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San Diego State University

San Diego, 🇺🇸 United States Public
#105 National #1001 QS World #1001 THE #501 ARWU
San Diego State University campus
Founded 1897 41,184 students Urban

About San Diego State University

San Diego State University (SDSU) is a public research university in San Diego, California, offering a vibrant academic environment in "America's Finest City". With a strong emphasis on global opportunities and a diverse community, SDSU provides a high-quality, practice-focused education designed to prepare students for successful careers. The university is recognized for its academic excellence, affordability, and powerful career outcomes, making it an attractive option for international students.

Academics


SDSU is classified as an R1 institution, signifying its commitment to high research activity and doctoral education. The university offers a wide array of academic programs, including 97 bachelor's degrees and 80 master's degrees. Notable programs include those in the College of Business Administration, which offers degrees in finance, real estate, information systems, and marketing, and the highly-regarded Hospitality and Tourism Management program. SDSU also boasts strong engineering programs, including civil, construction, and aerospace engineering, and highly respected programs in Speech-Language Pathology, Audiology, and Rehabilitation Counseling.

International Students


SDSU is a popular destination for international students, with students from over 100 countries contributing to a diverse campus community. International students make up approximately 2-3% of the student body. The university provides support services and resources specifically for international students, including an International Affairs Complex and the American Language Institute. English proficiency can be demonstrated through tests like TOEFL iBT (minimum 80), IELTS (minimum 6.5), or Pearson Test of English (minimum 58).

Campus & Location


Located in San Diego, California, the campus offers beautiful beaches, warm weather averaging 22°C year-round, and numerous sightseeing and entertainment options. SDSU's campus features convenient transportation with on-campus bus and trolley stations, connecting students to downtown San Diego and shopping areas within 30 minutes. San Diego is considered one of the safest large cities in the U.S., and the campus police department provides 24-hour security.

Career Outcomes


SDSU graduates demonstrate strong career outcomes, with a 92% placement rate for MBA graduates within six months of graduation. The university's Career Services offers comprehensive support, including career counseling, internship placement, workshops, and job fairs. Top employers of SDSU graduates include major companies like Amazon, Google, Microsoft, Salesforce, and Qualcomm. The average mid-career salary for SDSU graduates is reported to be $127,700.

Highlights

  • R1 Research Institution
  • Global Opportunities, Diverse Community
  • Strong Business and Engineering Programs
  • Affordable, Powerful Career Outcomes
  • Beautiful San Diego Campus

Student Life & Support

Visa Support Campus Housing Work Placements Sports Facilities Disability Support Scholarships Available

Photos

San Diego State University photo 1San Diego State University photo 2San Diego State University photo 3San Diego State University photo 4San Diego State University photo 5San Diego State University photo 6San Diego State University photo 7San Diego State University photo 8San Diego State University photo 9

Programs Offered at San Diego State University (30)

Offers programs in:

Arts & Design Business & Management Computer Science Education Engineering Humanities Medicine & Health Natural Sciences Social Sciences

Bachelor Programs (15)

Music Performance

Arts

Music Performance
artsba music performancebachelor music performancemusic industry careermusic performance
48 months English Full-time

$7,950/yr

Business Administration - Finance

Business

Business
bachelor in business in united statesbusiness management degreebsc businessmba programbachelors in business
48 months English Full-time

$7,950/yr

Journalism

Communication

Communication
study communicationbachelor in communicationcommunication degreecommunication programstudy communication in United States
48 months English Full-time

$7,950/yr

Computer Science

STEM

Computer Science

Computer Science
bachelor computer sciencebs computer sciencecoding programming degreecomputer sciencecomputer science bachelor degree admission requirements
48 months English Full-time

$7,950/yr

Electrical Engineering

STEM

Engineering

Engineering
bachelor in engineeringbachelor of engineeringbsc engineeringundergraduate engineeringstudy engineering in united states
48 months English Full-time

