San Diego State University (SDSU) is a public research university with its main campus in San Diego, California, within the College Area. SDSU is a large university with approximately 35,000-38,000 undergraduate students (the latest available data indicates SDSU has ~ 35-37k undergraduates). The admissions are competitive, with an acceptance rate of around 34-35%. The most popular majors are Business, Psychology, Liberal Arts & Humanities, Engineering, and Public Health. The six-year graduation rate is roughly 78%, and SDSU alumni have a median income of roughly US$53,400 ten years after enrolling at the university.
University of San Diego (USD) is a private Catholic research university in San Diego, California, situated in the Alcalá Park district. It is a mid-size university with roughly 5,600 undergraduate students. Admissions are moderately competitive, with an acceptance rate of around 46-47%. Popular majors are Business, Psychology, Social Sciences, Engineering, and Nursing. The six-year graduation rate is roughly 80-81%, and USD's graduates have a median alumni salary of roughly US$55,049 (for alumni 10 years after first enrollment / after graduation in some reports).
| San Diego State University | University of San Diego | |
|---|---|---|
| Collegedunia Score | 4.2 Out of 10 | 4.1 Out of 10 |
| ranking (overall) | # 1001 QS World University 2026 # 1001 Times Higher Education 2026 # 625 Center for World University Rankings 2025 | # 1201 QS World University 2026 # 1201 QS World University 2025 # 98 US News 2024 |
| Subject Strength | # 173 for Engineering by US News 2025 # 501 for Medicine by QS World University 2023 # 151 for Law by Academy Ranking of World Universities 2021 | # 57 for Law by US News 2025 |
| Programs | UG Programs -70 PG Programs -63 | UG Programs -36 PG Programs -23 Doctorate Programs -2 |
| Acceptance Rate | 34.0 % | 47.0 % |
| Exam Score | GRE-300 IELTS-6.5 PTE-58 SAT-1090 TOEFL-80 | IELTS-6.5 SAT-1180 TOEFL-80 |
| Cost to Study | Average Tuition Fees 40843 [For UG Program] Average Tuition Fees 36375 [For PG Program] Hostel + Meal - 38740 Per Year | Average Tuition Fees 57924 [For UG Program] Average Tuition Fees 51748 [For PG Program] Hostel + Meal - 30207 Per Year |
| placement (average package) | Top Recruiters: Apple, Amazon, Accenture, Deloitte, Facebook, The Walt Disney Studios, HP, Bank of America, Microsoft, Qualcomm, Sharp, US Department of Defense, Intuit, etc. Average Salary are Lisited Below :
| 90.6% of 2021–22 graduates are employed, in graduate school, or participating in full-time volunteer service. 86.2% of 2021–22 graduates received their first full-time job offer within three months of graduating. The salary of the graduates is as follows: $66,477 Average; $65,000 Median and $15,000–$300,000 Salary Range. The top employers of the graduates include |
| application requirements | Submit official transcripts Submit entrance test scores Submit English language requirements Check program specific requirements | Submit official transcripts Minimum GPA of 3.0 on a scale of 4.0 is required Submit English language proficiency Check program specific requirements |
| CollegeDunia Reviews | 7.7/10 Read 10 reviews | 7.0/10 Read 1 reviews |
Top Courses Comparison
| ranking | # 601 for Business by QS World University 2025 # 601 for Business by Times Higher Education 2025 | # 201 for Business by QS World University 2026 # 108 for Business by US News 2025 |
| exam scores | Duolingo - 105/160IELTS - 6.5/9PTE - 58/90TOEFL - 80/120 | Duolingo - 120/160IELTS - 7/9TOEFL - 83/120 |
| cost to study | Total Cost (Tuition + Living) - | Total Cost (Tuition + Living) -34430 |
| documents required | #Letter of Recommendation + Statement of Purpose | #Letter of Recommendation + Statement of Purpose |
| application dates | Apr 1, 2026 (Cal State Apply Application For Fall 2026 Intake) Apr 15, 2026 (Documents submission Deadline For Fall Intake) Apr 15, 2026 (Program Application Deadline For Fall 2026 Intake) | Nov 1, 2024 (Application Deadline For Fall Intake Round 1) Jan 15, 2025 (Application Deadline For Fall Intake Round 2) Mar 1, 2025 (Application Deadline For Fall Intake Round 3) Apr 1, 2025 (Application Deadline For Fall Intake Round 4) |
Other Popular Comparisons
| General Facts | San Diego State University | University of San Diego |
|---|---|---|
| Type of University | University | University |
| Established | 1895 | 1949 |
| Student:Faculty Ratio | 31:1 | 14:1 |
| Male:Female | 46% Male, 54% Female | 46% Male, 54% Female |
| Location Facts | SDSU's campus is within a 15-minute drive of downtown San Diego, the Pacific Ocean, and the mountains. | The University of San Diego (USD) is a private Roman Catholic research university in San Diego, California. The campus is located approximately two miles north of downtown San Diego, on the north crest of Mission Valley in the community of Linda Vista. |
| Library | 485 Databases, Library Spaces: Reserve a Study Room, Open Study Rooms, Open Study Spaces, Quiet Study. Locations: The Dome, Love Library, Library Addition. Service Points: Library Computing Hub, Research Services, Circulation, Special Collections, Digital Humanities Center | The Copley library at the university provides access to the following resources: AVAILABLE ITEMS 179K+ E-BOOKS 116 HOURS OPEN PER WEEK 5M SAN DIEGO CIRCUIT BOOKS 187 ONLINE DATABASES |
| Campus Life | SDSU offers something for everyone! Student Resources, ALI student life events, Aztec Nights festivities to a variety of student organizations and recreation activities. | Torero culture is vibrant, welcoming and filled with opportunities to find others who share your interests and passions. USD’s proximity to the U.S./Mexico border gives the city an international perspective, and this is one of the few places in the world where residents can experience beautiful beaches, mountains and deserts ... all in one day! First-year housing is the home of the Living Learning Community (LLC) program, where you live around other students who share similar passions. Pavilion Dining is home to an array of unique dining concepts that fuse distinct ingredients and flavors to create delicious menus in an inviting environment. Menus were developed in partnership with the Culinary Institute of America at Greystone. There are various other restaurants at the campus. Centers throughout campus focus on issues related to physical well-being, life away from home and mental health. The on-campus health center, counseling, disability and wellness promotion programs are available to every student, along with high-tech fitness centers, to ensure that you have the resources needed to feel healthy, safe and supported. USD is home to more than more than 180 organizations including honor societies, groups for artistic expression, multicultural engagement, philanthropic endeavors and social justice. |
