San Diego State University

Overview of San Diego State University

---

On top of the traditional academic fields, SDSU also provides students the option to complete a preprofessional program. Ambitious undergraduate students who are eager to prepare for a career can enroll in programs such as: pre-dental, pre-legal, pre-medical, and pre-physician assistant, among others. Once they have their diplomas, students find that SDSU offers graduate programs to help them complete their professional training and launch the career of their dreams.

When SDSU students aren't buried in their books, they can engage with a social group, such as a Greek society, athletics, or a club that caters to a special interest or passion. There is also the Aztec Recreation Center where students can drop in for a fitness class, climb the Arc wall, lift weights, or elevate their heart rates on a spin bike or another cardio machine.

Top Rankings For San Diego State University

---

Admissions

---

Tuition Cost & Financial Aid

---

Educational costs are almost always in the news these days, and for good reason. Families need to know what their initial financial burden for college will be before the student leaves home. Since San Diego State University is a state-run institution of higher education, California residents can attend for a lower rate than those from out of state, or out of the Western Undergraduate Exchange. In fact, residents see a gross tuition cost of only $7,500, while the gross price for non-California residents is closer to $19,000. Once room and board are tallied, Californians pay around $26,000 to live off campus and $30,000 for the convenience of campus living. Meanwhile out-of-state students pay $39,000 to live off campus and $42,000 to live in campus housing.

The net cost is another matter, however. Once financial aid enters the picture, the average net price for a year at SDSU is $15,000. For the lowest earning households, that number falls to $8,800, including room and board. The top income bracket still only pays the net price of $22,000. Given SDSU's strong academic programs, this is a terrific bargain.

Sticker Price

---

Academics

---

San Diego State University is a member of the California State University system. As such, it enjoys a strong academic reputation which is supported by educational statistics that include its retention rate, graduation rate, and student-to-faculty ratio. These numbers provide an objective measure with which students and their families can assess the institution. There are surely other personal factors that enter into one's educational decisions.

SDSU officials report that for their first-time, full-time students, 89% return to campus for a second year. This is nearly matched by their first-time, part-time students, who post a retention rate of 82%. That statistic reflects that students and their families are satisfied with their professors, curriculum, and the overall campus resources. In fact, most students stick around, work hard, and 73% graduate within six years. Around 40% receive diplomas in four years and a total of 77% complete degrees within eight years.

These terrific numbers can be attributed to many factors. However, one of the chief indicators of a strong, satisfactory educational experience is the student-to-faculty ratio. SDSU posts a ratio of 27 students for every one faculty member. Given that SDSU is home to 30,000 undergraduates, this is quite a feat.

Student Population Total

---

Outcome & Salary

---

Not only do students and their families need to understand the financial cost of a SDSU education but they need some assurance that their investment will pay off. While the value of an education encompasses many subjective factors that change even over the course of a single lifetime, entry-level salaries are always a point of interest. SDSU students do quite well in this regard. Of the top-ten earning majors from the university, the registered nurses do the best, reporting a median salary of $85,000. Rounding out the top ten are the international business majors, who start their careers with a median salary of $42,000. The remaining, top-earning majors tend to be either from the engineering departments or the business school.

Photos & Videos

---