San Diego State University (SDSU)

Black Pinpoint 5500 Campanile Drive | San Diego, CA | 92182-7455

01. Overview

What the school is known for:

Students attending San Diego State University receive a "quality, affordable education," all while they soak up that brilliant "San Diego sun!" And with a "wide array [of] majors and minors" along with a good deal of "flexibility in course choices," it's understandable why individuals are drawn to this institution. Speaking of majors (and minors), undergrads at SDSU rush to underscore a handful of really stellar academic departments. For starters, the "science programs have vigorous requirements that [truly] prepare you for grad school or medical school." Additionally, the "music program strives to create the best educators and performers." The nursing school is also "amazing" and really works to "accommodate...each individual." And the international business program is considered "one of the top...in the nation."

When it comes to professors, the vast majority at SDSU are "dedicated and eager to teach." Moreover, they typically approach their time in the classroom with "enthusiasm" and manage to "bring life to every lecture." Indeed, they "make learning the material easy and fun." It's also quite apparent that they "care about their students," taking the time to "check in with them" and making themselves "accessible outside of the classroom." And, as a grateful religious studies major explains, they often "inspire [you] to become a more intellectual person and involved student."

02. Rankings

Rankings and Lists

03. Admissions & Acceptance Rate

Applicants Icon
Applicants
82,941
Acceptance Icon
Acceptance Rate
34%
GPA Icon
Average HS GPA
3.86

Deadlines

Regular
November 30

SAT & ACT Test Scores

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Testing Policies

Standardized testing policy for
use in admission:
Test Blind

Other Admission Factors Academic

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Rigor of Secondary School Record
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Academic GPA

Selectivity

4. Cost, Tuition, Expenses

Expenses per Academic Year

Tuition
$18,684
Average Cost for Books and Supplies
$946
Tuition / Fees Vary by Year of Study
No
Transportation for Commuters
$2,472
On-Campus Room and Board
22824
Approximate Expenses per year
$44,926

Students Also View These Schools

05. Academics

Student Faculty Icon
Student/Faculty
23 : 1
Acceptance Icon
Total Faculty
2,154
Terminal Degree Icon
Terminal Degree
1,281

Gender

Women
1,103
Men
1,051
Minority
796
International
50

Class/Lab sizes

Most frequent class size
10-19
Most frequent lab/sub section size
10-19

Rating

Graduation Rates

Graduate in 4 years
54%
Graduate in 5 years
74%
Graduate in 6 years
78%

University Degrees

Bachelor's
Doctoral/Professional
Doctoral/Research
Master's
Post-Bachelor's certificate

06. Student Body

What students say:

San Diego State is comprised of a "diverse community of students who are as laid-back as they are hard-working." Indeed, the university does a great job of attracting undergrads "from all over the world and all walks of life." Students happily report that their peers are both "social" and "academically driven." Even better, "they are supportive and seem to always be open to help others who are struggling." Undergrads also appreciate that there are "endless opportunities to meet new people because the campus is swarming with students." And, for the most part, San Diego undergrads are "very accepting of one another and open minded." Of course, all of this goodwill can partially be attributed to the lovely surroundings. As one business students sums up, "It's hard not to be happy when living in beautiful San Diego."

Gender

56% female44% male

Out of State

15% are out
of state
85% are
in-state

Students

90% are
full time
10% are
part time

Student Body Profile

Total Undergraduate Enrollment
32,896
Foreign Countries Represented
122

Student Body Demographics

American Indian or Alaskan Native
0.21%
Asian
13.24%
Black
3.62%
Hispanic
35.38%
Caucasian
33.81%
Unknown
3.53%
International
2.97%

07. Mental Health

08. Campus Life

What students say:

