Important Alerts
Events | Dates |
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Computer Science SDSU AZTEC Scholarships Deadline | Closing in 29 days 1st Aug 2025 |
San Diego State University is an R1 public research institute established in 1897. It ranks #52 in US News and #27 in Forbes among public universities. For its contribution to high quality research, San Diego State ranks #57 among public schools. San Diego State University offers more than 400 programs including more than 200 degrees through 8 colleges. More than 29,000 students are currently enrolled at the university. More than 3,000 students participate in study abroad programs across 60 countries every year.
For admissions to San Diego State, you need a 3.0 GPA (85%) for both bachelor's and master’s degree. Indian students are also encouraged to submit satisfactory test scores to make their application stand. A minimum GMAT score of 587 and GRE score of 300 is required for graduate admissions. The tuition fee ranges between $10,252 - $17,454 (₹8.8 lakhs - ₹15 lakhs) per year for master’s degrees.
Also Read: San Diego State University Student Reviews
San Diego State University Degrees and Courses
San Diego State University offers undergraduate degrees in 97 fields, 110 master's degrees and 25 doctoral degrees. It also offers 75 certificate courses in civil engineering, construction, artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, human resources etc. Tabulated below are some popular courses of SDSU among Indian students:
San Diego State University Admissions
Indian students can apply for San Diego State University using the Cal State Application in Fall intake. Given below is the detail more SDSU admissions including requirements and deadlines:
Category | Undergraduate Admission | Graduate Admissions |
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Application Portal | Cal State Apply Application | |
Application Fee | $70 (₹5,750) | |
Academic Requirements | High School with 3.0 (85%) | Bachelor’s degree with 3.0 GPA or 80% |
Standardized Test Scores | SAT- 1120-1330 | ACT-22-29 | GMAT- 587 or above | GRE- 300 |
English Language Requirements | TOEFL-IBT- 80 | IELTS- 6.5 | |
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San Diego State University Acceptance Rate
San Diego State demonstrates highly competitive admissions with acceptance rate typically below 40% for both bachelor's and master’s degrees. The admissions to PhD program is relatively more competitive with a 15.10% acceptance rate.
San Diego State University Rankings
San Diego State University ranks #1001-1200 globally in 2025 according to QS and Times Higher Education. According to US News, the university ranks #52 among Public Schools and #109 among National Universities for 2025.
Also Check: San Diego State University Rankings 2025
San Diego State University: College Comparison
Given below is the details comparison of San Diego State University with other similarly ranked universities in California:
Category | San Diego State University | California State University - Long Beach | University of San Diego | University of San Francisco | Chapman University |
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Location | San Diego, California | Long Beach, California | San Diego, California | San Francisco, California | Orange, California |
U.S. News National Rankings 2025 | #109 | #109 | #109 | #109 | #121 |
U.S. News Best Global Universities Rankings | #708 | #1790 | - | - | #1465 |
Acceptance Rate | 35.78% | 47% | 52.37% | 51% | 56% |
Average Tuition Fee | $45,952 | $18,294 | $59,486 | $60,492 | $64,984 |
Annual Graduate Salary | $83,000 | $82,000 | $88,000 | $87,000 | $78,000 |
San Diego State University is globally renowned for academic excellence and research. The cost of study is quite affordable at SDSU with tuition fee typically below $20,000 (₹17.11 lakhs) per year. There are no scholarships available at the university. Hence, Indian students are suggested to look for external funding options.
FAQs
Ques. Is San Diego State University worth it?
Ans. San Diego State University is worth going for, due to the following reasons:
- One of top 50 public universities in USA
- R1 research institute
- Affordable tuition fee
- Part-time jobs available
- Variety of internship and job opportunities for students
Ques. What are the Prod and Cons of studying at San Diego State University?
Ans. The Pros and Cons of studying at San Diego State are as follows:
Pros
- Flexible master's degree schedule which can be completed in 2 or 3 years.
- Internship and job opportunities though a strong alumni and industry network
- Lots of on campus opportunities for student
- On campus part-time jobs available
- Experiences faculties
- Extensive research opportunities
Cons
- The campus is located on a hill area, making it difficult to drive.
- Monthly pass required for on campus parking.
