San Diego State University (SDSU) Tuition and Fees

By Kelly Boyer Sagert

(Last Updated – 08/2025)

San Diego State University is a four-year public research university located in San Diego, California. Founded in 1897, SDSU is known for its diversity and inclusion, serving as a federally designated Hispanic-serving institution, as well as supporting Asian American and Native American Pacific Island communities. The school is well known for its research-oriented education and Division I athletic program. Degrees offered at SDSU range from bachelor’s to doctorates.

This guide will walk you through SDSU’s admissions requirements, tuition, financial aid statistics, acceptance rate, popular majors, and more.

Total Cost of Attendance

Financial Aid

During the 2022-23 academic year, 95% of first-time, full-time SDSU undergraduates received some sort of financial assistance. It took the form of scholarships, grants, loans, or a combination of these. For example:

•   94% of students received grants or scholarships, with the average award being $5,459.

•   30% of students took out student loans, averaging $7,137.

Explore financial aid options: California Student Loan & Scholarships

Generally, financial aid is monetary assistance awarded to students based on personal need and merit. Students who qualify for financial aid can use it to pay for college costs like tuition, books, and living expenses.

The federal government is the largest provider of student financial aid. However, aid can also be given by state governments, colleges and universities, private companies, and nonprofits. The different types include:

•  Scholarships: These can be awarded by schools and other organizations based on students’ academic excellence, athletic achievement, community involvement, job experience, field of study, or financial need.

•  Grants: Generally based on financial need, these can come from federal, state, private, or nonprofit organizations.

•  Work-study: This federal program provides qualifying students with part-time employment to earn money for expenses while in school.

•  Federal student loans: This is money borrowed directly from the U.S. Department of Education. It comes with fixed interest rates that are typically lower than private loans.

Colleges, universities, and state agencies use the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) to determine financial aid eligibility. The FAFSA can be completed online, but note that state and federal and school deadlines may differ.

You can find other financial aid opportunities at sources such as:

•  U.S. Department of Education – Learn more about the grants that are bestowed by the federal government

•  College Scholarship Service Profile (CSS) – A global college scholarship application used by select institutions to award financial aid

•  Scholarship Search Tool

Recommended: The Differences Between Grants, Scholarships, and Loans

Private Student Loans

At SDSU, 28% of first-time students took out federal student loans in 2022-23. That same year, 3% of students took out private student loans, with the average figure being $21,117.

Private loans are funded by private organizations such as banks, online lenders, credit unions, some schools, and state-based or state-affiliated organizations. While Federal student loans have interest rates that are regulated by Congress, private lenders follow a different set of regulations so their qualifications and interest rates can vary widely.

What’s more, private loans have variable or fixed interest rates that may be higher than federal loan interest rates, which are always fixed. Private lenders may (but don’t always) require you to make payments on your loans while you are still in school, compared to federal student loans, which you don’t have to start paying back until after you graduate, leave school, or change your enrollment status to less than half-time.

Private loans don’t have a specific application window and can be applied for on an as-needed basis. However, if you think you may need to take out a private loan, it’s a good idea to submit your FAFSA first to see what federal aid you may qualify for, as it generally may have better rates and terms.

If you’ve missed the FAFSA deadline or you’re struggling to pay for school during the year, private loans can potentially help you make your payments. Just keep in mind that you will need enough lead time for your loan to process and for your lender to send money to your school.

Recommended: Guide to Private Student Loans

Projected 4-Year Degree Price

The San Diego State University cost for four years would be $144,360 for in-state students, based on 2024-25 numbers. To compare, the average cost for four years at a public university in the U.S. is $115,360.

For students from out of state, the four-year degree price at SDSU is $194,760. This is slightly higher than the national out-of-state average of $186,920.

Here’s some Student Loan & Scholarship Information for you.

Undergraduate Tuition and Fees

The average annual in-state cost of attendance at a four-year public university is $28,840, according to CollegeData.com. This makes SDSU about 10% more expensive than average for in-state students.

The average cost for out-of-state students at a public university is $46,730. SDSU is slightly less expensive than average for out-of-state students.

Graduate Tuition and Fees

For in-state students who attend graduate school, San Diego State University tuition and fees in 2024-25 were $10,252 per year; for out-of-state students, the sum was $20,332.

By comparison, the average graduate student at a public institution spends $10,320 a year on tuition and fees.

There are many options for graduate loans that can help with San Diego State University’s costs.

