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San Diego State University

San Diego State University

San Diego, CA · 35.4k students

SelectivePublicCityGraduateCampus-basedsdsu.edu
65.7/100

Trajecta score

+1.0 since '20

Ranked #118 of 2,375

5-year trend

'20'24

65.3 · #115

2020

68.1 · #93

2021

66.8 · #104

2022

66.5 · #119

2023

66.3 · #115

2024

AcademicCareersSuccessAfford.Invest.Access

Academic Profile

61/ 100

Career Outcomes

69/ 100

Student Success

68/ 100

Affordability

78/ 100

Academic Investment

67/ 100

Access & Equity

54/ 100

Academic Profile

61

Career Outcomes

69

Student Success

68

Affordability

78

Academic Investment

67

Access & Equity

54

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Cost / Net Price

$28k / $15k

SAT Avg

Retention

91%

Grad Rate

77%

Admissions

36%admission rate
EliteH.SelSelectiveModerateOpen

Finances

Tuition

In-State Tuition

$8,728

per year

Out-of-State Tuition

$21,328

per year

Out-of-state premium: +$12,600/yr

Aid & Debt

Pell Grant Share

32%

undergraduates receiving Pell

Federal Loan Share

23%

students borrowing

Median Debt

among completers

$15,000

Methodology

How these rankings work

The Trajecta Score (0–100) blends six dimensions of public college data into one comparable number, then nudges it by how much data each school reports. Selectivity tiers are separate — they’re based purely on a school’s admission rate.

Read the full methodology

Selectivity tiers

EliteUnder 10% admit rate
Highly Selective10–20% admit rate
Selective20–40% admit rate
Moderate40–65% admit rate
Open65%+ admit rate

Score dimensions & weights

Career Outcomes25%

Median earnings 10 years out, earnings vs. a high-school grad, and loan repayment.

Academic Profile22%

Admission selectivity and the incoming class’s SAT / ACT scores.

Affordability15%

Average net price after aid and the typical debt of graduates.

Student Success13%

Graduation rate and first-year retention.

Academic Investment12%

Instructional spending and faculty salaries per student.

Access10%

Share of Pell-grant students and reliance on federal loans.

Data from the U.S. Department of Education’s College Scorecard and IPEDS. Figures are the most recent reported and may lag a year or two. This tool is read-only and not personalized — inside the Trajecta app, scores are tailored to your profile as a fit score.

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