US CollegesGetting in
San Diego State University admits 36% of those who apply, which makes it selective. The median admission rate of colleges on this site that report one is 77%.
What it costs
| Tuition and fees, students from California | $9,180 |
| Tuition and fees, students from elsewhere | $25,500 |
| Room and meals on campus | $23,736 |
| Books and supplies | $970 |
| Average full cost of a year (tuition, living, books), before aid | $26,045 |
| Average net price after grants and scholarships | $13,243 |
The net price is what students who got federal aid paid on average for a year after grants and scholarships were taken off (for a public college, students from inside the state). It is 41% below the median net price of colleges in California on this site ($22,336). International students are normally charged the out-of-state tuition and do not receive US federal aid.
Net price by family income
| Family income a year | Average net price |
|---|---|
| Up to $30,000 | $8,258 |
| $30,001 to $48,000 | $8,236 |
| $48,001 to $75,000 | $10,413 |
| $75,001 to $110,000 | $13,498 |
| Above $110,000 | $22,130 |
For students who received federal aid. A negative figure means grants were larger than the cost counted.
For an estimate that fits your own family, use the college's net price calculator.
Results
| Measure | This college | CA median | US median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Students who come back for a second year | 91% | 76% | 73% |
| Students who finish their degree (within one and a half times the normal length) | 78% | 51% | 49% |
| Median earnings 10 years after starting | $73,494 | $53,420 | $53,132 |
| Median federal loan debt of those who finish | $14,500 | $17,297 | $19,994 |
Medians are the middle value of the colleges on this site in California and in the whole country. Completion and return rates count first-time, full-time students. Earnings and debt count students who received federal aid.
The students
35% of undergraduates receive a Pell Grant, the federal grant for students from lower-income families. 24% take a federal student loan. The undergraduate body is 57% women and 43% men. By undergraduate numbers it is number 3 of the 267 colleges in California on this site that report a size; the middle-sized one has 2,759.
Other colleges in California of a similar size
- University of California-San DiegoLa Jolla, public
- California State University-Long BeachLong Beach, public
- University of California-Los AngelesLos Angeles, public
- University of California-BerkeleyBerkeley, public
- California State University-NorthridgeNorthridge, public
- University of California-DavisDavis, public
Common questions
What is the acceptance rate of San Diego State University?
San Diego State University admits 36% of applicants, according to the College Scorecard.
How much is tuition at San Diego State University?
Published tuition and fees are $9,180 a year for students from California and $25,500 for others. Most students with aid pay less: see the net price.
What is the graduation rate of San Diego State University?
78% of first-time, full-time students finish within one and a half times the normal length of the course.
Source: College Scorecard, U.S. Department of Education, data released on 2 November 2026; checked in November 2026. Net price, debt and earnings describe students who received US federal aid. Costs change each year. This is official data for general information, not advice: confirm costs and admission rules on the college's own website and at collegescorecard.ed.gov.