San Diego State University

www.sdsu.edu

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2023 Undergraduate Tuition

$5,742

2023 Average Net Price

$19,500

After Financial Aid

2020 Default Rate

on Student Loans

2023 Acceptance Rate

34.4%

82,800 Applicants

2023 Enrolled Students

39,241

85.1% Full-Time

2023 Graduation Rate

78.3%

3,979 Graduates

About

San Diego State University is a higher education institution located in San Diego County, CA. In 2023, the most popular Bachelors Degree concentrations at San Diego State University were General Business Administration & Management (2,008 degrees awarded), General Psychology (646 degrees), and Criminal Justice - Safety Studies (415 degrees).

In 2023, 10,849 degrees were awarded across all undergraduate and graduate programs at San Diego State University. 60.4% of these degrees were awarded to women, and 39.6% awarded men. The most common race/ethnicity group of degree recipients was white (3,795 degrees), 1.01 times more than then the next closest race/ethnicity group, hispanic or latino (3,742 degrees).

The median undergraduate tuition at San Diego State University is $5,742, which is $−25,261 less than the national average for Doctoral Universities ($31,004).

In 2020 the default rate for borrower's at San Diego State University was 0%, corresponding to 0 out of the 4,959 total borrowers.

Photo by Stuart Seeger

Doctoral Universities: Higher Research Activity Doctoral Universities

Costs

In 2023, the median undergraduate tuition at San Diego State University is $5,742, which is $25,262 less than the national average for Doctoral Universities ($31,004).

After taking grants and loans into account, the average net price for students is $19,500.

In 2023, 88% of undergraduate students attending San Diego State University received financial aid through grants. Comparatively, 23% of undergraduate students received financial aid through loans.

Tuition Costs

$5,742

2023 Undergraduate Tuition

In 2023, the cost of tuition at San Diego State University was $5,742. The cost of tuition at San Diego State University is $−25,262 less than than the overall (public and private) national average for Doctoral Universities ($31,004).

This chart compares the tuition costs of San Diego State University (in red) with those of other similar universities.

Average Net Price

$19,500

2023 Value

49.8%

1 Year Growth

In 2023 San Diego State University had an average net price — the price paid after factoring in grants and loans — of $19,500. Between 2022 and 2023, the average net price of San Diego State University grew by 49.8%.

This chart compares the average net price of San Diego State University (in red) with that of other similar universities.

Average net price is calculated from full-time beginning undergraduate students who were awarded a grant or scholarship from federal, state or local governments, or the institution.

Other Student Expenses

$17,929

Room and Board

$1,146

Books and Supplies

The average yearly cost of room and board at San Diego State University was of $17,929 in 2023. The cost of room and board increased by 3.32% between 2022 and 2023.

During the same period, the average yearly cost of books and supplies was $1,146. The cost of books and supplies increased by 5.04% during the same period.

This chart compares the average student costs at San Diego State University (in red) with that of similar universities.

Financial Aid by Income Level

88%

Undergraduates Receiving Financial Aid through Grants

23%

Undergraduates Receiving Financial Aid through Loans

88% of undergraduate students at San Diego State University received financial aid through grants or loans in 2023. This represents a growth of 44.3% with respect to 2022, when 61% of undergraduate students received financial aid.

This chart compares the average award discount at San Diego State University (in red) with that of other similar universities.

The average award discount is the ratio between the average grant or scholarship value, and the cost, which is the sum of out-of-state tuition, room, board, book, supplies, and other expenses.

Student Loan Default Rate

Cohort default rates only account for borrowers who default in the first three years, and some schools only have a small proportion of borrowers entering repayment. These rates should be interpreted with caution, as they may not be reflective of the entire school population.

2020 Default Rate

Number of Defaults

In 2020 the default rate for borrower's at San Diego State University was 0%, which represents 0 out of the 4959 total borrowers.

A cohort default rate is the percentage of a school's borrowers who enter repayment on certain Federal Family Education Loan (FFEL) Program or William D. Ford Federal Direct Loan (Direct Loan) Program loans during a particular federal fiscal year (FY), October 1 to September 30, and default or meet other specified conditions prior to the end of the second following fiscal year.

