San Diego State University
Tuition, net price, acceptance rate, graduation rate, and graduate salary · San Diego, California
Net price / year
$15,364
after grants & scholarships
higher than 64% of public 4-year colleges
Acceptance rate
36%
Graduation rate
77%
within 150% of normal time
higher than 93% of public 4-year colleges
Median earnings
$68,268
4 years after graduating
higher than 78% of public 4-year colleges
San Diego State University at a glance
- What is the tuition at San Diego State University?
- In-state undergraduate tuition and fees are $8,728 for the 2024-25 academic year, or $21,328 for out-of-state students.
- What is the cost of attendance at San Diego State University?
- The average cost of attendance is $27,780 a year before financial aid (2023-24), counting tuition, books, housing and other living expenses.
- What is the net price at San Diego State University?
- The average net price for in-state students is $15,364 a year after grants and scholarships (2023-24).
- What is the acceptance rate at San Diego State University?
- About 36% of applicants were admitted (fall 2024).
- Is San Diego State University test optional?
- Test policy reported to the federal government: Tests neither required nor recommended.
- What is the graduation rate at San Diego State University?
- 77% of first-time, full-time students finish within 150% of normal time, or 6 years (entering classes through fall 2018).
- How much do graduates of San Diego State University earn?
- The median graduate earns $68,268 four years after finishing, among graduates working and not enrolled (2024 dollars).
Key takeaways
- 77% of students graduate on time or within 150% of normal time, higher than 93% of public 4-year colleges.
- The earnings premium over a typical high-school graduate would cover the estimated net cost in about 2.0 years of work (not counting income forgone while studying).
- Graduates earn a median $68,268 four years after finishing, more than 78% of public 4-year colleges.
- Families earning under $30,000 pay about $9,910 a year on average, versus $23,821 for families earning over $110,000.
- The acceptance rate is 36%, so admission is selective.
Tuition and cost of attendance at San Diego State University
Average net price (in-state)
$15,364 per year
Cost of attendance minus average grants and scholarships, for first-time full-time students receiving federal aid.
Estimate your own price with the San Diego State University net price calculator ↗
Estimated total net cost
$61,456
Net price × 4 years, at today's prices and assuming on-time completion. Your actual cost depends on your aid.
Net price by family income
Average yearly net price for students receiving federal aid.
- $0–30k $9,910
- $30–48k $10,017
- $48–75k $12,697
- $75–110k $15,891
- $110k+ $23,821
Where the sticker price goes· Cost of attendance $27,780
- Tuition & fees$8,728
- Books & supplies$946
- Room & board$23,030
- Other expenses$3,386
- Tuition & fees (in-state)
- $8,728
- Tuition & fees (out-of-state)
- $21,328
San Diego State University acceptance rate and admissions
Acceptance rate
Share of applicants admitted.
Test policy: Tests neither required nor recommended
Graduation rate and salary after graduating from San Diego State University
Graduation rate
77%
First-time, full-time students finishing within 150% of normal time.
Retention rate
90%
Full-time first-years who return the next fall.
Typical monthly payment
$159
On a standard 10-year federal plan.
Years of earnings premium to cover cost
2.0 years
Net cost ÷ (graduate earnings − high-school graduate earnings). Excludes income forgone while studying and assumes today's earnings. A rough guide, not a prediction.
Earnings vs debt
Of graduates working and not enrolled, in 2024 dollars.
- Debt-to-earnings
- 0.2×Median debt divided by median earnings 4 years after graduating.
- Share of pay going to loans
- 2.8%
- 3-year loan default rate
- 0%
Outcomes by student group
The Scorecard reports some outcomes separately for groups of students. A group is left out when it is too small to report. These are school-level figures and say nothing about any individual student.
Completion within 150% of normal time, by group
Share of students who entered in 2018 and completed within 150% of normal time (six years at a four-year college, three at a two-year college).
All students, same entering cohort: 76%
Group rates and the all-student rate come from the same 2018 entering cohort, so they can be compared directly. Groups at small colleges can rest on very few students. Data period: Entering cohort 2018 (IPEDS).
Earnings ten years after entry
All students who entered this college, whether or not they graduated, in 2022 dollars, ten years after entry.
Typical range: middle half of students
25th percentile $39,563 · median $64,909 · 75th percentile $94,570
Median by family income
Median by sex
This is not the same as the graduates' earnings shown above. It covers everyone who entered, including students who left without a degree, ten years after entry and in 2022 dollars. The graduates' figure covers only completers, four years after finishing, in 2024 dollars. Do not compare the two directly.