$7,950/yr

Civil Engineering

STEM

Engineering

Engineering
babachelorbengbscbtech
48 months English Full-time

$7,950/yr

Mechanical Engineering

STEM

Engineering

Engineering
bachelor in engineeringbachelors in engineeringstudy engineering in united statesbachelor in engineering in united statesbachelors engineering
48 months English Full-time

$7,950/yr

Aerospace Engineering

STEM

Engineering

Engineering
engineering program in san diegobachelor in engineeringstudy engineering in united statesbachelors engineeringengineer career program
48 months English Full-time

$7,950/yr

Public Health

Health Sciences

Health Sciences
bachelor of health sciencesbachelor's in health sciencesstudy health sciences in united stateshealth sciences in san diegobachelor health sciences san diego
48 months English Full-time

$7,950/yr

Nursing

STEM

Health Sciences

Nursing
babachelorbengbsbsc
48 months English Full-time

$7,950/yr

History

Humanities

Humanities
bachelorhistoricalhistoryhumanitiesunited states
48 months English Full-time

$7,920/yr

Biology

STEM

Natural Sciences

Natural Sciences
english taught bachelor in united statesenglish-taught bachelor natural sciencesstudy natural sciences in united statesstudy natural sciencesnatural sciences career degree
48 months English Full-time

$7,950/yr

Chemistry

STEM

Physical Sciences

Physical Sciences
BA in Physical Sciencesphysical sciences program United Statesstudy in San Diego physical sciencesbachelor's degree in physical sciencesbachelor in physical sciences
48 months English Full-time

$7,920/yr

Psychology

Social Sciences

Social Sciences
babachelorbsbscpsychology
48 months English Full-time

$7,950/yr

Social Work

Social Sciences

Social Sciences
work
48 months English Full-time

$7,950/yr

Master Programs (10)

Business Administration (MBA)

Business

Business
master in businessmaster businessmaster's in businessmaster's businessstudy business in united states
24 months English Full-time

$7,176/yr

Master of Business Administration (MBA)

Business

Business Administration
administrationbusinessdiegomastermba
24 months English Full-time

$15,000/yr

Master of Science in Computer Science

STEM

Computer Science

Computer Science
algorithmscodingcomputercomputingdiego
24 months English Full-time

$13,000/yr

Education - Educational Leadership

Education

Education
diegoeducationeducationalleadershipmaster
24 months English Full-time

$7,176/yr

Computer Engineering

STEM

Engineering

Engineering
masters in engineeringengineering masters programstudy engineering in united statesmasters engineering united statesengineering program in san diego
24 months English Full-time

$7,176/yr

Environmental Engineering

STEM

Engineering

Engineering
engineeringgraduate program engineeringmaster's degree engineeringmasters in engineeringstudy engineering in united states
24 months English Full-time

$13,000/yr

Master of Public Health (MPH)

Health Sciences

Health Sciences
MSc health sciencesmaster of health sciencesstudy health sciences in united stateshealth sciencesmasters in health sciences
24 months English Full-time

$13,000/yr

English - Literature

Humanities

Humanities
englishhumanitiesliberal artsliteraturemaster
24 months English Full-time

$7,176/yr

Applied Mathematics

STEM

Mathematics

Mathematics
mathematics careermathematics master programstudy mathematics in united statesmathematics degreemsc mathematics
24 months English Full-time

$7,176/yr

Master of Arts in Psychology

Social Sciences

Social Sciences
artsmastermaster of arts in psychologypsychologysciences
24 months English Full-time

$13,000/yr

PhD Programs (5)

Doctor of Philosophy in Education

Education

Education
doctoreducationphdphilosophyunited states
60 months English Full-time

$14,000/yr

Doctor of Philosophy in Engineering Sciences

STEM

Engineering

Engineering
doctoraldoctorateengineeringphdphilosophy
60 months English Full-time

$14,000/yr

Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT)

STEM

Health Sciences

Health Sciences
health sciences in San Diegodoctoral health sciencesstudy health sciencesphd health sciences United Stateshealth sciences degree
36 months English Full-time