| Hostel | #Room & Board - $17110 #Room & Board - $21630 | #On campus - $12630 #Off campus (not with family) - $13293 #Off campus (with family) - $4284 |
| Famous Alumni | Arthur Gordon Linkletter (a star basketball player and swimmer), Cleavon Little(American Stage Actor), and Andreas Brown (Author) | Jim Parsons, 2001 (MFA), actor, Emmy Award-winning actor for The Big Bang Theory Kris Bryant, 2011–13, baseball player for 2016 World Series champion Chicago Cubs Mario Testino, 1975 (BA), Peruvian fashion and portrait photographer Theo Epstein, 2000, (JD), President of Baseball Operations for the Chicago Cubs Juan Vargas, 1983 (BA), U.S. Representative for California's 51st congressional district |
| City Life | San Diego is a major city in the U.S. state of California on the coast of the Pacific Ocean and immediately adjacent to the Mexican border. With a 2023 population of 3,319,000 .Top Companies: Cubic Corporation,Pulse Electronics, Qualcomm, Sanyo, Sony, Teradata, Zovio, General Dynamics, Intuit and Oracle. | San Diego residents recognize how fortunate they are to live in an area famous for its sunny weather and impressive beaches. But there is much more to this Southern California beach city than initially meets the eye. Lifestyles vary depending on whether you seek a beach, or an urban or suburban environment. Regardless, residents do not want for things to do, ranging from outdoor activities to museums to entertainment venues. San Diego offers world-class dining, professional sports and entertainment options typical of a large metro area, but the patchwork of distinct neighborhoods fosters strong community ties. Residents gather at festivals and farmers markets, meet friends at beaches and parks, and regularly bump into friends and acquaintances at local bars and restaurants. Living in San Diego is not particularly affordable. Home prices are considerably higher than the national median sale price. Additionally, many living in the downtown area have to pay homeowners association fees, used to maintain common areas in apartment and condominium complexes. |
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San Diego State University vs University of San Diego
Subject Strength & Global Rankings (2025/2026)
SDSU and USD are both highly regarded institutions. SDSU is a California State University system with solid regional recognition and value; USD is a private institution with greater costs but solid national/private university rankings. SDSU is frequently cited as being valued (return on investment), whereas USD does better in indicators of student satisfaction, resources per student, and graduates' outcomes. International ranking information is less precise or less routinely reported for both in the higher QS/THE tiers; but USD generally performs better in several national lists than most public universities, partly because it is private and due to its selective admissions.
General Information
SDSU has a much larger undergraduate population than USD. Campus footprint, program diversity, and enrollment are all decidedly larger at SDSU. USD is less, more intimate, more residential, with lower average class sizes and greater student-faculty interaction. SDSU has an extensive range of undergraduate and graduate programs; USD has a slightly narrower range of programs compared but excellent in certain areas such as business, engineering (private), nursing etc.
Acceptance Rate & Admissions
SDSU admissions are less selective than a lot of public institutions but more selective than a lot of private schools; the ~ 34-35% acceptance rate is consistent with recent statistics. Acceptance at USD of ~ 46-47% is supported by current data. Individuals accepted at USD generally carry slightly higher academic qualifications on average (GPA, selectivity of high school, etc.). Both institutions offer test-optional programs in most instances or at least take several factors into consideration. USD has a more substantial yield and more selective "holistic review" elements for applicants.
Research Impact & Facilities
SDSU boasts significant research activity particularly considering its size and public university standing, particularly in public health, engineering, social sciences, and coastal/marine sciences. Its 10-year alumni earnings and median salaries are in line with most large public universities. USD, while smaller, does have good infrastructure, and "early career earning" and median salary of alumni information indicate good return, presumably due to small class sizes, private support, and excellent student services. SDSU's research output in most fields is bigger in absolute volume because it is larger, while USD's is more focused and frequently more intensive per student.
Cost & Financial Aid
SDSU has lower sticker price for in-state students, and net cost for most students after aid is much lower than the majority of private universities. USD has a considerably higher sticker price (tuition + room & board etc.), and its net price (after grants/aid) is still high although aid covers a portion of it. The percentage of students on grants or aid at USD is significant; the net price average is far higher than it would be for a Californian state public university like SDSU for locals.
Career Outcomes & Alumni Success
USD alumni do have a slightly higher ten-year median salary than SDSU alumni, according to available data (~US$55,000 vs ~US$53,000 or so), though variations are not quite as substantial as stated. USD also possesses superior retention and graduation rates. SDSU enjoys superior value, regional reputation, and notable alumni influence particularly in San Diego. USD's smaller base of alumni, but frequently more concentrated in areas that have higher early career wages, contributes to an upwardly biased average.
