SDSU: A Parent's Guide to Admissions, Cost & Outcomes
Officially San Diego State University · San Diego, California · Public · Selective · CDS 2025-2026
Admission at a glance
Common Data Set 2025-2026
- Test-blind
- 95,444
- Applicants
- 35,709
- Admitted37%
- 6,911
- Enrolled
- 19%
- Yield rate
Selectivity
Selective37% admittedRanked #137 (tie) in National Universities; Best Undergraduate Engineering Programs #102 (tie), Business Programs #72 (tie), Computer Science #110 (tie), Nursing #75 (tie)U.S. News & World Report, Best Colleges 2027
Admission figures come from the 2025-2026 Common Data Set published by San Diego State University (see the source), read on 2026-06-13.
Is SDSU a reach, target or safety for your student?
Enter a GPA and course load and the calculator places SDSU against it in about a minute. No account needed.
SDSU is a public university in San Diego, California that admits about 37% of applicants, making it a selective school. The average family pays about $15,364 a year after financial aid, which matters more than the published sticker price. It is best known for Business Administration, Management and Operations, Psychology, General and Criminal Justice and Corrections, its largest undergraduate programs by number of graduates. About 78% of students graduate within six years. Its most recent Clery Act report shows roughly 1.9 criminal offenses per 1,000 students.
SDSU is a public institution located in San Diego, California with a selective admissions profile. For the most recent reporting cycle, SDSU admits between a quarter and half of applicants, with an overall admission rate of 37%. The average net price after grants and scholarships is $15,364 per year, which is the figure most families actually pay rather than the published sticker price.
What GPA does my child need for SDSU?
65% of enrolled students at SDSU had a high school GPA of 3.75 or above, and the average was 3.82, according to its 2025-2026 Common Data Set.
Compare SDSU with the other schools on your list
Open SDSU in College Search to set it beside up to three other colleges on cost, admission odds and outcomes, and save it to a shortlist when you are ready.
What does SDSU weight in admissions?
SDSU reports these factor weights in its Common Data Set (2025-2026). What the weights mean
Very Important
2- Rigor of secondary school record
- Academic GPA
Important
2- Geographical residence
- State residency
Not Considered
14- Class rank
- Standardized test scores
- Application essay
- Recommendations
- Interview
- Extracurricular activities
- Talent/ability
- Character/personal qualities
- First generation status
- Alumni/ae relation
- Religious affiliation/commitment
- Volunteer work
- Work experience
- Level of applicant's interest
SAT and ACT scores SDSU typically admits
Many applicants to schools in this tier submit test scores, though the policy varies by year, so check the latest test-optional status before deciding.
- • Test-blind: SDSU does not consider SAT or ACT scores in admission decisions, even if submitted.
- • Like all CSU campuses, SDSU does not use SAT/ACT for admission; scores may be used for math/English placement after admission.
- • Checked for Fall 2027 applicants on SDSU's admissions site. Policies change; confirm before you apply.
Where admitted students ranked in their high school class
Class rank distribution gives parents a clear sense of how academically dominant a typical admitted student was within their own high school cohort, often a more meaningful signal than absolute GPA.
| Top 10% of class | 25% |
| Top 25% of class | 66% |
| Top 50% of class | 95% |
| % submitting class rank | 29% |
How much does SDSU actually cost?
Published tuition is $8,728 for in-state students and $21,328 for out-of-state, before grants and scholarships. Room and board adds roughly $23,030 annually. After need-based and merit aid, the average family pays a net price of $15,364 per year, and that is the number that actually matters for budgeting. Roughly 32% of students receive Pell Grants.
| In-state tuition | $6,838 |
| Out-of-state tuition | $20,968 |
| Room and board | $21,856 |
| Average net price (after aid) | $15,364 |
| Share of financial need metaverage, for students with need | 73% |
| Average need-based grant | $12,330 |
| Average merit award, no financial need413 first-year students received one | $2,390 |
| Graduates who borrowed | 31% |
| Average debt at graduationamong those who borrowed | $19,993 |
| Financial aid forms | FAFSA only (no CSS Profile)College Board 2026-27 list |
| Application fee | $70 (waivers available) |
Application deadlines and early decision data for SDSU
| Regular deadline | 11/30 |
| Notification date | March |
| Reply deadline | 5/1 |
Will my child graduate from SDSU?