Admissions

San Diego State University received 82,800 undergraduate applications in 2023, which represents a 7.18% annual growth. Out of those 82,800 applicants, 28,517 students were accepted for enrollment, representing a 34.4% acceptance rate.

There were 39,241 students enrolled at San Diego State University in 2023. 85% of first-time enrollees submitted SAT scores with their applications.

San Diego State University has an overall enrollment yield of 21.6%, which represents the number of admitted students who ended up enrolling.

Acceptance Rate

34.4%

Acceptance Rate in 2023

28,517

Accepted Out of 82,800

In 2023, the undergraduate acceptance rate of San Diego State University was 34.4% (28,517 admissions from 82,800 applications). This is lower than the acceptance rate of 2022, which was 39.3%. Between 2022 and 2023, the number of applicants grew by 7.18%, while admissions declined by 5.98%.

This chart compares the acceptance rate of San Diego State University (in red) with that of other similar universities, and the chart below shows the acceptance rate by gender.

SAT Scores

85%

Submission Percentage (2020)

4,132

Scores Submitted (2020)

85% of enrolled first-time students at San Diego State University in 2020 submitted SAT scores with their applications.

The following chart shows the average SAT scores for the 25th, 50th, and 75th percentile of applicants for each section of the test that they are evaluated on.

Enrollment

San Diego State University had a total enrollment of 39,241 students in 2023. The full-time enrollment at San Diego State University is 33,376 students and the part-time enrollment is 5,865. This means that 85.1% of students enrolled at San Diego State University are enrolled full-time.

The enrolled student population at San Diego State University, both undergraduate and graduate, is 35.6% Hispanic or Latino, 33.6% White, 12.9% Asian, 6.69% Two or More Races, 3.66% Black or African American, 0.303% Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islanders, and 0.232% American Indian or Alaska Native.

Students enrolled at San Diego State University in full-time Undergraduate programs are most commonly Hispanic or Latino Female (21.2%), followed by White Female (20.1%) and White Male (14.8%). Students enrolled in full-time Graduate programs are most commonly Hispanic or Latino Female (25.9%), followed by White Female (20.4%) and Hispanic or Latino Male (10%).

Full-Time vs Part-Time Enrollment

85.1%

Full-Time Enrollment

The total enrollment at San Diego State University in 2023, both undergraduate and graduate, is 39,241 students. The full-time enrollment at San Diego State University is 33,376 and the part-time enrollment is 5,865. This means that 85.1% of students enrolled at San Diego State University are enrolled full-time compared with 77.9% at similar Doctoral Universities.

This chart shows the full-time vs part-time enrollment status at San Diego State University (in red) compares to similar universities.

Retention Rate over Time

90%

2023 Retention Rate

Retention rate measures the number of first-time students who began their studies the previous fall and returned to school the following fall. The retention rate for full-time undergraduates at San Diego State University was 90%. Compared with the full-time retention rate at similar Doctoral Universities (84%), San Diego State University had a retention rate higher than its peers.

This chart shows the retention rate over time at San Diego State University (highlighted in red) compares to similar universities.

Enrollment by Race & Ethnicity

Most Common Race or Ethnicity (2023)

Hispanic or Latino
13,974 enrolled students
White
13,201 enrolled students
Asian
5,063 enrolled students

The enrolled student population at San Diego State University is 35.6% Hispanic or Latino, 33.6% White, 12.9% Asian, 6.69% Two or More Races, 3.66% Black or African American, 0.303% Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islanders, and 0.232% American Indian or Alaska Native. This includes both full-time and part-time students as well as graduate and undergraduates. By comparison, enrollment for all Doctoral Universities is 46.5% White, 15.9% Hispanic or Latino, and 9.78% Black or African American.

Any student who is studying in the United States on a temporary basis is categorized as a "Non-Resident Alien", and the share of those students are shown in the chart below. Additionally, 1,315 students (3.35%) did not report their race.

Graduates

In 2023, 2,249 more women than men received degrees from San Diego State University. The most common race/ethnicity group of degree recipients at San Diego State University is white (3,795 degrees awarded). There were 1.01 times more white recipients than the next closest race/ethnicity group, hispanic or latino (3,742 degrees).