- Expensive on campus food
- Limited or no scholarship opportunities
- No independent PhD program
San Diego State University Program Fees & Deadlines
Program | Important Dates | Fees | Application Fees | Eligibility |
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B.S Athletic Training 4 years | USD 25,200 /Yr | - | - | |
B.S Criminal Justice 4 years | USD 25,200 /Yr | - | - | |
B.A Financial Services 4 years | USD 25,200 /Yr | - | - | |
B.A Japanese 4 years | USD 25,200 /Yr | - | - | |
B.S Kinesiology 4 years | USD 25,200 /Yr | - | - | |
B.A/B.S Liberal Studies 4 years | USD 25,200 /Yr | - | - | |
B.A Modern Jewish Studies 4 years | USD 25,200 /Yr | - | - | |
M.S Bioengineering 2 years | Cal State Apply Application For Spring 2025 Intake (31st Aug 2025) Program Application Deadline For Spring 2025 Intake (15th Sep 2025) Documents submission Deadline For Spring Intake (15th Sep 2025) | USD 17,454 /Yr | 70 | GPA 3.0, TOEFL(80), IELTS(6.5), Duolingo-105 |
Cal State Apply Application For Fall 2026 Intake (1st Feb 2026) Documents submission Deadline For Fall Intake (15th Feb 2026) Program Application Deadline For Fall 2026 Intake (1st Mar 2026) | USD 17,454 /Yr | 70 | GPA 3.0, TOEFL(80), IELTS(6.5), Duolingo-105 | |
M.S Accountancy 18 months | USD 10,252 /Yr | - | Duolingo-105 |
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Top Recommended Courses
Master of Science [M.S] Computer Science
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Master of Science [M.S] Big Data Analytics
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San Diego State University comparison
University Name | San Diego State University | San Jose State University | San Francisco State University | University of San Diego | Santa Clara University | University of Arizona |
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Collegedunia Score | 4.2 Out of 10 | 4.7 Out of 10 | 4.1 Out of 10 | 4.1 Out of 10 | 4.1 Out of 10 | 5.3 Out of 10 |
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Acceptance Rate | 34.6 % | 55.2 % | 68.2 % | 51.4 % | 48.3 % | 78.6 % |
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Overall 1001 out of 1401 in Global Ranking
Nearest Ranked Colleges
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San Diego State University Student Profiles
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San Diego State University Reviews
Most Popular Tags
10 Reviews Found
Likes
- SDSU offers specialization options in whichever feild you are intrested in.
- SDSU gives flexiblility in completion of masters degree in 2 to 3 years
- It offers wide benefits to students for free like weekly groceries, gym, sports, bowling alley, gaming zones and more
Dislikes
- Campus is located on a hill which has no flat roads, driving is little difficult here.
- Parking is only free for staff, students need to buy monthly pass
- On campass cafe and restaurents provide expensive food
Campus Life
- My college has one main campus area located at 5500 Campanile Drive.
- All facilities like cafes, restaurants, sports, gyms, gaming rooms, turf, stadiums, auditoriums, and much more are available.
- SDSU celebrates all festivals in the USA with lots of decorations and free food. They also celebrate Indian cultural events on campus.
- All sports are included on campus with dedicated clubs that students can join and practice accordingly.
Fees
- Entire course costs upto to 38,000$ (19000$ per year with 2 semesters)
- Fees are charged semester-wise. Estimated monthly expense is about 820$, 560$ rent. Groceries, electricity and misc are the rest after paying the rent.
- Usually the rent is about 560 to 590 in a 5-sharing apartment but goes up when shared in 4.
- Near Campus, all are mostly taken by the undergrad students with $1,000 per month.





Likes
- Flexible Schedules
- Online access
- University Resources for students(softwares, journal access, google accounts with unlimited storage)
Dislikes
- Expensive living arrangements (preferably find off campus housing)
- You have to be on top of your own course requirements (No one is going to lookout for you)
- International Students can only work part-time during their course-work where as local students can work full time even during their course-work, which is worse because international students pay more tuition fee for the same course in comparison to local students
Campus Life
- SDSU has 3 campuses:
- Main campus : 5500 Campanile Dr, San Diego, CA 92182,
- Imperial Valley campus : 720 Heber Ave, Calexico, CA 92231 and,
- San Diego State University, Georgia: PP6X+R9M, Tbilisi, Georgia
- I was on the main campus, which has a library, a student health clinic that offers a range of medical services for students, an open auditorium, an indoor basketball court, an open football field, futsal pitches, a gym, temperature-regulated swimming pools and an indoor sports centre.
