California's third-oldest university empowers 38,000+ students across 220+ programs in San Diego's innovation hub.
SDSU comprises eight colleges offering 220+ degree programs at undergraduate and graduate levels. Students can pursue 97 bachelor's degrees, 115 master's degrees, 30 doctoral degrees, and 79 post-baccalaureate certificates. The university emphasizes hands-on learning through internships, faculty-led research, and study abroad opportunities in over 60 countries, with approximately 3,000 students participating annually. SDSU is classified as an R1: Doctoral University with very high research activity and received $144.4 million in research funding in fiscal 2019–20.
The main campus spans 280 acres on Montezuma Mesa in San Diego. SDSU operates housing for over 7,600 students across 22 residence halls and student apartments, with approximately 70% of first-year freshmen living on campus. The university features iconic buildings including Hardy Memorial Tower, Hepner Hall, and the Conrad Prebys Aztec Student Union (LEED Platinum certified). Students engage through 400+ organizations, NCAA Division I athletics, and cultural events. Off-campus facilities include Mount Laguna Observatory, biological field stations, and the Coastal and Marine Institute Laboratory.
SDSU welcomes first-year, transfer, international, and graduate students. The university offers multiple pathways including Early Decision and Regular Decision for undergraduates. As a top Hispanic-Serving Institution and AANAPISI, SDSU actively recruits diverse students. The university is recognized on Princeton Review's 'Best Value Colleges' list, with an average 20-year ROI of $540,000 (PayScale) and mid-career salary of $127,700.
SDSU graduates launch careers at major organizations including Google, Amazon, Qualcomm, and the City of San Diego. The university boasts over 500,000 living alumni worldwide. As of 2021, SDSU athletes had won 14 Olympic medals. The university emphasizes workforce readiness and community engagement, with 10,500 students matched with professional and alumni mentors through Career Services.