The most common Bachelor's Degree concentration at San Diego State University is General Business Administration & Management (2,008 degrees awarded), followed by General Psychology (646 degrees) and Criminal Justice - Safety Studies (415 degrees).

In 2023, the most specialized majors across all degree types at San Diego State University, meaning they have significantly more degrees awarded in that concentration than the national average across all institutions, are Communications (591 degrees awarded), Parks, Recreation, & Leisure (378 degrees), and Social Sciences (830 degrees).

Common Jobs by Major

Other managers

Most Common Job

The most common jobs for people who hold a degree in one of the 5 most specialized majors at San Diego State University are Other managers (659,597 people), Software developers (530,381 people), Lawyers, & judges, magistrates, & other judicial workers (408,430 people), Miscellaneous engineers, including nuclear engineers (367,299 people), and Civil engineers (303,959 people).

The most specialized majors at San Diego State University in 2023 are Communications (591 degrees awarded), Parks, Recreation, & Leisure (378 degrees), Social Sciences (830 degrees), Engineering (842 degrees), and Language & Linguistics (126 degrees) (as of 2023).

Highest Paying Jobs by Major

Podiatrists

Highest Paying Job

The highest paying jobs for people who hold a degree in one of the 5 most specialized majors at San Diego State University are Podiatrists, Surgeons, Nuclear medicine technologists and medical dosimetrists, Securities, commodities, & financial services sales agents, and Physicians

The most specialized majors at San Diego State University are Communications (591 degrees awarded), Parks, Recreation, & Leisure (378 degrees), Social Sciences (830 degrees), Engineering (842 degrees), and Language & Linguistics (126 degrees) (as of 2023).

Common Industries by Major

Computer Systems Design

Most Common Industry

The most common industries for people who hold a degree in one of the 5 most specialized majors at San Diego State University are Computer Systems Design (635,144 people), Elementary & secondary schools (552,118 people), Colleges, universities & professional schools, including junior colleges (474,212 people), Architectural, engineering & related services (470,185 people), and Construction (386,008 people).

Majors Awarded

IPEDS uses the Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP) standard, so the categories may not match the exact concentrations offered by San Diego State University.

Most Common (2023)

General Business Administration & Management
2,008 degrees awarded
General Psychology
646 degrees awarded
Criminal Justice - Safety Studies
415 degrees awarded

In 2023, the most common bachelors degree concentration at San Diego State University was General Business Administration & Management with 2,008 degrees awarded.

This visualization illustrates the percentage of degree-majors recipients from bachelors degree programs at San Diego State University according to their major.

Sex Breakdown for Common Majors

4,300

Degrees Awarded to Men

in 2023

6,549

Degrees Awarded to Women

in 2023

In 2023, 4,300 degrees were awarded to men at San Diego State University, which is 0.657 times less than the number of degrees awarded to females (6,549).

This chart displays the sex disparity between the top 5 majors at San Diego State University by degrees awarded.

Most Common Male Majors

In 2023, 1,207 degrees were awarded to men at San Diego State University in General Business Administration & Management, which is 1.2 times more than the 1,004 female recipients with that same degree.

Most Common Female Majors

In 2023, 1,004 degrees were awarded to men at San Diego State University in General Business Administration & Management, which is 0.832 times less than the 1,207 male recipients with that same degree.

Time to Complete

48%

100% Completion Time

76%

150% Completion Time

In 2023, 48% of students graduating from San Diego State University completed their program within 100% "normal time" (i.e. 4 years for a 4-year degree). Comparatively, 76% completed their degrees within 150% of the normal time, and 77% within 200%.

The following chart shows these completion rates over time compared to the average for the Doctoral Universities Carnegie Classification group.

Graduation rate is defined as the percentage of full-time, first-time students who received a degree or award within a specific percentage of "normal time" to completion for their program.

Graduation Rate by Race and Sex

Showing demographic groups with ≥ 5 graduating students.

Asian Female

Highest Graduation Rate (89.8%)

The student demographic with the highest graduation rate in 2023 at San Diego State University is Female and Asian (89.8% graduation rate). Across all Doctoral Universities, Non-resident Alien Male students have the highest graduation rate (65.7%).