Simply put, life at San Diego State is "wonderful." And, no matter whether you opt to participate in "Greek life, a student organization, or a sport, everyone [finds] something to do." Additionally, SDSU's Associated Students is great about sponsoring a number of "fun" events such as Aztec Nights, which in past years have included "Distress Fest, Haunted Montezuma, and the Polar Plunge." A thrilled speech pathology major rushes to brag, "Every Thursday, there is a farmer's market on campus where students can enjoy a wide array of international cuisines prepared by local restaurants. SDSU also has "amazing athletics" and undergrads love "attending football [games], basketball [games] and other sporting events." Of course, given that San Diego has "[beautiful] weather year round," you won't catch SDSU students...spend[ing] much time indoors." It's quite common to see students riding "bikes or skateboards across campus." And a business administration major pipes in, "The beach is a huge draw for people whether you like surfing, paddle boarding, or just swimming." Additionally, the "campus is located 10 minutes from Fashion Valley or Balboa Park, and there are tons of good restaurants around. It is also very close to the Mexican border for easy day trips."

Students
25%
First-Year Students
69%
Campus Environment
Large Urban
Help finding off-campus housing
Yes

9. Campus Visits

Campus Visits Contact

Matthew Hebert
Director, Student Recruitment and School Relations, Enrollment Services
Location Icon
5500 Campanile Drive San Diego, CA 92182-7455
Phone icon
619-594-6336

Campus Tours

Campus Visiting Center

Monday - Friday

Calendar icon
9 a.m. - 4 p.m.
Phone icon
619-594-6336

Campus Tours

Appointment Required:
Yes
Dates:
Year-round
Times:
Varies
Average Length:
1 hour

Visits

CLASS VISITS

Arrangements
Contact Admissions Office

FACULTY AND COACH VISITS

Dates/Times Available
N/A
 

On Campus Interview

Campus Interviews:
No
Information Sessions:
Not Available

Overnight Dorm Stays

Overnight Dorm Stays
Not Available

Campus Tours


TYPES OF TRANSPORTATION AVAILABLE TO CAMPUS

Bus, shuttle and trolley. Lindbergh Field in downtown San Diego is 15 miles west of campus.


DRIVING INSTRUCTIONS TO CAMPUS

If you are coming from: Los Angeles I-5 South Merge onto I-8 East Riverside I-15 South Merge onto I-8 East Yuma I-8 West Mexico 805 North Merge onto I-8 East San Diego International Airport Turn left onto N. Harbor Dr. Turn left onto W. Grape St. Merge onto I-5 South Merge onto CA-163 North Merge onto I-8 East From I-8, take College Avenue exit and go south. San Diego State University will be on your right. Proceed past Canyon Crest Drive through (the first stoplight) then make an immediate right turn to the green Information Booth for parking information. Ask the parking guard for directions as to where you may park. Paid visitor parking is available in designated campus lots. Please refer to the campus map for specific visitor locations

LOCAL ACCOMMODATIONS

San Diego's Hotel Circle located off of Interstate 8 and Hotel Circle Drive provides numerous hotel options ranging in price and accommodation types.


10. Sports & Athletics

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Athletic Division I

Participate in intercollegiate sports
2%

Men's Sports (Aztecs)

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Basketball
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Football
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Golf
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Soccer
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Tennis

Women's Sports (Aztecs)

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Basketball
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Cross Country
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Diving
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Golf
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Lacrosse
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Soccer
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Softball
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Swimming
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Tennis
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Track Field Indoor
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Track Field Outdoor
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Volleyball

11. Housing & Activities

Hosting Features

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Apartment Single
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Disabled Student
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Dorms Coed
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Frat Sorority
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International Student
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Other
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Theme Housing
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Wellness Housing

Special Needs Admissions

Director
Lynn Gagne
College Entrance Tests Required
Yes
Interview Required
No

Student Activities

Registered Student Organizations
274
Number of Honor Societies
26
Number of Social Sororities
15
Number of Religious Organizations
15
Join a fraternity
10%
Join a sorority
12%

12. Student Services

Day Care
Health
Womens Center

Military

Army ROTC Offered on-campus
Navy ROTC Offered at cooperating institutions: University of San Diego
Air Force ROTC Offered on-campus

Sustainability

School Has Formal Sustainability Committee
Yes
Sustainability-focused degree available
Yes
School employs a sustainability officer
Yes
Public GHG inventory plan
Yes

Green rating

96%

Food budget spent on local/organic food

12%

Available Transportation Alternatives

Bike Share
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Car Sharing Program
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School Adopted A Policy Prohibiting Idling
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School Developed Bicycle Plan
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CAMPUS SECURITY REPORT

The Jeanne Clery Act requires colleges and universities to disclose their security policies, keep a public crime log, publish an annual crime report and provide timely warnings to students and campus employees about a crime posing an immediate or ongoing threat to students and campus employees.

