San Diego State University is a public university in Southern California, established in 1897. Currently, the school offers bachelor’s degrees in 97 areas, master’s degrees in 84 fields, and 23 doctoral degrees. Science subjects are the most popular undergraduate program at San Diego State University followed by Business and Health and Human Services programs.

As one of the oldest higher education institutions in southern CA, the University is home to 25,610 students. Admission at San Diego State University is moderately selective with an acceptance rate of 37%. To secure admission to SDSU, international students require a minimum GPA of 3.0 which is equivalent to 80% along with a TOEFL iBT score of 80.

Tuition fees for undergraduate programs is $20,054 USD. Basic tuition fees for postgraduate programs at San Diego State University start at $9,608. In addition to this, students are required to pay 396 USD per unit for postgraduate programs. International students are eligible for scholarships such as the Presidential Scholars Program. Students accepted to this program may be eligible for a scholarship up to USD 40,000 which is equivalent to 30 lakhs over four years.

Likes

  • Campus: San Diego State University campus consists of various research centres like a combustion research laboratory, and energy analysis diagnostics offers. The university also offers 350+ Clubs and Organizations, 47 Greek fraternities and sororities and 19 NCAA Division I teams.
  • Weather: San Diego is known for its mild year-round climate, which attracts students from all over the world. It is the 8th largest city in the USA and 2nd largest in California with a population of around 1.39 Million out of which 5,26,792 are students.
  • Accommodation: The university also offers 9 different options for on-campus accommodation at costs ranging up to 21,153 (~15.87 lakhs) annually. On-campus living is cheaper than the average rent of nearly $2,000 per month in San Diego.
  • Placements: About 92% of the students are employed within 2 years of graduation. Some of the top recruiters of San Diego State University’s alumni are KPMG, Sharp B Systems, PWC, Qualcomm, and Microsoft.

Dislikes

  • Financial Aid: San Diego State University offers a limited number of financial aid for international students.
  • Student-Teacher Ratio: The average student-faculty ratio at San Diego State University is 25:1, this indicates that it is higher than the national average student-teacher ratio which is approximately 16:1.

Check: Student reviews of San Diego State University

San Diego State University Ranking

San Diego State University ranks among the top 150 Universities in the US as per US news and world report. The 2022 rankings for this institute are listed below:

  • #601-800 in World University Rankings 2022 by THE
  • #251 in US College Rankings 2022 by THE
  • #1001-1200 as QS World University Rankings 2022
  • #99 in US Universities by QS Ranking 2022
  • #171 in Best Value Schools by US News & World Report 2022
  • #67 in Top Public Schools by US News & World Report 2022

San Diego State University Programs

San Diego State University offers bachelor’s degrees in 97 areas, master’s degrees in 84 fields, 23 doctoral degrees and 82 certificate courses.

  • San Diego State University offers global learning experiences. This includes international events on campus, global internship, studying abroad and research, a COIL project, or an international project in the San Diego local community.
  • San Diego State University offers multiple academic support systems. These are offered in the form of Writing Center, Math and Stats Learning Center, Supplemental instruction, and one-on-one meetings with academic advisors.

Programs at San Diego State University are offered through 8 colleges. The Chart below shows the number of applications received by each of these colleges:

San Diego State University Campus

  • The university has over 300 student organizations catering to a large array of hobbies and interests. In addition to this, there are 19 NCAA Division I teams and 47 fraternities and sororities for Greek Life.
  • The University holds multiple artistic events around the year such as plays, musicals, films, dance, and music. These events are usually organized by the School of Television, Theater and Films, and School of Music and Dance.
  • The University is home to one of the premier collegiate arenas, Viejas Arena. The arena is home of Aztec basketball and has hosted entertainers like Rihanna and Bon Jovi.
  • The Cal Coast Credit Union Open Air Theater at the center of the University has hosted housefull events for artists like Adele and others.
  • Students can use the San Diego trolley to travel to nearby places like SDCCU Stadium, Old Town, and Fashion Valley mall at affordable rates.

San Diego State University Accommodation

San Diego State University offers 9 different options for on-campus accommodation. Approximately 4,000 of the freshmen live on campus. There are apartment-style and suite-style accommodations having 3-room sharing options. Mentioned below are various dining options and meal plans for undergraduate students:

Room Type Flex 5 Flex 7 Meals plus
Triple/Quad 13.31 lakhs 13.82 lakhs 14.22 lakhs
Double 14.67 lakhs 1.19 lakhs 15.59 lakhs
Single 16.22 lakhs 16.74 lakhs 17.14 lakhs

Off-campus Accommodation

California is the third most expensive state in the US for international students. The estimated cost of living in the United States for international students is between USD 100,000 and USD 120,000 a year, or USD 1000 to USD 1200 per month.