These predict outcomes at SDSU better than its acceptance rate does. How to read retention and graduation rates
Most popular majors at SDSU
The most popular undergraduate programs at SDSU, measured by the number of students who actually graduate each year, are Business Administration, Management and Operations, Psychology, General and Criminal Justice and Corrections. Across all programs, SDSU confers roughly 4,587 bachelor's degrees a year. Graduates of its Business Administration, Management and Operations program report a median income of about $74,342 five years after entering college. What these figures mean
| Major | Graduates / year | Median earnings (5 yrs out) |
|---|---|---|
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | 1,875 | $74,342 |
| Psychology, General | 699 | $46,082 |
| Criminal Justice and Corrections | 417 | $55,637 |
| Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness | 406 | $64,740 |
| Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other | 356 | $47,974 |
| Communication and Media Studies | 290 | $59,719 |
| Biology, General | 285 | $70,169 |
| Computer Science | 259 | $114,373 |
Is SDSU safe? Campus crime & safety
In its most recent Clery Act report (2024), SDSU disclosed 69 total criminal offenses across its campus and surrounding public property, about 1.9 per 1,000 students. That figure includes 25 violent offenses and 5 reported sexual assaults or VAWA offenses. Why per-1,000 rates, not counts
What is campus life like at SDSU?
About 25% of undergraduates at SDSU live in campus housing, so a meaningful share of students commute or live off campus. In Greek life, 11% of men join a fraternity and 12% of women join a sorority. Residential rate and Greek participation shape day-to-day social life and are worth weighing alongside academics and cost.
Other colleges in California parents ask about
- San Jose State University85% acceptance
- San Francisco State University96% acceptance
- California State University-Long Beach46% acceptance
- California State University-Fullerton91% acceptance
- California State University-Northridge93% acceptance
- California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo31% acceptance
- California State Polytechnic University-Pomona75% acceptance
- California State University-Los Angeles91% acceptance
Next steps for SDSU
Common questions parents ask about SDSU
What GPA do I need for SDSU?
65% of enrolled students at SDSU had a high school GPA of 3.75 or above, and the average was 3.82, according to its 2025-2026 Common Data Set.
What SAT or ACT score does SDSU typically admit?
SDSU is test-blind: SAT and ACT scores are not considered in admission decisions, even if you submit them. There is no score range because scores are not read.
How much does SDSU actually cost after financial aid?
The average net price at SDSU after grants and scholarships is $15,364 per year, against a published in-state tuition of $8,728 and $21,328 out of state. Budget against the net figure.
Is SDSU realistic for my child?
SDSU admits 37% of applicants, so the transcript and course rigour carry the decision, with no published score band to place against. Then check the $15,364 average net price against what your family can carry.
What is the acceptance rate at SDSU?
SDSU accepts about 37% of applicants out of roughly 95,444 who apply each year. That makes it a selective school.
Is SDSU test-optional?
SDSU is test-blind for Fall 2027 applicants: it does not consider SAT or ACT scores in admission decisions, even if you submit them.
What is the graduation rate at SDSU?
About 78% of students at SDSU graduate within six years. 91% of freshmen return for sophomore year. Graduation rate predicts real outcomes better than acceptance rate.
What does SDSU look for in applicants?
SDSU rates course rigor and GPA as "very important" in its Common Data Set. These are the factors the admissions committee weighs most heavily when reviewing an application.
Is SDSU a public or private school, and where is it located?
SDSU is a public institution located in San Diego, California.
What are the most popular majors at SDSU?
The largest undergraduate majors at SDSU by annual graduates are Business Administration, Management and Operations, Psychology, General and Criminal Justice and Corrections. The school awards about 4,587 bachelor's degrees a year in total. These figures come from federal IPEDS completion data.
Is SDSU safe? What is its campus crime rate?
SDSU reported 69 total criminal offenses in its most recent Clery Act disclosure (2024), roughly 1.9 per 1,000 students. Compare the per-1,000 rate rather than the raw total, since larger schools report more incidents.
What is campus life like at SDSU?
At SDSU, 25% of undergraduates live on campus, 11% of men are in fraternities, 12% of women are in sororities, according to its most recent Common Data Set.
Sources: the 2025-2026 Common Data Set submitted by San Diego State University, the College Scorecard and IPEDS, and Clery Act disclosures. What each source covers