Public · City: Large

San Diego State University

San Diego, California

Detailed ICP profile · Partial Common Data Set research. Each figure has its own reporting year. This is a research snapshot, not a live update.

At a glance

Admission rate
37.4%
Fall 2025 · past applicant pool, not your chances
Details about admission rate ↓
Undergraduates
36,196
Fall 2025
Details about undergraduates ↓
2026–27 published cost
$36,432
In-state (California) · On campus · before aid
Details about 2026–27 published cost ↓
Avg. cost after grants
$13,243
2024–25 · federal-aid recipients, in-state
Details about avg. cost after grants ↓

Admissions

Historical admissions describe the reported applicant pool, not your chances. Early-plan applicants form different pools.

Applicants admitted

37.4%

Fall 2025

Historical first-year applicant pool; not your admission chances.

About this number: Applicants admitted

Admission offers divided by applications for the reported pool. Applicant characteristics and campus scope vary; this does not predict an individual decision.

San Diego State University Common Data Set · Fall 2025

Who or what this describes: First-time, first-year degree-seeking students

How ICP checks and explains college data

First-year applications

95,444

Fall 2025

Historical applications in the source-defined pool and year.

About this number: First-year applications

This is an application count, not the size of the entering class. Campus/program reporting scope matters.

San Diego State University Common Data Set · Fall 2025

Who or what this describes: First-time, first-year degree-seeking students

How ICP checks and explains college data

More admissions statistics (2)

First-year admission offers

35,709

Fall 2025

Historical offers of admission, not students who enrolled.

About this number: First-year admission offers

Admitted and enrolled populations differ. This count is separate from acceptance rate or yield.

San Diego State University Common Data Set · Fall 2025

Who or what this describes: First-time, first-year degree-seeking students

How ICP checks and explains college data

New first-year students

6,911

Fall 2025

Historical entering class under the source definition.

About this number: New first-year students

This is neither all undergraduates nor all students who received an admission offer.

San Diego State University Common Data Set · Fall 2025

Who or what this describes: First-time, first-year degree-seeking students

How ICP checks and explains college data

Academic profile of entering students

Scores and GPA describe past students, not current requirements. Reporting methods and populations differ.

SAT 25th percentile

Unavailable

No verified figure available. Missing does not mean zero.

ACT 25th percentile

Unavailable

No verified figure available. Missing does not mean zero.

Average reported high-school GPA

3.82

Fall 2025

Among GPA reporters. Weighting and scale may vary; not a required or verified unweighted GPA.

About this number: Average reported high-school GPA

Schools report GPA differently. This mean cannot be compared as a universal scale or used as an admission cutoff.

San Diego State University Common Data Set · Fall 2025

Who or what this describes: first year enrollees reporting high school gpa

How ICP checks and explains college data

More academics statistics (1)

Share reporting GPA

100.0%

Fall 2025

Share of the entering group with reported GPA.

About this number: Share reporting GPA

The average reported GPA may describe only this subset; weighting and scale are source-specific.

San Diego State University Common Data Set · Fall 2025

Who or what this describes: First-time, first-year degree-seeking students

How ICP checks and explains college data

Costs & financial aid

Compare the year and population before comparing prices. Published budgets, group averages and your actual aid offer are different.

2026–27 cost of attendance

Published by San Diego State University
Tuition rate
Student and living situation

$36,432

Published cost of attendance · per year, before financial aid

  • 2026–27

This budget assumes

  • In-state (California)
  • On campus
  • All undergraduates

What the school includes

CSU basic tuition
$6,838
Campus fees
$2,942
Books and supplies
$1,014
Meal plan (on-campus average)
$7,848
Housing (on-campus average)
$14,008
Transportation
$1,216
Miscellaneous/personal
$2,566
Published total
$36,432

Not included in this total

Federal Direct Loan fees not included.

This is the school’s budget before financial aid. It is not a bill, the federal average net price, or your own aid offer.

About this budget
  • The school labels these figures 2026–27.
  • Source: Undergraduate California Resident - Cost of Attendance Tables (2026-27) (SDSU Student Affairs and Campus Diversity - Financial Aid and Scholarships). Researched October 21, 2026; independently audited October 22, 2026.

Research notes: Full-time, 9-month academic year. Imperial Valley campus subtracts $1,040.