$18,000/yr

Computational Science

STEM

Interdisciplinary

Interdisciplinary
phds in interdisciplinaryphd interdisciplinarystudy interdisciplinary in united statesinterdisciplinary degree in united statesinterdisciplinary program in san diego
60 months English Full-time

$7,176/yr

Clinical Psychology

Psychology

Clinical Psychology
clinical psychology phdstudy clinical psychologyphd in clinical psychologymental health career phdclinical psychology jobs
60 months English Full-time

$7,176/yr

San Diego State University Admissions Requirements & Acceptance Rate

6.5+ IELTS
80+ TOEFL
105+ Duolingo
3+ GPA
Acceptance Rate Selective (20-40%)
Intakes August
Application Deadline April 1
Application Fee $70
Teaching Language English, Spanish, French, German, Japanese, Chinese (Mandarin), Korean, Arabic, Russian, Italian, Portuguese, Filipino/Tagalog, Greek, Hebrew, Kumeyaay, Latin, Mixtec, Nahuatl, Persian/Farsi, Zapotec, American Sign Language (ASL)
Student : Faculty 24:1
Accreditation
WASC Senior College and University Commission (WSCUC)Accrediting Council on Education in Journalism and Mass CommunicationsAccreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics, Academy of Nutrition and DieteticsCommission on Accreditation of Medical Physics Education Programs, Inc.Association for the Advancement of Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB)Commission for Accreditation of Marriage and Family Therapy EducationCommission on Teacher Credentialing (CTC)National Association of School Psychologists (NASP)Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET)CCNE (Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education)National Association of Schools of Art and DesignAmerican Psychological Association

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Frequently Asked Questions About San Diego State University

Common questions from international students considering San Diego State University.

What is the acceptance rate at San Diego State University?

San Diego State University is classified as "Selective (20-40%)" by admissions selectivity. Acceptance rates vary by program — competitive programs and graduate degrees typically have lower acceptance rates than undergraduate programs.

What is San Diego State University ranked globally?

San Diego State University holds the following rankings: QS World #1001, Times Higher Education #1001, ARWU #501, #105 in United States. Rankings vary by methodology and subject area — for the most accurate picture, check the specific subject rankings for your intended field of study.

What English language requirements does San Diego State University have?

San Diego State University typically requires IELTS 6.5+ or TOEFL 80+ for international students. Specific programs may set higher minimums — verify requirements for your target program directly. Some applicants may qualify for an English requirement waiver if their previous education was English-medium.

Are scholarships available at San Diego State University?

Yes, San Diego State University offers scholarships and financial aid opportunities for international students. Available aid varies by program, nationality, and academic merit. We recommend checking each program's funding page and applying early — many scholarships have separate deadlines from the main admission application.

When does San Diego State University start its semesters?

San Diego State University has intakes starting in August. Application deadlines typically fall 3-6 months before the semester start date. International students should apply earlier due to visa processing times — we recommend submitting applications 6-9 months ahead of the intended start date.

How many English-taught programs does San Diego State University offer?

San Diego State University offers 30+ programs taught in English, accessible to international students without local language proficiency. These span Bachelor's, Master's, and PhD levels across multiple disciplines.

Where is San Diego State University located?

San Diego State University is located in San Diego, United States 🇺🇸. The city offers an international student-friendly environment with access to academic facilities, accommodation, and cultural amenities.

How much does San Diego State University cost?

For specific details about San Diego State University, we recommend reviewing the program-specific information and contacting the admissions office. Each program may have unique requirements and considerations.

What are the admission requirements for San Diego State University?

For specific details about San Diego State University, we recommend reviewing the program-specific information and contacting the admissions office. Each program may have unique requirements and considerations.

What programs does San Diego State University offer?

For specific details about San Diego State University, we recommend reviewing the program-specific information and contacting the admissions office. Each program may have unique requirements and considerations.

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