Cost per Credit Hour

As of 2024-25, in-state undergrads studying part-time (enrolled in up to six units) pay $6,712 in tuition and fees.

Campus Housing Expenses

The university is affiliated with two off-campus community housing options as well.

San Diego State University Acceptance Rate

The San Diego State University acceptance rate is 34%, making it a relatively selective school. In fall 2023, 82,800 people applied to SDSU, with 28,152 accepted.

Admission Requirements

SDSU accepts applications from October 1 to December 2 for the following fall term.

Here’s what’s required to apply for admission to SDSU (and all California State University campuses) as a first-year student:

•  High school name(s), date of graduation, and diploma

•  Unofficial transcripts for 15 college prep courses you’ve completed to fulfill California’s A-G requirements

◦  For each course, a grade of C or better is required

◦  Official transcripts will be used to confirm this information

•  Credit Card or PayPal account

◦  Application fees are due at time of submission

Supplemental factors that may affect admissions include:

•  Number of courses exceeding minimum A-G requirements

•  GPA in math and science courses

•  Household income

•  Extracurricular and leadership involvement

•  Educational program participation in high school

SAT and ACT Scores

The university does not use ACT/SAT test scores in determining admissions.

Popular Majors at SDSU

San Diego State University awarded 8,542 bachelor’s degrees for the 2023-24 academic year in more than 140 majors. Here are some of the most popular degrees.

1. Business Administration and Management

This popular major prepares undergraduates to coordinate people, funds, materials, and machines to achieve the objectives of businesses and other organizations.

Undergraduate degrees in 2023-24: 2,001

2. Psychology

Students who major in psychology can pick from three different Bachelor of Arts degrees; one emphasizes industrial and organizational psychology, while another specializes in neuroscience.

Undergraduate degrees in 2023-24: 630

3. Criminal Justice

Students in this program explore the criminal justice system as well as policy issues such as organized crime, institutional racism, environmental damage, juvenile justice, and more.

Undergraduate degrees in 2023-24: 402

4. Kinesiology

The kinesiology major focuses on human movement and its relationship to health, physical skill, and fitness. Students can select their emphasis from exercise science generalist, fitness specialist, or pre-physical therapy.

Undergraduate degrees in 2023-24: 353

5. Biology

Undergraduates in this department can choose from programs ranging from bioinformatics to zoology to cell and molecular biology. Many SDSU students select a biology major to prepare for medical school or other programs in the health field.

Undergraduate degrees in 2023-24: 276

6. Mechanical Engineering

Students who major in mechanical engineering learn to analyze, design, model, and build physical products and processes. They identify and solve engineering problems by designing and conducting experiments and then applying modern tools and techniques. Graduates go on to work in manufacturing, robotics, fabrication, biomechanics, and similar fields.

Undergraduate degrees in 2023-24: 259

7. Communication

The many ways that humans communicate — from conversation to body language to interviewing and debate — are covered in this expansive and flexible major. Note that communications majors must also pass three semesters of college mathematics, including statistics, to earn a degree. The parallel Bachelor of Science degree in Health Communication is suitable for careers in medicine, public health, addiction treatment, and more.

Undergraduate degrees in 2023-24: 257

8. Art Studies

Students majoring in art studies must take courses in everything from drawing, painting, and photography to digital media and three-dimensional formats such as sculpture, ceramics, and furniture design. Art majors who aim to earn a single-subject teaching credential must meet overall GPA requirements, including for 18 units of studio and art history fundamentals.

Undergraduate degrees in 2023-24: 248

9. Multi-/Interdisciplinary Studies

The interdisciplinary studies program (known as IS3D) allows students to combine three preapproved disciplines to create a custom degree plan. More than 50 disciplines are available for inclusion in the program, which seeks to help students pursue creative and integrative thinking.

Undergraduate degrees in 2023-24: 243

10. Liberal Studies

Liberal studies degrees prepare students to teach at the elementary or middle school levels. The content of various core courses, such as history, math, physical education, and science, closely matches the material that children learn in the classroom. Students in this program do fieldwork as they study current issues and challenges in education.

Undergraduate degrees in 2023-24: 223

Graduation Rate

The graduation rate for students who began their studies in fall 2017 is:

•  Four years: 57%

•  Six years: 78%

•  Eight years: 81%

Post-Graduation Median Earnings

Graduates of SDSU earn a median salary of $64,909; the midpoint salary for grads of similar four-year colleges is $53,727.