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San Diego State University
San Diego State University admits a bit under 40% of applicants; strong grades put you in the conversation at San Diego State University, and the data below says what "strong" means.
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San Diego State University sits in San Diego proper — a public campus woven into the city rather than walled off from it.
Its highest-earning path is Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing, where graduates median $120,799 four years out. 31.7% of undergraduates carry Pell grants — a plain read on who the campus actually serves. Most of its 35,377 undergraduates commute — campus empties by evening — yet 90.6% of first-years return, which says something about what daytime here is worth.
San Diego State University won't look at test scores — here the GPA calculator is the tool that matters. Bring your saved semester numbers and see what they average.
Admissions
In the Fall 2023 cycle, San Diego State University received 82,800 applications and admitted 28,517 (34.4%), with 6,162 enrolling.
Leave the SAT prep out of this one — test scores are disregarded entirely. San Diego State University's 36.2% admission rate turned on grades and application strength.
How San Diego State University compares
| San Diego State University | California median | National median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Acceptance rate | 36.2% | 75.7% | 77.2% |
| Tuition (in-state) | $8,728 | $23,000 | $19,591 |
| Median earnings (10 yr) | $64,909 | $64,778 | $53,781 |
Earnings data favors San Diego State University: $64,909 median at year ten, versus $64,778 across California institutions.
Cost, size & completion
In-state students pay $8,728 in tuition; crossing a state border raises that to $21,328. For non-residents, San Diego State University's $21,328 is the number to weigh against private options before assuming public means cheaper.
San Diego State University is a big school: 35,377 undergraduates at last count.
76.4% of San Diego State University students finish a bachelor's within six years — 21.6 points above the national 54.9% — and the single best predictor that the $8,728 price above buys a degree, not just enrollment.
Top majors by earnings at San Diego State University
| Bachelor's program | Median earnings, 4 yrs after completion |
|---|---|
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing | $120,799 |
| Computer Engineering | $116,842 |
| Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering | $106,416 |
| Computer Science | $100,586 |
| Construction Engineering Technology/Technician | $100,564 |
| Aerospace, Aeronautical, and Astronautical/Space Engineering | $100,139 |
| Mechanical Engineering | $97,825 |
| Civil Engineering | $95,865 |
| Environmental/Environmental Health Engineering | $88,417 |
| Finance and Financial Management Services | $88,136 |
| Computer and Information Sciences, General | $86,613 |
| Statistics | $83,076 |
| Marketing | $81,368 |
| Microbiological Sciences and Immunology | $81,122 |
| Accounting and Related Services | $80,011 |
| Chemistry | $74,676 |
| Economics | $74,123 |
| Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences | $73,647 |
| Health Services/Allied Health/Health Sciences, General | $73,095 |
| Hospitality Administration/Management | $70,113 |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | $69,902 |
| Applied Mathematics | $69,606 |
| International Business | $69,141 |
| Biology, General | $68,861 |
| Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication | $67,414 |
| Dietetics and Clinical Nutrition Services | $66,649 |
| Political Science and Government | $64,824 |
| Communication Disorders Sciences and Services | $61,510 |
| Communication and Media Studies | $61,389 |
| Public Health | $60,904 |
| Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness | $59,914 |
| International Relations and National Security Studies | $59,733 |
| Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities | $58,419 |
| Natural Resources Conservation and Research | $58,215 |
| Geography and Cartography | $58,004 |
| Mathematics | $57,999 |
| History | $57,861 |
| Criminal Justice and Corrections | $57,510 |
| Public Administration | $57,264 |
| Parks, Recreation, and Leisure Studies | $57,093 |
| Social Work | $56,674 |
| Ethnic, Cultural Minority, Gender, and Group Studies | $55,230 |
| Nutrition Sciences | $55,115 |
| Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other | $55,072 |
| Design and Applied Arts | $54,569 |
| Journalism | $53,997 |
| Anthropology | $53,991 |
| Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions | $53,621 |
| Philosophy | $53,390 |
| Sociology | $53,387 |
| Social Sciences, General | $52,095 |
| Psychology, General | $51,021 |
| Real Estate | $50,662 |
| English Language and Literature, General | $49,406 |
| Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics | $49,167 |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods | $48,471 |
| Radio, Television, and Digital Communication | $43,485 |
| Linguistic, Comparative, and Related Language Studies and Services | $42,922 |
| Music | $42,090 |
| Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft | $41,812 |
| Fine and Studio Arts | $35,416 |
Median earnings for these 61 San Diego State University programs come from a different federal cohort than the campus-wide $64,909 above — compare rows to each other, not to that 10-year figure. 18 additional San Diego State University programs have earnings withheld under federal privacy rules.
Frequently asked questions
What GPA and test scores do you need for San Diego State University?
San Diego State University doesn't look at test scores; its 36.2% admission rate turned on transcripts, coursework rigor and the application itself.
What is San Diego State University's acceptance rate?
34.4% in the Fall 2023 cycle — 28,517 admitted from 82,800 applicants.
How much does San Diego State University cost?
In-state tuition is $8,728; out-of-state students pay $21,328. Fees, housing and aid move the real total in both directions.
What do San Diego State University graduates earn?
Federal data puts median earnings at $64,909 ten years after enrolling. The table above breaks this down by major.
Similar colleges in California
- University of San Diego — 52.4% admitted
- Santa Clara University — 48% admitted
- Scripps College — 38.3% admitted
- Pacific Union College — 47.3% admitted
Run your own numbers
Data: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard (Jun 2026), IPEDS ADM2023/HD2024. Retrieved 2026-09-01. Figures reflect the latest federal cohorts, which lag the current admissions cycle.