Public · Mostly bachelor's degrees · Large city

San Diego State University

San Diego, California. 35,377 undergraduates. Admits 36% of applicants.

78%Graduation rate24 pts above the national median for similar colleges (54%)
$13,243Average net price per year33% below the national median for similar colleges ($19,899)
$73,494Median earnings 10 years after starting25% above the national median for similar colleges ($58,912)
$14,500Median debt at graduation33% below the national median for similar colleges ($21,609)
Our read

Graduates' median debt ($14,500) equals 20% of former students' median earnings ten years after starting ($73,494). That is a light load relative to pay.

What families actually pay

Under $30,000$8,258
$30,000–$48,000$8,236
$48,001–$75,000$10,413
$75,001–$110,000$13,498
Over $110,000$22,130

Average yearly net price for first-time, full-time students who received federal aid, by family income. Net price is the cost of attendance minus grants and scholarships. Source: College Scorecard.

Compare net price across collegesPublished tuition and fees: $9,180 in-state, $25,500 out-of-state.

Do students finish, and what do they earn?

MeasureThis collegeSimilar colleges nationally
Graduation rate78%54%
Return for second year91%76%
Median earnings, 6 years after starting$59,773$49,318
Median earnings, 10 years after starting$73,494$58,912
Median debt at graduation$14,500$21,609

Graduation rate within 150% of normal time; retention is the share of first-year students who return. Earnings are medians for former students who received federal aid, working and not enrolled. National comparison is the median for colleges of the same type (mostly bachelor's degrees).

Programs and what graduates earn

182 programs reported
ProgramGraduates / yrMedian earnings, 1 yrMedian earnings, 5 yrsMedian debt
Computer Engineering70$79,102$125,346$21,582
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing200$111,312$119,646$15,000
Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering101$81,083$118,313$13,779
Construction Engineering Technology/Technician17$89,358$118,301—
Computer Science221$78,290$112,630$13,000
Mechanical Engineering186$77,287$102,337$15,000
Aerospace, Aeronautical, and Astronautical/Space Engineering105$72,773$101,917$18,000
Civil Engineering144$74,131$101,091$16,421
Environmental/Environmental Health Engineering30$71,143$98,525$15,000
Computer and Information Sciences, General—$58,349$95,478$14,000
Finance and Financial Management Services—$59,206$92,275$13,000
Applied Mathematics20$42,055$90,808$12,500
Marketing—$54,304$84,364$15,000
Accounting and Related Services0$68,710$83,615$14,020
Biology, General252$43,128$79,838$12,868
Chemistry43$63,412$78,153$19,405
Economics203$49,742$78,085$15,000
International Business100$52,339$77,401$15,174
Hospitality Administration/Management62$51,837$75,945$17,052
Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences6$59,614$75,057—
Statistics22$55,412$71,096$17,733
Microbiological Sciences and Immunology29$46,281$70,473$18,607
Communication and Media Studies303$44,976$70,205$13,750
Business Administration, Management and Operations2,164$56,205$70,101$15,000
Communication Disorders Sciences and Services139$30,611$69,982$13,775
Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness406$32,896$69,820$13,000
Journalism121$43,326$69,076$13,750
Geography and Cartography43—$67,268$13,499
Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication37$48,750$67,118$14,000
Health Services/Allied Health/Health Sciences, General0—$66,548—
International Relations and National Security Studies34$39,660$66,056$19,709
Natural Resources Conservation and Research102$40,513$65,256$14,124
Criminal Justice and Corrections547$40,445$65,130$12,500
Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions1—$64,631—
Political Science and Government135$43,429$63,677$13,750
Mathematics27—$63,305—
Public Health170$40,070$63,164$15,766
Social Work80$42,357$60,881$11,000
Public Administration53$44,736$59,627$16,000
Sociology164$37,982$59,136$12,175
Dietetics and Clinical Nutrition Services0—$58,617—
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities268$33,277$58,585$12,500
Parks, Recreation, and Leisure Studies14$46,097$57,839—
History90$40,549$57,143$13,000
Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other169$41,317$56,946$14,965
Social Sciences, General42$38,735$56,565$15,000
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods141$36,537$56,423$14,328
Design and Applied Arts—$37,926$56,355$15,000
Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics79$33,274$55,895$9,000
Ethnic, Cultural Minority, Gender, and Group Studies38$35,158$55,671$16,700
English Language and Literature, General126$31,796$54,020$15,000
Anthropology48$40,983$53,767$13,000
Psychology, General681$33,788$53,325$13,155
Real Estate—$50,257—$15,000
Radio, Television, and Digital Communication86$31,944$48,468$15,000
Linguistic, Comparative, and Related Language Studies and Services21$29,617$46,555—
Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft49$27,400$42,439$17,500
Urban Studies/Affairs24$38,722—$15,000
Fine and Studio Arts285$27,669$34,455$15,614
Nutrition Sciences60$34,411—$14,250
Music65$25,783—$19,500
Area Studies2———
East Asian Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics14———
Slavic, Baltic and Albanian Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics1———
Classics and Classical Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics2———
Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies5———
Gerontology4———
International/Globalization Studies11———
Linguistics and Anthropology6———
Philosophy26——$15,000
Religion/Religious Studies4———
Astronomy and Astrophysics6———
Physics21——$13,074
Dance6———
Construction Management14———

Program-level medians for graduates who received federal aid. A dash means the Department of Education suppressed the figure to protect privacy, usually because the program is small. At four-year colleges, certificate graduates often earned a bachelor's at the same time, so their earnings can reflect the degree. Source: College Scorecard, field of study data.

Getting in

36%Admission rate
27:1Students per faculty member
35%Undergraduates with a Pell Grant

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Quick answers

How much does San Diego State University cost per year?
The average net price at San Diego State University, what students pay after grants and scholarships, is $13,243 per year. Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.
How much do San Diego State University graduates earn?
Former San Diego State University students earn a median of $73,494 a year ten years after starting college. Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.
What is the graduation rate at San Diego State University?
78% of San Diego State University students graduate within 150% of normal time. Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.
How much student debt do San Diego State University graduates have?
The median federal student debt at graduation from San Diego State University is $14,500. Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.