorecard · IPEDS College Navigator · Net price calculator
College Scorecard, most recent cohorts (data release 06/10/2026); IPEDS 2024-25 directory and institutional characteristics; fall 2023 enrollment.
Earnings by major
Median earnings of bachelor’s graduates a few years after finishing, by major (College Scorecard).
| Major | Median earnings |
|---|---|
| Nursing | |
| Computer engineering | |
| Electrical engineering | |
| Computer science | |
| Construction Engineering Technology/Technician | |
| Aerospace, Aeronautical, and Astronautical/Space Engineering | |
| Mechanical engineering | |
| Civil engineering | |
| Environmental/Environmental Health Engineering | |
| Finance | |
| Computing and information science | |
| Statistics | |
| Marketing | |
| Microbiological Sciences and Immunology | |
| Accounting | |
| Chemistry | |
| Economics | |
| Geology and earth science | |
| Health sciences | |
| Hospitality management | |
| Business administration | |
| Applied mathematics | |
| International business | |
| Biology | |
| Public relations | |
| Dietetics and Clinical Nutrition Services | |
| Political science | |
| Speech-language pathology | |
| Communication studies | |
| Public health | |
| Kinesiology and exercise science | |
| International relations | |
| Liberal arts | |
| Natural resources and conservation | |
| Geography | |
| Mathematics | |
| History | |
| Criminal justice | |
| Public administration | |
| Parks, Recreation, and Leisure Studies | |
| Social work | |
| Ethnic and gender studies | |
| Nutrition Sciences | |
| Interdisciplinary studies | |
| Design | |
| Journalism | |
| Anthropology | |
| Allied health | |
| Philosophy | |
| Sociology | |
| Social sciences | |
| Psychology | |
| Real Estate | |
| English | |
| Romance languages | |
| Teacher education | |
| Broadcasting | |
| Linguistics | |
| Music | |
| Theatre | |
| Fine arts |
Also offered (no earnings published yet): Area studies, Astronomy and Astrophysics, Biomedical/Medical Engineering, Classics, Dance, East Asian Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics, German, Gerontology, Global studies, Information science, Linguistics and Anthropology, Physical Sciences, Physics, Religious studies, Secondary education, Slavic, Baltic and Albanian Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics, Urban Studies/Affairs, Writing and rhetoric.
What students study most
Share of bachelor’s degrees by field, first majors in 2023–24 (IPEDS).
| Field | Share of degrees |
|---|---|
| Business | |
| Psychology | |
| Social sciences | |
| Engineering | |
| Criminal justice and security |
Campus life
| School colors | |
|---|---|
| Setting | City |
| Part-time undergraduates | 9% |
| Undergraduates aged 25 and older | 12% |
| On-campus room and board (per year) | $23,030 |
| Sports | NCAA Division I · Mountain West Conference |
| ROTC | Army · Navy · Air Force |
| Study abroad | Offered |
| Students per faculty member | 27 to 1 |
| Undergraduates registered with the disability office | About 7%IPEDS, 2023–24 |
| Faculty who are full-time | 50%College Scorecard, fall 2023 |
| Endowment per student | $12,169IPEDS, 2023, per student |
| Dorm space | For about 25% of studentsBeds per undergraduate; not who lives on campus |
| Nearest airport with airline service | San Diego International Airport (SAN)About 7 miles away · about 20 minutes by car |
| Town population | 1,389,526Census, 2020–2024 |
| Nearest city of 250,000 people or more | San DiegoAbout 5 miles away · about 20 minutes by car |
| Typical weather | 57°F in January · 72°F in JulyNOAA, 1991–2020, from San Diego Montgomery Field, CA, about 5 miles away |
Federal data (IPEDS and College Scorecard), except school colors.
Campus safety reports
On-campus crimes reported in 2024, per 1,000 students.
| Category | This campus | U.S. rate |
|---|---|---|
| Rape | 0.01 | 0.07 |
| Robbery | 0.02 | 0.01 |
| Aggravated assault | 0.11 | 0.04 |
| Burglary | 0.16 | 0.08 |
| Motor vehicle theft | 0.05 | 0.15 |
Numbers reflect what each campus reported. They differ with campus size and how reporting is done, so compare with care. U.S. rate: total reported offenses divided by total students at every institution in the report.
Questions families ask
- What is San Diego State University’s Compass Score?
- Exceptional (grade A). It ranks in the top 10% of rated colleges. The grade comes from outcomes (40%: graduation, retention and earnings), entering students (40%: test scores and selectivity), cost (15%: debt and price after aid) and teaching (5%: class size), all from federal data.
- How much does San Diego State University cost after financial aid?
- The average net price is $15,364 a year for students who receive federal aid, after grants and scholarships. What your family pays depends on income; the college’s net price calculator gives your own estimate.
- How hard is it to get into San Diego State University?
- San Diego State University admitted 36% of applicants in the most recent federal data.
- How do San Diego State University’s graduates do?
- 76% of first-time, full-time students graduate within six years; the median earnings of former students ten years after entry are $64,909; the median federal debt at graduation is $15,000.
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About this school’s data
- IPEDS unit ID 122409
- Carnegie classification: Doctoral university (high research)
- Accreditation: WASC Senior College and University Commission (U.S. Department of Education DAPIP)
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Colleges like this one
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