Please visit The Princeton Review's page on campus safety for additional resources:

Visit Page
Warning Icon

The Princeton Review publishes links directly to each school's Campus Security Reports where available. Applicants can also access all school-specific campus safety information using the Campus Safety and Security Data Analysis Cutting Tool provided by the Office of Postsecondary Education of the U.S. Department of Education: https://ope.ed.gov/campussafety/#/

Other Information

Campus-wide Internet Network
Checkmark icon
Fee for Network Use
X Mark icon
Partnerships with Technology Companies
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Personal computer included in tuition for each student
X Mark icon
Discounts Available with Hardware Vendors
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Description Apple Dell HP Sony Adobe Samsung Microsoft Lenovo

13. Financial Aid

Dates

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Application DeadlinesMar 2
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Notification DateMar 15

Required Forms

FAFSA
State Aid

Financial Aid Statistics

Average Freshman Total Need-Based Gift Aid
$11,258
Average Undergraduate Total Need-Based Gift Aid
$10,991
Average Need-Based Loan
$4,467
Undergraduates who have borrowed through any loan program
28%
Average amount of loan debt per graduate
$14,063
Average amount of each freshman scholarship/grant package
$4,635
Financial aid provided to international students
Yes

Available Aid

Financial Aid Methodology
Scholarships and Grants

Need-Based Aid

01 - Need-Based College/University Scholarship or Grant Aid from Institutional Funds
02 - Need-Based Federal Pell
03 - Need-Based Private Scholarships
04 - Need-Based SEOG
05 - Need-Based State Scholarships

Federal Direct Student Loan Programs

01 - Direct PLUS Loans
02 - Direct Subsidized Stafford Loans
03 - Direct Unsubsidized Stafford Loans

Federal Family Education Loan Programs (FFEL):

01 - College/university loans from institutional funds
02 - State Loans
Is Institutional Employment Available (other than Federal Work Study)
Yes

14. Career Services & Jobs

Graduation Rates

Graduate in 4 years
54%
Graduate in 5 years
74%
Graduate in 6 years
78%

Career Services

01 - Alumni Network
02 - Alumni Services
03 - Classes
04 - Interest Inventory
05 - Internships
06 - Regional Alumni

Opportunities at School

01 - Coop
02 - Experiential
03 - Internship

15. Majors

Down Arrow Icon

01 AREA, ETHNIC, CULTURAL, GENDER, AND GROUP STUDIES.

  • African-American/Black Studies.
  • American Indian/Native American Studies.
  • Asian Studies/Civilization.
  • Ethnic, Cultural Minority, Gender, and Group Studies, Other.
  • European Studies/Civilization.
  • Hispanic-American, Puerto Rican, and Mexican-American/Chicano Studies.
  • Latin American Studies.
  • Russian, Central European, East European and Eurasian Studies.
  • Women's Studies.
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02 BIOLOGICAL AND BIOMEDICAL SCIENCES.

  • Biology/Biological Sciences, General.
  • Ecology.
  • Microbiology, General.
  • Zoology/Animal Biology.
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03 BUSINESS, MANAGEMENT, MARKETING, AND RELATED SUPPORT SERVICES.

  • Accounting.
  • Business Administration and Management, General.
  • Construction Management.
  • Finance, General.
  • Financial Planning and Services.
  • Hospitality Administration/Management, General.
  • Human Resources Management/Personnel Administration, General.
  • International Business/Trade/Commerce.
  • Marketing/Marketing Management, General.
  • Operations Management and Supervision.
  • Real Estate.
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04 COMMUNICATION, JOURNALISM, AND RELATED PROGRAMS.