The department of education defines graduation rate as the percentage of full-time, first-time students who received a degree or award within 150% of "normal time" to completion.

The National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) categorizes any student who is studying in the United States on a temporary basis as a "Non-Resident Alien", and the graduation rate of those students is shown in the chart below. Additionally, 3.95% of graduates (157 students) did not report their race.

Race & Ethnicity by Share

Most Common Student Race or Ethnicity (2023)

White
3,795 degrees awarded
Hispanic or Latino
3,742 degrees awarded
Asian
1,361 degrees awarded

The most common race/ethnicity at San Diego State University is white (3,795 degrees awarded). There were 1.01 times more white recipients than the next closest race/ethnicity group, hispanic or latino (3,742 degrees).

3.11% of degree recipients (337 students) did not report their race.

Race & Ethnicity by Sex

Most Common Sex Demographic (2023)

Hispanic or Latino Female
2,361 degrees awarded
White Female
2,264 degrees awarded
White Male
1,531 degrees awarded

The most common race/ethnicity and sex grouping at San Diego State University is hispanic or latino female (2,361 degrees awarded). There were 1.04 times more hispanic or latino female recipients than the next closest race/ethnicity group, white female (2,264 degrees).

Operations

San Diego State University has an endowment valued at nearly $434M, as of the end of the 2023 fiscal year. The return on its endowment was of 14.4M (3.31%) compared to the 4.37% average return (19M on 434M) across all Doctoral Universities.

In 2023, San Diego State University had a total salary expenditure of 1.01B. San Diego State University employs 313 Professors, 249 Associate professors and 225 Lecturers. Most academics at San Diego State University are Male Professor (183), Male Associate professor (136), and Female Professor (130).

The most common positions for non-instructional staff at San Diego State University are: Community, Social Service, Legal, Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports and Media, with 521 employees, Business and Financial Operations, with 335 employees, and Office and Administrative Support with 316 employees.

Endowment

$434M

2023 Endowment

9.02%

growth from 2022

San Diego State University has an endowment valued at about $434M, as of the end of the 2023 fiscal year. The endowment of San Diego State University grew 9.02% from the previous year. The value of their endowment was $0 approximately the same as than the median endowment of Doctoral Universities according to the Carnegie Classification grouping.

This line chart shows how the endowment at San Diego State University (in red) compares to that of some similar universities.

The small bar chart below shows the endowment quintiles for all universities in the Doctoral Universities: Higher Research Activity Carnegie Classification grouping.

Salary Expenditure

$315M

2023 Salaries

9.92%

growth from 2022

In 2023, San Diego State University paid a median of $315M in salaries, which represents 31.2% of their overall expenditure ($1.01B) and a 9.92% growth from the previous year. This is compared to a 8.62% growth between 2021 and 2022, and a 2.92% decline between 2020 and 2021.

The median for similar Doctoral Universities is 246M (41.5% of overall expenditures).

Instructional Salaries

$111M

Instructional Salaries

1,012

Number of Employees

In 2023, San Diego State University paid a total of $111M to 1,012 employees working as instructors, which represents 35.3% of all salaries paid.

This is compared to a median of $6.13M (2.35%) for similar Doctoral Universities.

Occupations by Share

Professor

Most Common Instructor

313 Employees

Community, Social Service, Legal, Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports and Media

Most Common Non-Instructional Employee

521 Employees

In 2023, the most common positions for instructional staff at San Diego State University were Professor with 313 employees, Associate professor with 249 employees, and Lecturer with 225 employees.

In 2023, the most common positions for non-instructional staff at San Diego State University were Community, Social Service, Legal, Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports and Media with 521 employees, Business and Financial Operations with 335 employees, and Office and Administrative Support with 316 employees.

Instructors by Academic Rank and Sex

Most Common Demographic (2023)

Male Professor
Male Associate professor
Female Professor

In 2023, the most common demographic for instructional staff at San Diego State University was Male Professor with 183 employees, Male Associate professor with 136 employees, and Female Professor with 130 employees.

This chart shows the sex split between each academic rank present at San Diego State University.

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