Data period: Students who entered in academic years 2009-10 and 2010-11 (pooled), earnings measured in 2020 and 2021, 2022 dollars (Treasury).
Median federal student debt, by group
Median federal loan debt of students who borrowed, when they left school, by group.
By Pell Grant status
By first-generation status
By family income
By gender
Data period: Loans in fiscal years 2020 and 2021 (pooled, NSLDS).
How borrowers are doing
One year after leaving school and entering repayment, here is where the 8,304 federal-loan borrowers from this college stood. It covers borrowers only, not students who did not take federal loans.
Repayment status one year after entering repayment
- Paid in full 13%
- Making progress 14%
- Not making progress 11%
- Delinquent 2%
- Default 0%
- Forbearance 49%
- Deferment 10%
- Discharged 0%
What the terms mean
- Paid in full:
- The borrower has paid off the loans completely.
- Making progress:
- Payments are reducing the loan balance, not just covering interest.
- Not making progress:
- The borrower is paying, but not enough to shrink the balance.
- Delinquent:
- Payments are late but the loan is not yet in default.
- Default:
- The borrower has missed payments for so long that the loan is officially in default.
- Forbearance:
- Payments are temporarily paused or reduced, and interest may keep adding up.
- Deferment:
- Payments are on hold for an approved reason, such as returning to school.
- Discharged:
- The loan was cancelled, for example because of a disability or a school closure.
8,304 borrowers · Data period: Borrowers who entered repayment in the AY2018-19 and AY2019-20 cohorts (pooled, NSLDS).
Programs and majors at San Diego State University ranked by earnings
| Program | Earnings, 4 yrs after | Earnings over time | Compared with the U.S. median for this field | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing Bachelor's · Graduates: 203 | $120,799 | 1 yr$100,2214 yrs$120,7995 yrs$109,894 | U.S. median $88,910 U.S. middle half $67.9K–$114.5K · Above the U.S. median | $17,375 |
| Bachelor's · Graduates: 62 | $116,842 | 1 yr$76,8124 yrs$116,842 | U.S. median $109,015 U.S. middle half $86.3K–$145.2K · Above the U.S. median | $17,249 |
| Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering Bachelor's · Graduates: 119 | $106,416 | 1 yr$75,0614 yrs$106,4165 yrs$100,171 | U.S. median $100,647 U.S. middle half $84.6K–$122.4K · Above the U.S. median | $17,999 |
| Bachelor's · Graduates: 158 | $100,586 | 1 yr$74,5234 yrs$100,5865 yrs$114,373 | U.S. median $107,009 U.S. middle half $74.8K–$152K · Below the U.S. median | $16,866 |
| Construction Engineering Technology/Technician Bachelor's · Graduates: 22 Small sample | $100,564 | 1 yr$81,6084 yrs$100,564 | U.S. median $93,843 U.S. middle half $77.4K–$111.7K · Above the U.S. median | — |
| Aerospace, Aeronautical, and Astronautical/Space Engineering Bachelor's · Graduates: 75 | $100,139 | 1 yr$74,3754 yrs$100,1395 yrs$93,649 | U.S. median $98,207 U.S. middle half $81.6K–$115.9K · Above the U.S. median | $23,417 |
| Bachelor's · Graduates: 249 | $97,825 | 1 yr$69,7544 yrs$97,8255 yrs$99,279 | U.S. median $92,135 U.S. middle half $77.7K–$109.1K · Above the U.S. median | $19,499 |
| Bachelor's · Graduates: 142 | $95,865 | 1 yr$73,5844 yrs$95,8655 yrs$96,325 | U.S. median $86,517 U.S. middle half $73.9K–$101.2K · Above the U.S. median | $19,832 |
| Environmental/Environmental Health Engineering Bachelor's · Graduates: 42 | $88,417 | 1 yr$66,4824 yrs$88,417 | U.S. median $81,171 U.S. middle half $68.9K–$95.2K · Above the U.S. median | $16,997 |
