San Diego State Rankings and Evaluation
National Universities
#145 in National Universities
California Colleges
#32 in California Colleges
San Diego State University is ranked 145th in National Universities and 32nd in California Colleges.
The following statements evaluate San Diego State University by comparing key academic facts to Public, 4-Years Colleges in California.
- Its tuition & fees of $21,328 is comparable to similar schools.
- The acceptance rate (36%) is lower (difficult to get in).
- It has very large number of students of 41,137.
- The financial aid amount ($11,851) is higher.
- It offers very diverse area of study (262 programs).
Undergraduate Tuition & Fees
The 2025 undergraduate tuition & fees of San Diego State are $21,328 (out-of-state rate) and it is average compared to Public, 4-Years Colleges in California.
San Diego State University $21,328
All U.S. Colleges $17,692
Public, 4-Years Colleges $18,895
4-Years Colleges $22,926
Public, 4-Years Colleges in California $20,072
Graduate Tuition & Fees
The 2025 graduate tuition & fees of San Diego State are $20,332 (out-of-state rate) and it is average compared to Public, 4-Years Colleges in California.
San Diego State University $20,332
All U.S. Colleges $18,842
Public, 4-Years Colleges $20,343
4-Years Colleges $18,848
Public, 4-Years Colleges in California $21,760
Acceptance Rate
The acceptance rate of San Diego State is 36% and it is lower (difficult to get in) compared to Public, 4-Years Colleges in California.
San Diego State University 36%
All U.S. Colleges 69%
Public, 4-Years Colleges 72%
4-Years Colleges 68%
Public, 4-Years Colleges in California 58%
Yield (Enrollment Rate)
The yield, also known as enrollment rate, of San Diego State is 20% and the yield is average compared to Public, 4-Years Colleges in California.
San Diego State University 20%
All U.S. Colleges 37%
Public, 4-Years Colleges 32%
4-Years Colleges 35%
Public, 4-Years Colleges in California 20%
Graduation Rate
The average graduation rate at San Diego State is 76% and it is extremely higher (most students completed in-time) compared to Public, 4-Years Colleges in California.
San Diego State University 76%
All U.S. Colleges 56%
Public, 4-Years Colleges 48%
4-Years Colleges 51%
Public, 4-Years Colleges in California 54%
Transfer-out Rate
The average transfer-out rate at San Diego State is 2% and it is much lower (most first-time students continue to attend) compared to Public, 4-Years Colleges in California.
San Diego State University 2%
All U.S. Colleges 21%
Public, 4-Years Colleges 23%
4-Years Colleges 24%
Public, 4-Years Colleges in California 8%
Retention Rate
The average retention rate at San Diego State is 91% and it is average compared to Public, 4-Years Colleges in California.
San Diego State University 91%
All U.S. Colleges 69%
Public, 4-Years Colleges 74%
4-Years Colleges 73%
Public, 4-Years Colleges in California 85%
Student Population
The total student population at San Diego State is 41,137 and its population very large compared to Public, 4-Years Colleges in California.
San Diego State University 41,137
All U.S. Colleges 2,931
Public, 4-Years Colleges 11,396
4-Years Colleges 4,686
Public, 4-Years Colleges in California 20,004
Financial Aid Amount
The average amount of financial aid received at San Diego State is $11,851 which is 55.57% of tuition & fees. The rate of the financial aid over its tuition is higher compared to Public, 4-Years Colleges in California.
San Diego State University $11,851
All U.S. Colleges $7,676
Public, 4-Years Colleges $7,301
4-Years Colleges $12,161
Public, 4-Years Colleges in California $9,399
Student to Faculty Ratio
The students to faculty ratio at San Diego State is 27 to 1 and the ratio is higher (more students per class/faculty) compared to Public, 4-Years Colleges in California.
San Diego State University 27 to 1
All U.S. Colleges 15 to 1
Public, 4-Years Colleges 17 to 1
4-Years Colleges 14 to 1
Public, 4-Years Colleges in California 24 to 1
Number of Programs
San Diego State offers 262 programs and it means very diverse area of study compared to Public, 4-Years Colleges in California.
San Diego State University 262
All U.S. Colleges 37
Public, 4-Years Colleges 108
4-Years Colleges 58
Public, 4-Years Colleges in California 120
Number of Online Programs
San Diego State offers 1 online programs and it means limited online classes compared to Public, 4-Years Colleges in California.