Understand the five kinds of college costs
Tuition & fees
Instruction and required college fees; living costs are additional unless explicitly included.
Attendance budget
College charges plus estimated living, books, travel and other included expenses, before aid.
Average annual cost after grants & scholarships
A historical average after federal, state/local and college grant aid for a specified federal-aid population. Outside private scholarships are not automatically deducted; loans and work-study are not discounts.
Your net cost
Your entered attendance cost minus selected grants and scholarships. Loans and work-study remain funding sources.
Borrowing
Debt to repay, not a discount. Work-study is earned over time, not an upfront bill reduction.

Average annual cost after grants & scholarships · in-state

$13,243

2024–25

Includes applicable federal, state/local and college grants and scholarships. First-time, full-time in-state students receiving federal financial aid form the reporting population. The attendance budget includes estimated living expenses. Your actual cost may differ.

About this number: Average annual cost after grants & scholarships · in-state

Federal average net price subtracts qualifying federal, state/local and institutional grants and scholarships from the source-defined attendance budget. Federal aid defines the reporting population, not the only aid deducted; some included students receive federal loans or work-study but no grants. This is a historical average, not a personalized award. Outside private scholarships are not automatically deducted. The public-college population pays in-state tuition. It is not a personal offer; loans and work-study are not discounts.

U.S. Department of Education · 2024–25

Who or what this describes: First-time, full-time in-state students receiving federal financial aid at public institutions

How ICP checks and explains college data

In-state tuition

$6,838

2026–2027

Historical published tuition for the stated residency; other expenses may be additional.

About this number: In-state tuition

Residency eligibility and student population are institution-specific. Confirm current rates and rules.

San Diego State University Common Data Set · 2026–2027

Who or what this describes: First-year, full-time undergraduates

How ICP checks and explains college data

Out-of-state tuition

$20,968

2026–2027

Historical tuition; fees, housing and other costs may be additional.

About this number: Out-of-state tuition

A published residency rate is not an individual aid offer or current-price guarantee.

San Diego State University Common Data Set · 2026–2027

Who or what this describes: First-year, full-time undergraduates

How ICP checks and explains college data

More costs statistics (6)

Required fees

$2,824

2026–2027

Separate source-defined fees; do not add to an amount already including fees.

About this number: Required fees

Review the same-year tuition definition before adding separate fees.

San Diego State University Common Data Set · 2026–2027

Who or what this describes: First-year, full-time undergraduates

How ICP checks and explains college data

Housing & food

$24,749

2026–2027

Source-defined living arrangement and year; not necessarily your college bill.

About this number: Housing & food

Living expenses vary by housing arrangement. Do not mix these with a total budget that already includes them.

San Diego State University Common Data Set · 2026–2027

Who or what this describes: First-year, full-time undergraduates

How ICP checks and explains college data

Tuition & fees · in-state

$9,180

2025–26

Historical federal amount, before aid and living expenses.

About this number: Tuition & fees · in-state

Tuition and required fees are combined here. Do not add the institution’s separate fees again or confuse this with total attendance cost.

U.S. Department of Education · 2025–26

Who or what this describes: In-state tuition and fees

How ICP checks and explains college data

Tuition & fees · out-of-state

$25,500

2025–26

Historical federal amount, before aid and living expenses.

About this number: Tuition & fees · out-of-state

This combines tuition and fees for the reported residency. It is separate from a differently dated institutional tuition figure.

U.S. Department of Education · 2025–26

Who or what this describes: Out-of-state tuition and fees

How ICP checks and explains college data

Undergraduates receiving Pell Grants

35.4%

2024–25

Source-defined undergraduate recipients; not an eligibility prediction.

About this number: Undergraduates receiving Pell Grants

This describes reported recipients, not whether your family qualifies.

U.S. Department of Education · 2024–25

Who or what this describes: Percentage of undergraduates who receive a Pell Grant

How ICP checks and explains college data

Undergraduates receiving federal loans

24.2%

2024–25

Borrowing participation; loans are debt, not grants.

About this number: Undergraduates receiving federal loans

A loan must generally be repaid and does not reduce net price. This is not a measure of the amount each student borrows.

U.S. Department of Education · 2024–25

Who or what this describes: Percent of all undergraduate students receiving a federal student loan

How ICP checks and explains college data

Campus & student outcomes

Enrollment, return rates and completion rates describe different source populations. They are not a measure of every student’s experience.

Undergraduate students

36,196

Fall 2025

Source-defined undergraduate headcount, not just first-year students.

About this number: Undergraduate students

Institutional reporting scope can include multiple schools or campuses. Federal and institutional counts can use different populations or dates.