| Finance and Financial Management Services Bachelor's · Graduates: 307 | $88,136 | 1 yr$53,3734 yrs$88,1365 yrs$70,355 | U.S. median $83,343 U.S. middle half $60.8K–$111.5K · Above the U.S. median | $15,000 |
Show all 61 programs
| Computer and Information Sciences, General Bachelor's · Graduates: 137 | $86,613 | 1 yr$54,2444 yrs$86,6135 yrs$87,236 | U.S. median $92,374 U.S. middle half $64.2K–$128.2K · Below the U.S. median | $16,375 |
| Bachelor's · Graduates: 30 | $83,076 | 1 yr$57,7344 yrs$83,076 | U.S. median $92,425 U.S. middle half $64.6K–$125.5K · Below the U.S. median | $13,125 |
| Bachelor's · Graduates: 356 | $81,368 | 1 yr$48,2294 yrs$81,3685 yrs$79,506 | U.S. median $69,303 U.S. middle half $49.7K–$93.2K · Above the U.S. median | $15,000 |
| Microbiological Sciences and Immunology Bachelor's · Graduates: 22 Small sample | $81,122 | 1 yr$45,3604 yrs$81,122 | U.S. median $62,582 U.S. middle half $44K–$83.2K · Above the U.S. median | $15,500 |
| Accounting and Related Services Bachelor's · Graduates: 278 | $80,011 | 1 yr$57,1574 yrs$80,0115 yrs$96,719 | U.S. median $76,194 U.S. middle half $56.2K–$97.2K · Above the U.S. median | $15,218 |
| Bachelor's · Graduates: 40 | $74,676 | 1 yr$43,6034 yrs$74,6765 yrs$67,059 | U.S. median $65,120 U.S. middle half $48.3K–$84K · Above the U.S. median | $17,999 |
| Bachelor's · Graduates: 181 | $74,123 | 1 yr$44,1254 yrs$74,1235 yrs$77,568 | U.S. median $82,686 U.S. middle half $58.2K–$116.3K · Below the U.S. median | $15,250 |
| Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences Bachelor's · Graduates: 34 | $73,647 | 1 yr$41,3514 yrs$73,647 | U.S. median $60,190 U.S. middle half $44.3K–$77.6K · Above the U.S. median | $21,500 |
| Health Services/Allied Health/Health Sciences, General Bachelor's · Graduates: 86 | $73,095 | 1 yr$35,6244 yrs$73,0955 yrs$62,278 | U.S. median $61,296 U.S. middle half $42.8K–$82.3K · Above the U.S. median | $26,150 |
| Hospitality Administration/Management Bachelor's · Graduates: 97 | $70,113 | 1 yr$40,0094 yrs$70,1135 yrs$58,612 | U.S. median $56,726 U.S. middle half $41K–$73.8K · Above the U.S. median | $15,000 |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations Bachelor's · Graduates: 419 | $69,902 | 1 yr$46,2754 yrs$69,9025 yrs$74,342 | U.S. median $68,257 U.S. middle half $47.6K–$93.6K · Above the U.S. median | $15,000 |
| Bachelor's · Graduates: 33 | $69,606 | 1 yr$42,8564 yrs$69,606 | U.S. median $91,532 U.S. middle half $63.4K–$127.3K · Below the U.S. median | $23,793 |
| Bachelor's · Graduates: 74 | $69,141 | 1 yr$38,1384 yrs$69,1415 yrs$62,849 | U.S. median $73,201 U.S. middle half $51.3K–$98.8K · Below the U.S. median | $13,110 |
| Bachelor's · Graduates: 216 | $68,861 | 1 yr$33,5974 yrs$68,8615 yrs$70,169 | U.S. median $57,214 U.S. middle half $38.9K–$79.2K · Above the U.S. median | $18,010 |
| Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication Bachelor's · Graduates: 117 | $67,414 | 1 yr$44,1974 yrs$67,4145 yrs$69,123 | U.S. median $63,560 U.S. middle half $45.9K–$83.7K · Above the U.S. median | $16,111 |
| Dietetics and Clinical Nutrition Services Bachelor's · Graduates: 52 | $66,649 | 4 yrs$66,6495 yrs$56,624 | U.S. median $55,753 U.S. middle half $40.5K–$68.4K · Above the U.S. median | — |
| Political Science and Government Bachelor's · Graduates: 106 | $64,824 | 1 yr$38,0604 yrs$64,8245 yrs$70,987 | U.S. median $63,293 U.S. middle half $44.8K–$85.4K · Above the U.S. median | $17,364 |