- Our college participates in major sports leagues at the college level in football, basketball, volleyball and also hosts concerts of various musical artists. Aztec Nights is a major festival at the start of each year.
Fees
- $38500/year (tuition basic tuition $9570+ international student tuition $7128, approx living expense $15375 + books or personal expense ~ $4000, Health insuarance $1700)
- The fees were charged semester-wise. I have already stated my yearly expense of off-campus living as 15000 which comes down to $1250 per month ($600 rent and the rest for my personal expense)










Likes
- Diversity (People from multiple countries study here)
- Course content (Advanced courses)
- Full time job opportunities (After graduation)
Dislikes
- Open campus (Homeless people roaming around in the campus)
- Less Indians
- No free transportation for students
Campus Life
- The San Diego campus and the Imperial Valley campus together comprise the main two Campuses of SDSU. However, for remote learning, SDSU has its extended arm-the Online Global campus-that many students may prefer for some flexibility. SDSU has a plethora of Amenities that enricher student life. With tons of resources, guided study spaces, and support For researchers, the library serves as a great facility for study work.
- The sports facility is one of The most beautiful features of this campus, which includes fitness programs, gym, and courts Chat keep students active and healthy. Other on-campus medical services offer health Consultations, emergency care, and wellness programs to promote physical and mental well-Being.
- Also characteristic of campus life is the vibrant scene of SDSU that promotes big festivalsand campus-wide events that pull students together. Various cultural holidays and international celebrations are honored on campus, thus providing an opportunity for everyone to meet the lifestyle of other traditions.
- Other bigger events include annual cultural festivals, career fairs,and community-building activities, fun and engaging. Plenty of different groups may register for student clubs and organizations, depending on the cultural aspect of students and ; interests, ongoing social initiatives, and hobbies.
- Another important aspect of student life is extracurricular activities that are a core part of SDSU. Sports lovers have loads of opportunities to join intramural and varsity teams for basketball, soccer, swimming, and athletics. Set against this backdrop of cultural activities, music concerts, dance competitions, and art exhibitions are organized, giving students platforms to showcase their talents.
Fees
- I-20 mentioned a total $45,000 for 1 year which included tuition fees $ 19,766, Living Expenses $ 22,813, Health Insurance, Books, Supplies $ 3,146. But in total, my tuition fees are $32000 for 2 years and health insurance is $2000 per year.
- Fees are credit based, and semester based.
- Average rent: $850 - $1000. Rent and utility: $600, WiFi – Mobile recharge: $50, Food and other expenses $200.

Likes
- Very Beautiful and Safe Campus
- Faculty is helpful and have great knowledge about courses they teach
- Lot of on Campus opportunities
Dislikes
- Not lot of companies come for career fair in CS but there are a lot of construction companies that come in career fair.
- You may see Homeless people but not in main areas of campus and Police is always there so it is safe.
Campus Life
- Our university has 2 campuses: one is the main campus, and the second is the Imperial Valley campus. I have never been to the Imperial Valley campus.
- The university has 24*7 library, Swimming pool, 3 Big Grounds for Football cricket, etc., 2 gyms, and other activities like badminton, pickleball, basketball, wall climbing, etc.
- There are concerts of famous singers. Last year, Taylor Swift came to SDSU Viejas Arena to perform every week some celebrity comes to play concerts; these are generally paid. The free events are also there but only at the beginning of the semester in the first month, in which students could make new friends and explore campus too.
Fees
- Fees (Per Semester) - $9908
- Total course Fees (4 Semesters) - $34000 approx.
- Insurance (Per year) - $1927
- Monthly Expenses (off Campus)
- Rent & Utilities - $620 per month
- Grocery - $250-280 per month
- other expenses ( entertainment ) - $50-100 per month
- Monthly Expenses (On Campus)
- Rent - $1600 per month
- Eating - $500 per month
- Other - $200 per month







Likes
- College in proximity with lots of startups and industries in the field of biomedical engineering, affordable fees.
- Lots of research opportunities across different fields, very experienced professors to provide guidance in research fields, very active on-campus groups and activities, great location, affordable cost of attendance
Dislikes
- Very few on-campus opportunities to network with industry partners, lesser academic scholarship opportunities available (at least in engineering fields) as compared to other California universities, no independent PhD degree provided by SDSU
Overview
It was a very learning experience for me. I gained a bunch of research opportunities, network with academic professionals via conferences, very supportive professors, ample on-campus job opportunities to help with sustenance.