The off-campus student residences are accessible to universities as well as local convenience stores, shopping malls, and grocery stores. The housing types include studio apartments, three-bedroom apartments, four-bedroom apartments, shared flats, and condominiums.
Check
:
Student housing in USA

San Diego State University Admissions

San Diego State University follows a selective admission procedure with an acceptance rate of only 37% (2021). The University accepts applications from students all around the world given they fulfill the minimum requirements. The process and requirements are discussed below:

Application Portal: Online applicationApplication fee: 70 USD

Undergraduate Admission Requirements:

  • Academic transcripts and certificates
  • GPA over 3.0
  • Test score reports
  • English proficiency score report

Graduate Admission Requirements:

  • 3 year bachelor’s degree from international institution
  • Official institutional transcripts
  • Proof of English language proficiency
  • Statement of purpose to study in US
  • Proof of financial sufficiency
  • Standardized test scores required to study in US
  • Formal interview
  • Self-reported academic record
  • Letters of recommendation
  • Resume

Check: San Diego State University student profile

San Diego State University Cost of Attendance

The approximate undergraduate cost of attendance for the 2022-23 academic year is $42,000 - $45,000. A further breakdown of costs are given in the table below

Item On-campus costs Off-campus costs
Basic Tuition and fees $8,174 $8,174
Nonresident tuition $11,880 $11,880
Health insurance $1,703 $1,703
Books, Supplies $1,146 $1,146
Food,Housing $19,714 $16,144
Transportation $1,170 $1,176
Miscellaneous $1,906 $2,662
Total $45,693 $42,885

Graduate cost of attendance for 2022-23 academic year at San Diego State University is tabulated below:

Item On-campus costs Off-campus housing costs
Basic tuition and fees $9,608 $9,608
Health insurance $1,703 $1,703
Books and supplies $1,146 $1,146
Food and housing $19,714 $16,144
Transportation $1,170 $1,176
Miscellaneous $1,906 $2,662
Total $34,621 $31,393

Note: International students should add $396 per unit to calculate non-resident tuition fees for graduate programs.
Check
:
Cost of living in USA for international students

San Diego State University Scholarships

San Diego State University offers a limited number of scholarship opportunities to support students studying in the U.S. These scholarships are listed in the table below:

Name of Scholarship Award Value
SDSU Advantage Scholarship Program Not available
Presidential Scholars program Up to $40,000
Weber Honors College $1,000 - $7,500

Check: External scholarships to study in USA

San Diego State University Alumni

Notable alumni at San Diego State University are:

  • Gregory Peck - American Actor
  • Cleavon Little - American stage, film, and television actor
  • Julie Kavner- An American actress
  • Kawhi Anthony Leonard- Professional basketball player for the Los Angeles Clippers of the NBA
  • James Sinegal- Retired American Billionaire Businessman

Alumni at San Diego enjoys the following benefits –

  • Discounts at alumni events
  • Monthly prize drawing
  • Alumni insurance services at discounted rates
  • Discount on rental rates
  • Avail career services
  • A lifetime opportunity to keep in touch with other alumni members
  • Shopping discounts at various sites like SDSU bookstore, university recreation center, CSU Library, Woodstock’s pizza, bicycle center, etc.

San Diego State University Placements

San Diego State University offers students an array of career-related services and resources. This includes the following:

  • Career Counseling
  • Resources on job search, internships and other work experience
  • Career events and workshops
  • Community engagement
  • Career fairs and On-campus interviews

Student clubs and organizations also organize events, including mini career fairs, panels and networking tailored for specific majors, colleges or areas of the marketplace.

94% of MBA students from San Diego State University received full-time job offers after graduation. The average salary offered to MBA graduates was $79,000 USD. Top employers who hired MBA graduates from San Diego State University include Hyundai, HP, Bank of America, Paypal, Pfizer etc.
Check
:
MBA jobs in USA

San Diego State University has grown to become a leading public research university in the USA. It is recognised for its focus on diversity, equity and inclusion. The faculty at SDSU is fully committed to excellent teaching and meaningful research. The university continues to forge ahead to deliver academic excellence, student success and groundbreaking research.

FAQs

Ques. Which San Diego State University programs are popular?

Ans. San Diego State University offers 96 Bachelor's, 80 Master's, and 21 Doctoral programs taught through eight colleges. The most popular programs at the university are Science and Business programs.

Ques. What are the average GPA and Standardized exams scores required for San Diego State University?

Ans. The university has many applicants with good grades. Average GPA of students that are admitted range from 3.6 to 4.0 scale and the average SAT score is 1200 and an ACT score is 27 at San Diego State University.

Ques. What are the English proficiency scores required by San Diego State University?

Ans. For admission to San Diego State University, candidates need to submit a TOEFL score of 80. Equivalent PTE and IELTS scores are also accepted.

Ques. How many students are enrolled in San Diego State University and what is the graduation rate of San Diego State University?

Ans. It is home to around 25,610 students in total. The graduation rate of San Diego State University is 37%.