| Communication Disorders Sciences and Services Bachelor's · Graduates: 88 | $61,510 | 1 yr$22,3784 yrs$61,5105 yrs$75,255 | U.S. median $58,928 U.S. middle half $45K–$73K · Above the U.S. median | $14,000 |
| Communication and Media Studies Bachelor's · Graduates: 241 | $61,389 | 1 yr$37,7734 yrs$61,3895 yrs$59,719 | U.S. median $56,359 U.S. middle half $39.6K–$76.1K · Above the U.S. median | $15,000 |
| Bachelor's · Graduates: 60 | $60,904 | 1 yr$41,0924 yrs$60,904 | U.S. median $58,808 U.S. middle half $42K–$79.2K · Above the U.S. median | $15,000 |
| Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness Bachelor's · Graduates: 244 | $59,914 | 1 yr$26,3274 yrs$59,9145 yrs$64,740 | U.S. median $54,562 U.S. middle half $39K–$73K · Above the U.S. median | $15,285 |
| International Relations and National Security Studies Bachelor's · Graduates: 84 | $59,733 | 1 yr$35,3614 yrs$59,7335 yrs$67,020 | U.S. median $66,596 U.S. middle half $46K–$87.8K · Below the U.S. median | $15,124 |
| Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities Bachelor's · Graduates: 211 | $58,419 | 1 yr$23,1904 yrs$58,4195 yrs$58,202 | U.S. median $53,072 U.S. middle half $35.8K–$73.3K · Above the U.S. median | $12,838 |
| Natural Resources Conservation and Research Bachelor's · Graduates: 74 | $58,215 | 1 yr$34,0904 yrs$58,2155 yrs$58,289 | U.S. median $55,012 U.S. middle half $39.4K–$72.8K · Above the U.S. median | $12,726 |
| Bachelor's · Graduates: 24 Small sample | $58,004 | 1 yr$38,6484 yrs$58,004 | U.S. median $57,853 U.S. middle half $42.5K–$75.6K · Above the U.S. median | $14,999 |
| Bachelor's · Graduates: 29 Small sample | $57,999 | — | U.S. median $69,562 U.S. middle half $49.1K–$97.4K · Below the U.S. median | $8,772 |
| Bachelor's · Graduates: 50 | $57,861 | 1 yr$38,2034 yrs$57,8615 yrs$45,688 | U.S. median $50,680 U.S. middle half $36.3K–$66.7K · Above the U.S. median | $13,881 |
| Criminal Justice and Corrections Bachelor's · Graduates: 443 | $57,510 | 1 yr$33,2614 yrs$57,5105 yrs$55,637 | U.S. median $55,378 U.S. middle half $40.2K–$74.4K · Above the U.S. median | $13,499 |
| Bachelor's · Graduates: 133 | $57,264 | 1 yr$41,0204 yrs$57,2645 yrs$50,842 | U.S. median $65,093 U.S. middle half $47.2K–$86.7K · Below the U.S. median | $14,999 |
| Parks, Recreation, and Leisure Studies Bachelor's · Graduates: 50 | $57,093 | 1 yr$33,6924 yrs$57,0935 yrs$62,734 | U.S. median $50,983 U.S. middle half $37.1K–$67.2K · Above the U.S. median | $14,999 |
| Bachelor's · Graduates: 143 | $56,674 | 1 yr$36,9164 yrs$56,6745 yrs$53,843 | U.S. median $51,790 U.S. middle half $39.2K–$64.2K · Above the U.S. median | $15,000 |
| Ethnic, Cultural Minority, Gender, and Group Studies Bachelor's · Graduates: 47 | $55,230 | 1 yr$29,2674 yrs$55,2305 yrs$44,417 | U.S. median $51,710 U.S. middle half $34.9K–$68.1K · Above the U.S. median | $23,080 |
| Bachelor's · Graduates: 54 | $55,115 | 1 yr$34,8784 yrs$55,115 | U.S. median $60,053 U.S. middle half $43.2K–$76.8K · Below the U.S. median | $17,849 |
| Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other Bachelor's · Graduates: 240 | $55,072 | 1 yr$33,1654 yrs$55,0725 yrs$47,974 | U.S. median $55,693 U.S. middle half $40.3K–$72.2K · Below the U.S. median | $15,225 |
| Bachelor's · Graduates: 127 | $54,569 | 1 yr$31,4594 yrs$54,5695 yrs$56,904 | U.S. median $51,490 U.S. middle half $33K–$70.6K · Above the U.S. median | $13,832 |
| Bachelor's · Graduates: 28 Small sample | $53,997 | 1 yr$30,2694 yrs$53,997 | U.S. median $56,278 U.S. middle half $40.6K–$73.9K · Below the U.S. median | $14,998 |