  • Advertising.
  • Digital Communication and Media/Multimedia.
  • Health Communication.
  • Journalism.
  • Public Relations/Image Management.
  • Radio and Television.
  • Speech Communication and Rhetoric.
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05 COMPUTER AND INFORMATION SCIENCES AND SUPPORT SERVICES.

  • Computer Science.
  • Information Technology.
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06 EDUCATION.

  • Early Childhood Education and Teaching.
  • Music Teacher Education.
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07 ENGINEERING TECHNOLOGIES AND ENGINEERING-RELATED FIELDS.

  • Construction Engineering Technology/Technician.
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08 ENGINEERING.

  • Aerospace, Aeronautical and Astronautical/Space Engineering.
  • Civil Engineering, General.
  • Computer Engineering, General.
  • Electrical and Electronics Engineering
  • Engineering, General.
  • Environmental/Environmental Health Engineering.
  • Mechanical Engineering.
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09 ENGLISH LANGUAGE AND LITERATURE/LETTERS.

  • English Language and Literature, General.
  • Writing, General.
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10 FOREIGN LANGUAGES, LITERATURES, AND LINGUISTICS.

  • Classics and Classical Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics, General.
  • Comparative Literature.
  • French Language and Literature.
  • German Language and Literature.
  • Japanese Language and Literature.
  • Linguistics.
  • Russian Language and Literature.
  • Spanish Language and Literature.
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11 HEALTH PROFESSIONS AND RELATED PROGRAMS.

  • Athletic Training/Trainer.
  • Communication Sciences and Disorders, General.
  • Public Health, General.
  • Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse.
  • Speech-Language Pathology/Pathologist.
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12 HISTORY.

  • History, General.
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14 LIBERAL ARTS AND SCIENCES, GENERAL STUDIES AND HUMANITIES.

  • General Studies.
  • Humanities/Humanistic Studies.
  • Liberal Arts and Sciences/Liberal Studies.
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15 MATHEMATICS AND STATISTICS.

  • Applied Mathematics, General.
  • Mathematics, General.
  • Statistics, General.
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16 MULTI/INTERDISCIPLINARY STUDIES.

  • Gerontology.
  • International/Global Studies.
  • Multi-/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other.
  • Nutrition Sciences.
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17 NATURAL RESOURCES AND CONSERVATION.

  • Environmental Science.
  • Environmental Studies.
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18 PARKS, RECREATION, LEISURE, AND FITNESS STUDIES.

  • Health and Physical Education/Fitness, General.
  • Kinesiology and Exercise Science.
  • Parks, Recreation and Leisure Studies.
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19 PHILOSOPHY AND RELIGIOUS STUDIES.

  • Islamic Studies.
  • Jewish/Judaic Studies.
  • Philosophy.
  • Religion/Religious Studies.
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20 PHYSICAL SCIENCES.

  • Astronomy.
  • Atomic/Molecular Physics.
  • Chemistry, General.
  • Geology/Earth Science, General.
  • Physical Sciences.
  • Physics, General.
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21 PSYCHOLOGY.

  • Psychology, General.
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22 PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION AND SOCIAL SERVICE PROFESSIONS.

  • Public Administration and Social Service Professions, Other.
  • Public Administration.
  • Social Work.
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23 SOCIAL SCIENCES.

  • Anthropology.
  • Economics, General.
  • Geography.
  • International Relations and National Security Studies, Other.
  • Political Science and Government, General.
  • Social Sciences, General.
  • Sociology.
  • Urban Studies/Affairs.
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24 VISUAL AND PERFORMING ARTS.

  • Art History, Criticism and Conservation.
  • Art/Art Studies, General.
  • Dance, General.
  • Drama and Dramatics/Theatre Arts, General.
  • Fine/Studio Arts, General.
  • Graphic Design.
  • Interior Design.
  • Music Performance, General.
  • Music, General.

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