San Diego State University

San Diego, CA · Public · offers Graduate degrees

Large city

36%Acceptance rate
$15,364Average net price / year
76%Graduation rate
$64,909Median earnings 10 yrs after entry
$15,000Median debt at graduation
35,377Undergraduates

Cost

In-state tuition & fees
$8,728
Out-of-state tuition
$21,328
Total cost of attendance
$27,780
Room & board
$23,030
Books & supplies
$946
Average net price
$15,364

Net price by family income

$0–30k
$9,910
$30–48k
$10,017
$48–75k
$12,697
$75–110k
$15,891
$110k+
$23,821

Official net price calculator

Admissions

Acceptance rate
36.2%

Outcomes

Graduation rate
76%
First-year retention
91%
Median earnings (6 yrs)
$52,620
Median earnings (10 yrs)
$64,909
Median debt (graduates)
$15,000
3-year loan default rate
0.0%
Students with Pell grants
32%
Students with federal loans
23%

Programs: what graduates earn

91 of 226 programs have published earnings or debt data. Earnings are median salaries of graduates one year after completing the program (or the latest available year).

Bachelor's degree

ProgramGraduatesEarningsMedian debt
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing195$100,221$17,375
Construction Engineering Technology/Technician16$81,608—
Computer Engineering122$76,812$17,249
Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering101$75,061$17,999
Computer Science206$74,523$16,866
Aerospace, Aeronautical, and Astronautical/Space Engineering111$74,375$23,417
Civil Engineering142$73,584$19,832
Mechanical Engineering259$69,754$19,499
Environmental/Environmental Health Engineering36$66,482$16,997
Statistics41$57,734$13,125
Accounting and Related Services0$57,157$15,218
Computer and Information Sciences, General—$54,244$16,375
Finance and Financial Management Services—$53,373$15,000
Marketing—$48,229$15,000
Business Administration, Management and Operations2,008$46,275$15,000
Microbiological Sciences and Immunology28$45,360$15,500
Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication34$44,197$16,111
Economics197$44,125$15,250
Chemistry95$43,603$17,999
Applied Mathematics39$42,856$23,793
Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences8$41,351$21,500
Public Health169$41,092$15,000
Public Administration56$41,020$14,999
Hospitality Administration/Management53$40,009$15,000
Geography and Cartography42$38,648$14,999
History81$38,203$13,881
International Business106$38,138$13,110
Political Science and Government169$38,060$17,364
Communication and Media Studies261$37,773$15,000
Social Work123$36,916$15,000
Health Services/Allied Health/Health Sciences, General0$35,624$26,150
International Relations and National Security Studies49$35,361$15,124
Sociology169$35,136$12,500
Nutrition Sciences84$34,878$17,849
Natural Resources Conservation and Research102$34,090$12,726
Parks, Recreation, and Leisure Studies18$33,692$14,999
Biology, General276$33,597$18,010
Criminal Justice and Corrections415$33,261$13,499
Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other244$33,165$15,225
Design and Applied Arts—$31,459$13,832
Journalism167$30,269$14,998
Philosophy32$29,712$25,000
Psychology, General646$29,346$14,872
Ethnic, Cultural Minority, Gender, and Group Studies44$29,267$23,080
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods139$28,793$12,691
Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics73$28,182$14,957
Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness354$26,327$15,285
Anthropology49$25,553$12,886
Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions1$25,361$20,000
English Language and Literature, General108$24,157$15,122
Social Sciences, General41$23,704$20,081
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities227$23,190$12,838
Fine and Studio Arts254$23,186$10,299
Radio, Television, and Digital Communication95$22,487$15,332
Communication Disorders Sciences and Services160$22,378$14,000
Linguistic, Comparative, and Related Language Studies and Services26$22,001$11,000
Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft49$20,538$15,000
Music47$20,440$15,383
East Asian Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics4$17,464—
Dietetics and Clinical Nutrition Services0$39,130—
Mathematics27$57,999$8,772
Real Estate—$50,662$18,649

Master's degree

Doctoral degree

ProgramGraduatesEarningsMedian debt
Educational Administration and Supervision39$140,159$64,225
Education, General8$93,908$25,712
Clinical, Counseling and Applied Psychology14$84,055—
Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions0$77,039$74,580

Non-credential program

ProgramGraduatesEarningsMedian debt
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities—$68,996—

Students

Undergraduates
35,377
Graduate students
6,181
Part-time
9%
Women / men
57% / 43%
White
34%
Hispanic
37%
Black
3%
Asian
13%
International
2%

Faculty & school

Student–faculty ratio
27:1
Avg faculty salary
$117,378 / year
Full-time faculty
50%
Accreditor
Western Association of Schools and Colleges Senior Colleges and University Commission
Website
www.sdsu.edu
Also known as
NA

Most popular fields

  • Communication & Journalism – 7% of degrees
  • Computer & Information Sciences – 4% of degrees
  • Engineering – 7% of degrees
  • Liberal Arts & General Studies – 3% of degrees
  • Biological Sciences – 3% of degrees
  • Parks, Recreation & Fitness – 4% of degrees

Frequently asked questions

What is the acceptance rate at San Diego State University?

36.2% of applicants were admitted.

How much does San Diego State University cost?

The average net price after grants is $15,364 per year; in-state tuition and fees are $8,728 and the full cost of attendance is $27,780.

How much do San Diego State University graduates earn?

Students who enrolled earn a median of $64,909 ten years later. See the program table above for salaries by major.

What is the graduation rate?

76% of first-time, full-time students graduate within 150% of normal time.

Other colleges in San Diego

CollegeNet priceAcceptanceGraduationEarnings
San Diego Mesa College
San Diego, CA · Public · 16,098 students
$5,814—35%$45,120
San Diego Miramar College
San Diego, CA · Public · 11,271 students
$3,337—48%$48,224
National University
San Diego, CA · Private nonprofit · 10,794 students
$22,878—43%$67,548
San Diego City College
San Diego, CA · Public · 10,441 students
$7,935—30%$38,503
University of San Diego
San Diego, CA · Private nonprofit · 5,671 students
$30,36552%84%$86,522
Point Loma Nazarene University
San Diego, CA · Private nonprofit · 3,188 students
$38,72984%77%$63,998
North-West College-San Diego
San Diego, CA · Private for-profit · 636 students
$46,503——$41,472
Alliant International University-San Diego
San Diego, CA · Private for-profit · 391 students
—0%—$66,666
Paul Mitchell the School-San Diego
San Diego, CA · Private for-profit · 225 students
$35,975—99%$26,897
CET-San Diego
San Diego, CA · Private nonprofit · 223 students
$22,035—87%$32,986

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, June 2026 release.