- 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?
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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
Do I have a chance at SDSU with a 3.5 GPA?
It would be on the low side there: 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 is the acceptance rate at SDSU?
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.
How hard is it to get into SDSU?
Selective: fewer than half of applicants got in. San Diego State University admitted 36% of first-year applicants for fall 2024.
What GPA do most SDSU 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.
Is there a minimum GPA for SDSU?
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.
Do you need SAT or ACT scores to apply to SDSU?
Check San Diego State University's admissions website for the current rule: testing policies change from year to year. San Diego State University didn't consider SAT or ACT scores, even if you sent them (test blind), as it reported to the U.S. Department of Education (fall 2024).
How much does GPA matter at SDSU?
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.
Does it matter at SDSU if a parent went there?
No. San Diego State University doesn't consider whether a parent or other relative attended, it said in its report to the U.S. Department of Education for fall 2024.
What do students pay at SDSU after grants?
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.
Can you get college credit for AP scores at SDSU?
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.
Before you apply, check SDSU's official admissions site: requirements can differ by program and change from year to year.
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.
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