Chances of getting into San Diego State University
Acceptance Rate
Acceptance Rate
| Measure | Difficulty | |
|---|---|---|
| Admission Standards | Difficult | |
| Applicant Competition | High |
Will you get accepted?
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How hard is it to get into San Diego State and can I get accepted? The school has a 34% acceptance rate ranking it #18 in California for lowest rate of acceptance. Last year, 23,905 out of 70,048 applicants were admitted making San Diego State a highly competitive school to get into with a lesser chance of acceptance for qualifying applicants. Academically, it has difficult requirements for admission test scores, generally admitting students who score in the top 38 percent. San Diego State University typically accepts and attracts "B+" average high school students. Only 22% of those admitted chose to enroll in the school. Most incoming freshmen graduated in the top quarter of their high school class.
Test Requirements
You must submit admission test scores with your application. San Diego State University is not a test optional school. Note: Please consult the school directly to determine if testing requirements are temporarily suspended due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
San Diego State SAT Scores
SAT Requirements & Average SAT Score
SAT Range
Applicants Submitting SAT
| SAT Test | 25th Percentile Score |
|---|---|
| SAT Reading 25th | 560 |
| SAT Math 25th | 550 |
| SAT Composite 25th | 1110 |
| SAT Test | 25th Percentile Score |
|---|---|
| SAT Reading 75th | 650 |
| SAT Math 75th | 670 |
| SAT Composite 75th | 1320 |
| Average SAT Score | 1220 |
SAT Scores you need to get in
What are the SAT requirements for students to be admitted to San Diego State University?
San Diego State University typically prefers applicants to be in the top 39 percent of SAT test takers. The school consistently takes SAT composite scores down to 1110 on a 1600 scale, below which admission should be considered a reach. We estimate some students could be accepted with SAT's as low as 1000. The estimated average SAT composite for admitted freshman is 1220 out of 1600. The school ranks #28 in California for highest average SAT composite score. A competitive SAT score is critical as 84 percent of applicants submit SAT scores to the school.
Data Sources, IPEDS for Fall 2019 starting classEstimated Chance of Acceptance by SAT Score
| SAT Score (1600 scale) | Competitiveness | Admission Chances |
|---|---|---|
| 1320 and Above | Good | >47% |
| 1215 to 1320 | Avg + | 34%-47% |
| 1110 to 1215 | Avg - | 23%-34% |
| 1005 to 1110 | Reach | 15%-23% |
| Less than 1005 | Low | <15% |
San Diego State ACT Scores
ACT Requirements & Average ACT Score
ACT Range
Applicants Submitting ACT
| ACT Test | 25th Percentile Score |
|---|---|
| ACT Reading 25th | 21 |
| ACT Math 25th | 21 |
| ACT Composite 25th | 22 |
| ACT Test | 75th Percentile Score |
|---|---|
| ACT Reading 75th | 29 |
| ACT Math 75th | 27 |
| ACT Composite 75th | 29 |
| Average ACT Score | 25 |
ACT Scores needed to get accepted
What are the ACT requirements for prospective students to get into San Diego State?
Admission data indicates that San Diego State regularly accepts students with ACT's of 22 and above. Successful applicants typically send ACT scores in the top 37 percent nationally. We estimate the school accepting minimum ACT composite scores around 18 in some instances. Prospective students submitting an ACT composite of 26 or higher should be in the upper half of applicants - and students with a 29 and above have very competitive chances. The school ranks #30 in California for highest average ACT composite score. 43 percent of applicants submit ACT scores to San Diego State University.
Data Sources, IPEDS for Fall 2019 starting classEstimated Chance of Acceptance by ACT Score
| ACT Score | Competitiveness | Admission Chances |
|---|---|---|
| 29 and Above | Good | >49% |
| 25 to 29 | Avg + | 34%-49% |
| 22 to 25 | Avg - | 25%-34% |
| 19 to 22 | Reach | 17%-25% |
| Less than 19 | Low | <17% |
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San Diego State GPA
Estimated GPA Requirements & Average GPA
Avg. High School GPA
Typical High School Grades
What GPA do you need to get into San Diego State University?
Applicants require very good grades in high school to get into San Diego State. The average high school GPA of the admitted freshman class at San Diego State University was 3.6 on the 4.0 scale indicating that primarily B+ students are accepted and ultimately attend. The school ranks #35 in California for highest average GPA. Even with a competitive GPA, admission to San Diego State will be challenging as the school denies more applicants than it admits.
| High School GPA | Freshmen Within Range | Competitiveness |
|---|---|---|
| 3.75+ | 37% | Good |
| 3.50 to 3.75 | 28% | Avg + |
| 3.25 to 3.50 | 20% | Avg - |
| 3.00 to 3.25 | 12% | Reach |
| 2.75 to 3.00 | 3% | Reach |
| 2.50 to 2.75 | N/A% | Low |
| 2.25 to 2.50 | N/A% | Low |
| 2.00 to 2.25 | N/A% | Low |
GPA Data Source, Wintergreen Orchard House
Similar Requirements
High School Class Rank
71% of San Diego State University freshman were in the top twenty five percent of their high school graduating class.
| High School Class Rank | Freshmen Within Range |
|---|---|
| Top 10% of class | 27% |
| Top 25% of class | 71% |
| Top 50% of class | 96% |
| Bottom 50% of class | 4% |
| Bottom 25% of class | 0% |
Applying
Admission Statistics
| Women | Men | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Applied | 40,998 | 29,050 | 70,048 |
| Accepted | 14,325 | 9,580 | 23,905 |
| Acceptance Rate | 35% | 33% | 34% |
| Enrolled | 3,126 | 2,149 | 5,275 |
| Percent of Admitted Who Enrolled (Admission Yield) | 22% | 22% | 22% |
Fall 2021 Application Deadline
Applications were Due
Days left to Apply
The application deadline for Fall 2021 has passed. Applications were due on Nov 30, 2020.
Application Fee
The cost for prospective students to apply to San Diego State University is $70.
Admission Requirements
What are the requirements for admission to San Diego State University and what student information is used for admission decisions?
| Test Scores | Required |
| High School GPA | Required |
| High School Class Rank | Neither required nor recommended |
| Completion of College Preparatory Program | Required |
| Recommendations | Neither required nor recommended |
| Demonstration of Competencies | Neither required nor recommended |
Credits Accepted
| AP Credit | Yes |
| Dual Credit | Yes |
| Credit for Life Experiences | No |
Primary data source, U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov/collegenavigator/?id=122409 IPEDS survey data for San Diego State University.
FAQs
Does San Diego State University prefer SAT or ACT?
84% of students submit their SAT scores to San Diego State. 43% of applicants send their ACT scores when applying.
What is my chance of getting into San Diego State University?
34% of those who apply are granted admission to San Diego State. Admission competition is high and the college has difficult admission standards. See if your grades and scores are good enough for admission.
What SAT score is required for San Diego State University?
The middle 50% of addmitted applicants have SAT scores between 1110 and 1320. 84% of students submit SAT scores when applying. See if your SAT score is good enough for admission.
What ACT score is required for San Diego State University?
The middle 50% of addmitted applicants have ACT scores between 22 and 29. 43% of students submit ACT scores when applying. See if your ACT score is good enough for admission.