San Diego State University
PublicSan Diego, CA
Located in San Diego, CA, San Diego State University is a public very large school with roughly 35,377 undergraduates. San Diego State University is moderately selective, with an acceptance rate near 36%. Its highest-earning reported major is Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Health Professions and Related Programs), where graduates report median earnings of $120,799/year four years out. On-campus housing isn't required, so many students live off campus.
Admissions
Cost & outcomes
Out-of-state students pay $14,130 more per year in tuition and fees (2.4x the in-state rate).
Out-of-state tuition is charged by the unit; this assumes 30 units a year.
Tuition & fees are San Diego State University's own published 2026-27 rates (source); other figures are from the US Dept of Education College Scorecard, most recent year reported. Tuition & fees are the sticker price for a full-time first-year undergrad, before financial aid, and don't include room and board.
Where do you stand against San Diego State University's numbers?
Check your chances hereHow San Diego State University weighs your application
From San Diego State University's own Common Data Set, 2025-26, Section C7 -- not a generic admissions checklist. What is a Common Data Set?
See full profile -- financial aid, campus life, and what San Diego State University weighs in your application
Paying it back
"Still growing" means a borrower's payments aren't yet covering interest 3 years into repayment -- not a default rate. A high number here can mean real repayment difficulty, or just a lot of grads who deferred for graduate school, so read it alongside the school's typical outcomes above.
Majors & earnings
Median earnings 4 years after graduation, by major, from the US Dept of Education. Only shown where the school reports a real figure for that major -- most schools don't report every major they offer, especially smaller programs.
Campus life
Room and board are shown separately from the cost of attendance above -- that total already includes them alongside tuition and fees, this just breaks out the living-cost portion.
What matters in your application
From this school's own reporting to the US Dept of Education on what it formally requires, considers, or doesn't use when reviewing applications.
Frequently asked questions
What does San Diego State University look for in applicants?
Per San Diego State University's own Common Data Set (Section C7), it rates academic GPA, rigor of secondary school record as "very important" in admissions decisions -- its own stated top factors, not a generic guess.
What is San Diego State University's acceptance rate?
San Diego State University in San Diego, CA admits approximately 36% of applicants, based on the US Dept of Education's most recently reported figures.
How much does San Diego State University cost?
San Diego State University's total cost of attendance is reported at $27,780 per year, including tuition, fees, and room and board.
What is out-of-state tuition at San Diego State University?
For 2026-27, San Diego State University's tuition and required fees are $23,910 for out-of-state students and $9,780 for in-state students -- $14,130 more per year for out-of-state students. That's before financial aid, and room and board are extra.
Does San Diego State University require students to live on campus?
No -- San Diego State University doesn't require students to live in on-campus housing.
Related reading
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