San Diego State University Common Data Set · Fall 2025

Who or what this describes: All undergraduates in the report

How ICP checks and explains college data

Students per faculty member · federal

27

Fall 2024

A reporting ratio, not average class size.

About this number: Students per faculty member · federal

This federal measure uses its own student and instructional-staff definitions. It is separate from class size.

U.S. Department of Education · Fall 2024

Who or what this describes: Student-to-faculty ratio

How ICP checks and explains college data

More campus and outcome statistics (6)

Undergraduate students · federal

35,782

Fall 2024

Fall 2024 undergraduate headcount, including full-time and part-time students.

About this number: Undergraduate students · federal

This is the source-defined institutional reporting unit, not a count of majors, degrees awarded or all graduate and undergraduate students.

U.S. Department of Education · Fall 2024

Who or what this describes: Grand total

How ICP checks and explains college data

Reported academic calendar

Semester

2025–26

Reported population and year apply; missing is not zero.

About this number: Reported academic calendar

Read the source-defined population and conditions before comparing this figure with another institution.

U.S. Department of Education · 2025–26

Who or what this describes: Institution-level service or characteristic, rather than a student cohort

How ICP checks and explains college data

Undergraduate research in federal reporting

Yes

2025–26

Historical service reporting; an unmarked option is not proof that research is unavailable.

About this number: Undergraduate research in federal reporting

The source describes a reported co-curricular option, not the full current research opportunities available to students. Verify current offerings directly.

U.S. Department of Education · 2025–26

Who or what this describes: Institution-level service or characteristic, rather than a student cohort

How ICP checks and explains college data

Study abroad reported

Yes

2025–26

Reported population and year apply; missing is not zero.

About this number: Study abroad reported

Read the source-defined population and conditions before comparing this figure with another institution.

U.S. Department of Education · 2025–26

Who or what this describes: Institution-level service or characteristic, rather than a student cohort

How ICP checks and explains college data

Academic & career counseling reported

Yes

2025–26

Reported population and year apply; missing is not zero.

About this number: Academic & career counseling reported

Read the source-defined population and conditions before comparing this figure with another institution.

U.S. Department of Education · 2025–26

Who or what this describes: Institution-level service or characteristic, rather than a student cohort

How ICP checks and explains college data

AP credit reported

Yes

2025–26

Reported population and year apply; missing is not zero.

About this number: AP credit reported

Read the source-defined population and conditions before comparing this figure with another institution.

U.S. Department of Education · 2025–26

Who or what this describes: Institution-level service or characteristic, rather than a student cohort

How ICP checks and explains college data

What could you study?

These examples come from historical bachelor’s degrees awarded, not a verified current-major catalog. Confirm current programs, campus and entry conditions with the college.

Historical degree records & sources

Reported first-major bachelor’s credentials, not necessarily distinct graduates. Examples with the largest reported counts, including ties; no campus or classification totals are added together.

  • Business Administration and Management, General

    2,210 degrees awarded · 2024-25

  • Psychology, General

    759 degrees awarded · 2024-25

  • Criminal Justice/Safety Studies

    547 degrees awarded · 2024-25

  • Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness, General

    381 degrees awarded · 2024-25

  • Computer Science

    339 degrees awarded · 2024-25

  • Speech Communication and Rhetoric

    336 degrees awarded · 2024-25

  • Art/Art Studies, General

    327 degrees awarded · 2024-25

  • Biology/Biological Sciences, General

    256 degrees awarded · 2024-25

  • Liberal Arts and Sciences/Liberal Studies

    254 degrees awarded · 2024-25

  • Mechanical Engineering

    224 degrees awarded · 2024-25

  • Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse

    224 degrees awarded · 2024-25

Plan your application

Check current official instructions for testing, essays, recommendations and dates. Historical admissions outcomes are not application requirements. Early Decision can be binding; review the institution’s conditions before choosing it.

San Diego State University — SAT/ACT policy

Not verified for this cycle

We have not verified a SAT/ACT policy for this entry year and applicant group.

Fall 2027 · first-year U.S. citizen / permanent resident applicant.

Read San Diego State University’s official testing guidance ↗ (opens in a new tab)
Different applicant situation?

SAT/ACT and English proficiency are different requirements. Program, recruitment and scholarship rules may need separate confirmation.

Sources & research

Institutional Common Data Sets and federal statistics have different reporting periods and populations. Research snapshot: October 16–19, 2026. Missing values can reflect nonreporting, conflict, ambiguity or incomplete review; they are never zero. Institution earnings remain withheld under the research restrictions.

How ICP selects and explains data →