- Acceptance rate: 36% for fall 2024
- Average high school GPA: 3.82, as reported by the college for 2025–26
- Average net price: $19,500 a year (2022–23)
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How does your GPA compare?
Don't know your GPA? Online GPA calculator
Where you standEnter your GPA
Type your GPA to compare it with what San Diego State University reported: an average GPA of 3.82 (2025–26) and an acceptance rate of 36% for fall 2024.
Weighted GPAs above 4.0 can't be compared directly. Many colleges recalculate on their own scale, so use your unweighted GPA here.
A guide based on reported data, not a prediction. San Diego State University reviews each application.
San Diego State University average GPA
San Diego State University reported an average high school GPA of 3.82 for its first-year students who submitted one (100% did), in its 2025–26 Common Data Set. The college doesn't say whether it's weighted or unweighted.
How their high school GPAs were spread:
| High school GPA | Share of first-year students |
|---|---|
| 4.0 | |
| 3.75–3.99 | |
| 3.50–3.74 | |
| 3.25–3.49 | |
| 3.00–3.24 | |
| 2.50–2.99 |
An average, not a cutoffColleges calculate GPA in different ways, so these figures can't be compared directly with your own GPA.
San Diego State University acceptance rate
San Diego State University admitted 32,561 of 89,972 first-year applicants for fall 2024, an acceptance rate of 36%, according to what it reported to the U.S. Department of Education.
San Diego State University is a public 4-year university in San Diego, California, with 35,782 undergraduates.
Admission requirements
What San Diego State University looks at when it decides on first-year applicants, as it reported to the U.S. Department of Education for fall 2024:
| Admission factor | Status |
|---|---|
| High School GPAYour cumulative high school grade point average. | Required |
| High School RecordYour transcript: the courses you took and the grades you earned. | Required |
| College Preparatory ProgramCompletion of a college preparatory curriculum in high school. | Required |
| High School Class RankYour ranking relative to other students in your graduating class. | Not considered |
| RecommendationsLetters of recommendation from teachers, counselors, or other mentors. | Not considered |
| Essay or Personal StatementA personal statement or essay written for your application. | Not considered |
| Test ScoresSAT or ACT scores. | Not considered |
| Other TestsOther admission tests, such as the Wonderlic or WISC-III. | Not considered |
| Demonstration of CompetenciesEvidence of specific skills through portfolios, auditions, or other demonstrations. | Not considered |
| Work ExperiencePaid or volunteer work. | Not considered |
| Legacy StatusWhether a parent or other relative attended the college. | Not considered |
San Diego State University didn't report SAT or ACT scores for its fall 2024 first-year students.
AP credit
San Diego State University awards college credit for Advanced Placement (AP) exams, according to what it reported to the U.S. Department of Education for 2024–25. The college decides which exams and scores earn credit.
It also awards credit for life experience, such as work or military service.
Average net price
First-time, full-time undergraduates paying in-state tuition who received grant or scholarship aid paid an average net price of $19,500 a year at San Diego State University in 2022–23, according to the U.S. Department of Education.
Net price is the full cost of attendance minus grants and scholarships.
Frequently asked questions
Can I get into San Diego State University with a 3.5 GPA?
14% of San Diego State University's first-year students who submitted a GPA had one below 3.5, as the college reported in its 2025–26 Common Data Set, and it admitted 36% of applicants for fall 2024. Colleges calculate GPA in different ways, so compare on the same scale and look at your courses and test scores too.
What GPA do you need to get into San Diego State University?
San Diego State University doesn't set a minimum GPA we could verify. Its first-year students averaged 3.82, as reported by the college in its 2025–26 Common Data Set. The college doesn't say whether that average is weighted or unweighted.
What is the acceptance rate at San Diego State University?
San Diego State University's acceptance rate was 36% for fall 2024: it admitted 32,561 of 89,972 first-year applicants, according to what it reported to the U.S. Department of Education.
Is San Diego State University hard to get into?
It's selective: fewer than half of applicants got in. San Diego State University admitted 36% of first-year applicants for fall 2024.
Does San Diego State University require the SAT or ACT?
No. San Diego State University doesn't consider SAT or ACT scores, even if you send them (test blind), according to what it reported to the U.S. Department of Education for fall 2024.
How much does GPA matter at San Diego State University?
A lot: San Diego State University requires high school GPA, high school record and college preparatory program. It doesn't consider high school class rank, recommendations, essay or personal statement, test scores, other tests, demonstration of competencies, work experience and legacy status. That's what it reported to the U.S. Department of Education for fall 2024.
What GPA do most San Diego State University students have?
86% of San Diego State University's first-year students who submitted a high school GPA had 3.50 or higher, and the largest group (34%) had a 4.0, as the college reported in its 2025–26 Common Data Set. The college doesn't say whether these GPAs are weighted or unweighted.
Does San Diego State University consider legacy status?
No. San Diego State University doesn't consider whether a parent or other relative attended, according to what it reported to the U.S. Department of Education for fall 2024.
Does San Diego State University accept AP credit?
Yes. San Diego State University awards college credit for Advanced Placement (AP) exams, according to what it reported to the U.S. Department of Education for 2024–25. The college decides which exams and scores earn credit.
What is the average net price at San Diego State University?
First-time, full-time undergraduates paying in-state tuition who received grant or scholarship aid paid an average of $19,500 a year at San Diego State University in 2022–23, according to the U.S. Department of Education. Net price is the cost of attendance minus grants and scholarships.
Before you applyRequirements can differ by program and change from year to year. Confirm the details on San Diego State University's official admissions site.
Sources
- College Navigator: San Diego State UniversityU.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, IPEDS (2024–25 provisional data): admissions, test scores and admission factors for fall 2024, undergraduate enrollment for fall 2024, net price for 2022–23 and credit policies for 2024–25.
- San Diego State University Common Data Set 2025–26San Diego State University: average high school GPA of first-year students and how their GPAs were spread.
Similar colleges in California
With a similar acceptance rate and size.
- University of California DavisModerate · 42% admitted
- University of California Santa BarbaraModerate · 33% admitted
- University of California IrvineModerate · 29% admitted
- University of California San DiegoModerate · 27% admitted
- California State University Long BeachModerate · 46% admitted
- California Polytechnic State University San Luis ObispoModerate · 31% admitted
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