18 June 2026: QS World University Rankings 2027 has been released on 18 June 2026. San Diego State University is ranked #1201-1400 among 1,500+ universities. Check out QS World University Rankings 2027 trend analysis
18 June 2026: QS World University Rankings 2027 has been released on 18 June 2026. San Diego State University is ranked #1201-1400 among 1,500+ universities. Check out QS World University Rankings 2027 trend analysis
San Diego State University is a public university in Southern California, established in 1897. Currently, the school offers bachelor’s degrees in 97 areas, master’s degrees in 84 fields, and 23 doctoral degrees. Science subjects are the most popular undergraduate program at San Diego State University followed by Business and Health and Human Services programs.
As one of the oldest higher education institutions in southern CA, the University is home to 25,610 students. Admission at San Diego State University is moderately selective with an acceptance rate of 37%. To secure admission to SDSU, international students require a minimum GPA of 3.0 which is equivalent to 80% along with a TOEFL iBT score of 80.
Tuition fees for undergraduate programs is $20,054 USD. Basic tuition fees for postgraduate programs at San Diego State University start at $9,608. In addition to this, students are required to pay 396 USD per unit for postgraduate programs. International students are eligible for scholarships such as the Presidential Scholars Program. Students accepted to this program may be eligible for a scholarship up to USD 40,000 which is equivalent to 30 lakhs over four years.
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Check: Student reviews of San Diego State University
San Diego State University ranks among the top 150 Universities in the US as per US news and world report. The 2022 rankings for this institute are listed below:
San Diego State University offers bachelor’s degrees in 97 areas, master’s degrees in 84 fields, 23 doctoral degrees and 82 certificate courses.
Programs at San Diego State University are offered through 8 colleges. The Chart below shows the number of applications received by each of these colleges:

San Diego State University offers 9 different options for on-campus accommodation. Approximately 4,000 of the freshmen live on campus. There are apartment-style and suite-style accommodations having 3-room sharing options. Mentioned below are various dining options and meal plans for undergraduate students:
| Room Type | Flex 5 | Flex 7 | Meals plus |
|---|---|---|---|
| Triple/Quad | 13.31 lakhs | 13.82 lakhs | 14.22 lakhs |
| Double | 14.67 lakhs | 1.19 lakhs | 15.59 lakhs |
| Single | 16.22 lakhs | 16.74 lakhs | 17.14 lakhs |
California is the third most expensive state in the US for international students. The estimated cost of living in the United States for international students is between USD 100,000 and USD 120,000 a year, or USD 1000 to USD 1200 per month.
The off-campus student residences are accessible to universities as well as local convenience stores, shopping malls, and grocery stores. The housing types include studio apartments, three-bedroom apartments, four-bedroom apartments, shared flats, and condominiums.
Check: Student housing in USA
San Diego State University follows a selective admission procedure with an acceptance rate of only 37% (2021). The University accepts applications from students all around the world given they fulfill the minimum requirements. The process and requirements are discussed below:
Application Portal: Online application, Application fee: 70 USD
Undergraduate Admission Requirements:
Graduate Admission Requirements:
The approximate undergraduate cost of attendance for the 2022-23 academic year is $42,000 - $45,000. A further breakdown of costs are given in the table below
| Item | On-campus costs | Off-campus costs |
|---|---|---|
| Basic Tuition and fees | $8,174 | $8,174 |
| Nonresident tuition | $11,880 | $11,880 |
| Health insurance | $1,703 | $1,703 |
| Books, Supplies | $1,146 | $1,146 |
| Food,Housing | $19,714 | $16,144 |
| Transportation | $1,170 | $1,176 |
| Miscellaneous | $1,906 | $2,662 |
| Total | $45,693 | $42,885 |
Graduate cost of attendance for 2022-23 academic year at San Diego State University is tabulated below:
| Item | On-campus costs | Off-campus housing costs |
|---|---|---|
| Basic tuition and fees | $9,608 | $9,608 |
| Health insurance | $1,703 | $1,703 |
| Books and supplies | $1,146 | $1,146 |
| Food and housing | $19,714 | $16,144 |
| Transportation | $1,170 | $1,176 |
| Miscellaneous | $1,906 | $2,662 |
| Total | $34,621 | $31,393 |
Note: International students should add $396 per unit to calculate non-resident tuition fees for graduate programs.
Check: Cost of living in USA for international students
San Diego State University offers a limited number of scholarship opportunities to support students studying in the U.S. These scholarships are listed in the table below:
| Name of Scholarship | Award Value |
|---|---|
| SDSU Advantage Scholarship Program | Not available |
| Presidential Scholars program | Up to $40,000 |
| Weber Honors College | $1,000 - $7,500 |
Check: External scholarships to study in USA
Notable alumni at San Diego State University are:
Alumni at San Diego enjoys the following benefits –
San Diego State University offers students an array of career-related services and resources. This includes the following:
Student clubs and organizations also organize events, including mini career fairs, panels and networking tailored for specific majors, colleges or areas of the marketplace.
94% of MBA students from San Diego State University received full-time job offers after graduation. The average salary offered to MBA graduates was $79,000 USD. Top employers who hired MBA graduates from San Diego State University include Hyundai, HP, Bank of America, Paypal, Pfizer etc.
Check: MBA jobs in USA
San Diego State University has grown to become a leading public research university in the USA. It is recognised for its focus on diversity, equity and inclusion. The faculty at SDSU is fully committed to excellent teaching and meaningful research. The university continues to forge ahead to deliver academic excellence, student success and groundbreaking research.
Ques. Which San Diego State University programs are popular?
Ans. San Diego State University offers 96 Bachelor's, 80 Master's, and 21 Doctoral programs taught through eight colleges. The most popular programs at the university are Science and Business programs.
Ques. What are the average GPA and Standardized exams scores required for San Diego State University?
Ans. The university has many applicants with good grades. Average GPA of students that are admitted range from 3.6 to 4.0 scale and the average SAT score is 1200 and an ACT score is 27 at San Diego State University.
Ques. What are the English proficiency scores required by San Diego State University?
Ans. For admission to San Diego State University, candidates need to submit a TOEFL score of 80. Equivalent PTE and IELTS scores are also accepted.
Ques. How many students are enrolled in San Diego State University and what is the graduation rate of San Diego State University?
Ans. It is home to around 25,610 students in total. The graduation rate of San Diego State University is 37%.
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