| Bachelor's · Graduates: 55 | $53,991 | 1 yr$25,5534 yrs$53,991 | U.S. median $46,676 U.S. middle half $32.1K–$63.9K · Above the U.S. median | $12,886 |
| Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions Bachelor's · Graduates: 20 Small sample | $53,621 | 1 yr$25,3614 yrs$53,621 | U.S. median $70,786 U.S. middle half $50.9K–$95.9K · Below the U.S. median | $20,000 |
| Bachelor's · Graduates: 16 Small sample | $53,390 | 1 yr$29,7124 yrs$53,390 | U.S. median $54,455 U.S. middle half $34.9K–$78K · Below the U.S. median | $25,000 |
| Bachelor's · Graduates: 165 | $53,387 | 1 yr$35,1364 yrs$53,3875 yrs$50,363 | U.S. median $52,657 U.S. middle half $37.7K–$69.5K · Above the U.S. median | $12,500 |
| Bachelor's · Graduates: 79 | $52,095 | 1 yr$23,7044 yrs$52,0955 yrs$31,866 | U.S. median $53,366 U.S. middle half $36.6K–$72.3K · Below the U.S. median | $20,081 |
| Bachelor's · Graduates: 466 | $51,021 | 1 yr$29,3464 yrs$51,0215 yrs$46,082 | U.S. median $50,706 U.S. middle half $35.7K–$67.2K · Above the U.S. median | $14,872 |
| Real Estate Bachelor's · Graduates: 20 Small sample | $50,662 | — | U.S. median $84,821 U.S. middle half $55.6K–$120.7K · Below the U.S. median | $18,649 |
| English Language and Literature, General Bachelor's · Graduates: 109 | $49,406 | 1 yr$24,1574 yrs$49,4065 yrs$50,504 | U.S. median $48,590 U.S. middle half $33.7K–$63.8K · Above the U.S. median | $15,122 |
| Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics Bachelor's · Graduates: 82 | $49,167 | 1 yr$28,1824 yrs$49,1675 yrs$43,905 | U.S. median $55,000 U.S. middle half $38.4K–$73.3K · Below the U.S. median | $14,957 |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods Bachelor's · Graduates: 157 | $48,471 | 1 yr$28,7934 yrs$48,4715 yrs$45,763 | U.S. median $47,382 U.S. middle half $38.4K–$56.1K · Above the U.S. median | $12,691 |
| Radio, Television, and Digital Communication Bachelor's · Graduates: 127 | $43,485 | 1 yr$22,4874 yrs$43,4855 yrs$53,045 | U.S. median $50,497 U.S. middle half $33.7K–$70.1K · Below the U.S. median | $15,332 |
| Linguistic, Comparative, and Related Language Studies and Services Bachelor's · Graduates: 28 Small sample | $42,922 | 1 yr$22,0014 yrs$42,922 | U.S. median $49,984 U.S. middle half $32.9K–$69.9K · Below the U.S. median | $11,000 |
| Bachelor's · Graduates: 50 | $42,090 | 1 yr$20,4404 yrs$42,0905 yrs$34,258 | U.S. median $42,892 U.S. middle half $26K–$58.8K · Below the U.S. median | $15,383 |
| Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft Bachelor's · Graduates: 60 | $41,812 | 1 yr$20,5384 yrs$41,8125 yrs$28,363 | U.S. median $39,775 U.S. middle half $25.5K–$55.4K · Above the U.S. median | $15,000 |
| Bachelor's · Graduates: 47 | $35,416 | 1 yr$23,1864 yrs$35,4165 yrs$40,935 | U.S. median $41,367 U.S. middle half $26.2K–$56.7K · Below the U.S. median | $10,299 |
Earnings are for graduates working and not enrolled, 4 years after completing, in 2024 dollars.
The U.S. median and middle half (25th to 75th percentile) are for graduates of the same field and credential level at all colleges, 4 years after completing.
The 1-year, 4-year and 5-year figures come from different graduating cohorts and dollar years (1-year: AY2018-19 and AY2019-20 graduates, 2022 dollars; 4-year: AY2017-18 and AY2018-19 graduates, 2024 dollars; 5-year: AY2014-15 and AY2015-16 graduates, 2022 dollars), so read them as three separate measures, not a single career path.
