About
San Diego State University (SDSU) is a public research university in San Diego, California, United States. Founded in 1897, it is the third-oldest university and southernmost in the 23-member California State University (CSU) system. SDSU is the oldest higher education institution in San Diego; its academic roots were established as a normal school in University Heights, then known as the San Diego Normal School. In the fall of 2025, the university enrolled a record 41,184 students.
Admissions & acceptance rate
First-time freshman admissions: how selective the college is, and how many admitted students choose to enroll.
Graduation rate & outcomes
Completion, retention, and the equity gap between Pell and non-Pell students.
Pell equity
Non-Pell students graduate at a 5.0-point higher rate than Pell recipients.
Tuition & cost
What families actually pay, broken down by family income.
Net price by family income
Negative values mean aid exceeds the published cost of attendance for that income band.
Academic programs at San Diego State
Top program areas ranked by completions.
Top program families by completions
Enrollment trends & demographics
Fall headcount, 12-month unduplicated enrollment, and student body composition.
Gender split
Race / ethnicity composition
Student-faculty ratio
Student-to-faculty ratio and instructional staff counts.
San Diego State vs Peer comparison
The peer institutions San Diego State selected for federal comparison reporting.
A larger shape on any axis means this institution outperforms its peers on that dimension. For acceptance rate and net price, lower raw values are inverted so "more selective" and "more affordable" appear larger.
| Carnegie | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
SubjectSan Diego State University | 76% | — | 41,137 | $16,174 | R2 Research |
Arizona State University Campus Immersion | 68% | 89.9% | 79,818 | $13,670 | R1 Research |
California State University-Long Beach | 69% | 46.3% | 42,003 | $8,931 | R2 Research |
Cleveland State University | 51% | 91.3% | 14,074 | $16,065 | R2 Research |
George Mason University | 68% | 87.5% | 39,766 | $18,287 | R1 Research |
Portland State University | 53% | 90.9% | 19,951 | $12,932 | R2 Research |
Rutgers University-New Brunswick | 84% | 58.1% | 52,269 | $23,519 | R1 Research |
The University of Texas at Arlington | 54% | 79.9% | 44,956 | $15,235 | R1 Research |
University at Buffalo | 75% | 74.2% | 31,903 | $20,470 | R1 Research |
University of Arizona | 68% | 86.1% | 56,365 | $15,960 | R1 Research |
University of Central Florida | 78% | 40.1% | 69,713 | $10,650 | R1 Research |
University of Houston | 65% | 73.9% | 47,980 | $13,853 | R1 Research |
University of Nevada-Las Vegas | 51% | 96.2% | 32,911 | $10,011 | R1 Research |
University of North Carolina at Greensboro | 56% | 88.5% | 18,012 | $10,170 | R2 Research |
University of South Florida | 77% | 43.2% | 49,622 | $10,043 | R1 Research |
University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee | 53% | 90.7% | 22,450 | $16,177 | R1 Research |
| Peer group median | 68% | 86.1% | 41,570 | $14,544 |
San Diego State Institutional Research office
The IR team responsible for the institution's federal reporting.
We help SDSU analyze and understand institutional data through accurate reporting, in-depth analyses, and educational programs.
Visit IR office page- Jeanne Stronach, MAAssistant Vice President
- Kathleen KingSenior Reporting Analyst
- Meg CalhounIR Analyst
- Sibel SengelIR Analyst
- Anna Jost, MPHResearch Analyst
- Erin Jacobs, PhDDirector
- Xi Yan, MSSenior Data Scientist
- Tatiana Chavez, MSData Scientist
- Cris Manlangit, MSAssistant Director
- Thanh HuynhData Engineer
- Habon AhmedStudent Intern
Reports & documents (3)
Dashboards, factbooks, data dictionaries, and other reference material published by the IR office.
- Data dictionaryREDCap’s Data Dictionary – A powerful tool in your toolbelt!This document provides an introduction and guide to using the Data Dictionary feature in REDCap, highlighting its utility in managing project fields and sharing or transferring project setups. It outlines steps to upload and commit changes within REDCap after editing the Data Dictionary CSV file and details common errors and solutions when handling the Data Dictionary. The document includes a demo project setup to illustrate practical application, while emphasizing the need for careful attention to errors to prevent data retrieval issues.research.sdsu.edu
- DFR reportIPEDS Data Feedback Report 20242024nces.ed.gov
- Strategic planWe Rise We Defy: Transcending Borders, Transforming Lives2024San Diego State University's strategic plan 'We Rise We Defy: Transcending Borders, Transforming Lives' outlines the vision and mission for 2025-2030. It focuses on growth, commitment to teaching, research, and creativity, aiming to transform students' lives while engaging communities. The plan maintains five strategic priorities from its first phase and further aims to elevate SDSU as a premier public research university.sdsu.edu
Grants & funding (1)
Federal grant awards and open funding opportunities awarded to this institution.
Notable alumni of San Diego State (30)
A curated list of alumni recognized for notable achievements across industries.
- Gregory PeckEntertainment, arts, and media
- Raquel WelchEntertainment, arts, and media
- Fred DryerEntertainment, arts, and media
- Julie KavnerEntertainment, arts, and media
- Kathy NajimyEntertainment, arts, and media
- Kawhi LeonardSports
- Tony GwynnSports
- Ellen OchoaScience
- Stephen StrasburgSports
- Marshall FaulkSports
- Kevin FaulconerPolitics and government
- S. Donley RitcheyBusiness
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