Campus Life
I would highly rate research opportunities at SDSU, especially in engineering department. There were some very strong collaboration with University of Washington Seattle and MIT in our MEMS lab and gave a chance to form very strong research opportunities.
Overview
San Diego had always been a dream city for me. It's metropolitan but also has chill areas like the beach. It's a state school so as a California resident it was an affordable choice. The college campus is a moderate size and has beautiful architecture. The area the college is in feels like it's own community.
Fees
I pay around $6000 a year for my program because it is online. On-campus tuition is closer to $8000 I believe. There are scholarships available for everyone. You pay for each semester. I am paying out of pocket with no scholarships or loans so I don't know much about those. You can pay easily online or in person
Overview
I decided to opt for this particular college because they were giving me the most financial assistance compared to some of the other universities that I got into. It's also a great school in a great location.
Fees
So tuition and fees cover an enormous amount of things which also include basic health coverage which is amazing because a lot of universities don't offer that for you. And to have real doctors on campus is such a reassurance.
Overview
Great professors and advisors. I had a previous education experience with them and know their value. I also love that service Learning is a major part of the program. They encourage us to be politically active in our practice.
Fees
Tuition is based on block units. 1-6 units cost a certain amount and 7+ is another amount. You also pay for a student representative fee. If you decide to go on a tuition payment plan there is an extra $60 added. Student ID and parking cost money.
Overview
Because of the coursework and location. The college also had a limited strength in CS so that the professor can focus on individuals
Campus Life
The campus life is pretty amazing and SDSU has great events for socializing
San Diego State University Scholarships
Name | Scholarship Per Student | Level of Study | Type | |
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Novus Biological Scholarship Program | Scholarship per student$1,500 | Level Of StudyAssociate | TypeMerit-Based | |
Forte Fellowship | Scholarship per student$25,451 | Level Of StudyMaster | TypeMerit-Based | |
Forktip Women’s- Innovation Scholarship | Scholarship per studentVariable Amount | Level Of StudyBachelor | TypeCollege-Specific | |
Gyandhan Scholarship | Scholarship per student$1,207 | Level Of StudyMaster | TypeMerit-Based | |
Penn State University | Scholarship per studentVariable Amount | Level Of StudyN/A | TypeCollege-Specific | |
1st Formations Business Scholarship | Scholarship per student$636 | Level Of StudyBachelor | TypeMerit-Based |
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San Diego State University Admissions
Application Portal: https://www2.calstate.edu/apply
Fall 2024 Deadlines
Important Date: November30 (Application deadline)
San Diego State University Exam Scores
Exams | Avg. Score | Min Score | Max. Score | %Submitted' |
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Language Proficiency | ||||
PTE | - | 58 | - | - |
TOEFL | - | 80 | - | - |
IELTS | - | 6.5 | - | - |
Graduate | ||||
GRE | - | 300 | - | - |
Check Detailed Score | ||||
Verbal | - | 150 | - | - |
Quantitative | - | 150 | - | - |
GMAT | 592 | - | - | - |
Undergraduate | ||||
SAT | 1190 | 1090 | 1290 | 79 |
Check Detailed Score | ||||
Evidence-Based Reading and Writing | 595 | 550 | 640 | - |
Mathematics | 595 | 540 | 650 | - |
ACT | 26 | 23 | 28 | 52 |
Check Detailed Score | ||||
English | 25 | 22 | 28 | - |
Mathematics | 25 | 22 | 28 | - |
Attendance Cost
The table shows average yearly cost of attendance for international students. Amount may vary with the course opted, nature of accommodation, and personal spending habits of a candidate.Check Program wise Fees
San Diego State University Accreditations
Faculty
Total Faculty | Full Time | Part Time | Graduate Assistants |
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1858 | - | - | - |
San Diego State University Campus Location
Nearby This Campus
- Book Store
- Restaurant
- Shopping Mall
- Super Market
- Airport
Book Store
Shopping Mall
Airport
Restaurant
Super Market
● All distance are measured radially. Actual distance may vary
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Comments
Found 5 Comments
Can we waive the application fee? What about the scholarships? Can we get a whole ride or cover 80% of the costs? Do ECAs play a supporting role in scholarship?
SDSU offers a variety of scholarships, ranging from need-based to merit-based, and some that cover full tuition or a significant portion of fees. However, check the available scholarships, benefits, and eligibility for the SDSU Scholarships.