Small samples are noisy: the Scorecard adds privacy noise to program figures and some rows are based on only a handful of graduates, so rows marked “small sample” can move a lot from year to year.
What students study
The largest fields among the degrees and certificates this college awarded, grouped by two-digit CIP code (the federal Classification of Instructional Programs). Fields under 1% are left out.
Share of degrees and certificates awarded, by field
A large share means many awards, not necessarily many students or higher earnings. Data period: Awards in academic year 2024-25 (IPEDS).
Who attends
A snapshot of the undergraduate student body as this college reported it to the federal government. Shares are shown as published; they can differ slightly from 100% because of rounding.
Race and ethnicity
- White 33.8%
- Black or African American 3.5%
- Hispanic or Latino 36.7%
- Asian 13.2%
- American Indian or Alaska Native 0.2%
- Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander 0.3%
- Two or more races 7.5%
- U.S. nonresident 2%
- Race and ethnicity unknown 3%
Federal reporting categories. Students who are not U.S. citizens or permanent residents are counted as nonresident, and students who did not report are counted as unknown. Data period: Fall 2024 (IPEDS).
Gender
- Men 43.4%
- Women 56.6%
Federal reporting uses two categories. Data period: Fall 2024 (IPEDS).
Students aged 25 or older
12%
of undergraduates
Many adult students work or have families while enrolled. Data period: Fall 2023 (IPEDS).
Students and campus
- Undergraduate enrollment
- 35,377
- Part-time students
- 9%
- Receive Pell Grants
- 32%
- Receive federal loans
- 23%
- Students per faculty member
- 27 : 1
- Setting
- City
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Where it ranks
This college appears in the top 50 of these TuitionScope rankings.
Guides worth reading
Plain-language explainers that help you read the numbers on this page.
More in California
In California
National rankings
Frequently asked questions
How much is tuition at San Diego State University?
For the 2024-25 academic year, San Diego State University reported undergraduate tuition and fees of $8,728 for in-state students and $21,328 for out-of-state students. These are published prices before grants and scholarships; what you pay depends on your aid.
What is the cost of attendance and net price at San Diego State University?
The average cost of attendance at San Diego State University is $27,780 a year (2023-24), counting tuition, books, housing and other living expenses. After grants and scholarships, the average net price is $15,364 a year. That is around the middle of public 4-year colleges.
How much financial aid do students at San Diego State University get?
32% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants. 23% receive federal loans. The average net price runs from $9,910 a year for families earning under $30,000 to $23,821 for families earning over $110,000 (2023-24).
What is the acceptance rate at San Diego State University?
San Diego State University admitted about 36% of applicants in fall 2024. That makes admission selective.
What are the graduation rate and retention rate at San Diego State University?
77% of first-time, full-time students at San Diego State University finish within 150% of normal time. 90% of full-time first-years return the next fall.
How much do San Diego State University graduates earn after graduation?
The median graduate earns $68,268 four years after finishing, among graduates working and not enrolled in further study (2024 dollars). One year after finishing, the median is $42,235.
Is San Diego State University worth it?
There is no single answer: it depends on your major, your aid and whether you finish. For San Diego State University, the data shows this. The earnings premium over a typical high-school graduate would cover the estimated net cost in about 2.0 years of work. Graduates who borrowed have a median debt of $15,000, about 0.2 times their median earnings four years after finishing. 77% of first-time, full-time students finish within 150% of normal time. These are averages, not predictions, and they do not count income forgone while studying.
How much debt do San Diego State University graduates have?
Graduates who borrowed have a median federal-loan debt of $15,000, or about $159 a month on a 10-year plan.
Sources and data periods
All figures come from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard (June 2026 release). Periods differ by measure:
- Average net price: AcadYr 2023-24, reported in IPEDS DCY2024-25
- Acceptance rate: Fall 2024, reported in IPEDS DCY2024-25
- Graduation rate: Fall 2018 or AcadYr 2018-19 cohort (differs by institutional calendar), reported in IPEDS DCY2024-25 pooled with previous years (# of total pooled years found in POOLYRS)
- Median earnings: Treasury AY2017-18, AY2018-19 pooled cohort measured in CY2022, CY2023, inflation adjusted to 2024 dollars
- Median graduate debt: NSLDS FY2020, FY2021 pooled cohorts
Some figures are blank because the school did not report them or the group was too small to publish. How we calculate things