ASU vs. San Diego State

Deciding between Arizona State University and San Diego State University? The table below shows tuition, aid, admissions, and outcomes side by side. Data comes from public sources across more than 3,000 U.S. colleges and universities. No account is required.

Arizona State University
San Diego State University

Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison. 

  • Overview

  • Location
  • ASU Tempe, AZ
  • San Diego State San Diego, CA
  • Setting
  • ASU Midsize City
  • San Diego State Large City
  • Total enrollment
  • ASU 79,818
  • San Diego State 41,137
  • Type
  • ASU Public 4 Year
  • San Diego State Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • ASU #398
  • San Diego State #353
  • Religious Affiliation
  • ASU -
  • San Diego State -
  • Status
  • ASU Non-profit
  • San Diego State Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • ASU
  • San Diego State

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • ASU $12,223
  • San Diego State $8,728
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • ASU $33,139
  • San Diego State $21,328
  • Room & Board
  • ASU $16,712
  • San Diego State $23,030
  • Average Net Price
  • ASU $17,779
  • San Diego State $14,704
  • Average Grant Aid
  • ASU $12,172
  • San Diego State $12,053
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • ASU 89%
  • San Diego State 47%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • ASU 70,928
  • San Diego State 89,972
  • Admitted
  • ASU 63,756
  • San Diego State 32,561
  • Acceptance Rate
  • ASU 89.9%
  • San Diego State 36.2%
  • Enrolled
  • ASU 22.1%
  • San Diego State 20.4%
  • Typical SAT score
  • ASU 1210
  • San Diego State 1200
  • Typical ACT score
  • ASU 24
  • San Diego State 25
  • Average High School GPA
  • ASU 3.54
  • San Diego State 3.82
  • Typical High School Grades
  • ASU A-
  • San Diego State A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • ASU Challenging
  • San Diego State Challenging
  • Applicant Competition
  • ASU
  • San Diego State High
  • ACT Range
  • ASU 21/28
  • San Diego State 22/29
  • SAT Range
  • ASU 1100/1320
  • San Diego State 1090/1300
  • Submit Test Scores
  • ASU Test optional
  • San Diego State Test-free
  • Application Deadline
  • ASU
  • San Diego State Nov 30, 2026

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • ASU 18:1
  • San Diego State 27:1
  • Popular Majors
  • ASU
    • Business (20%)
    • Social Sciences (8%)
    • General Studies (8%)
    • Education (7%)
    • Communication (7%)
  • San Diego State
    • Business (23%)
    • Social Sciences (13%)
    • Psychology (8%)
    • English and Literature (7%)
    • Health Professions (7%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • ASU 57%
  • San Diego State 66%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • ASU $52,600
  • San Diego State $53,400
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • ASU 57%
  • San Diego State 65%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • ASU $20,278
  • San Diego State $15,349
  • Median Loan Payment
  • ASU $209
  • San Diego State $158

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • ASU 52%
  • San Diego State 43%
  • % Women
  • ASU 48%
  • San Diego State 57%
  • Racial Diversity
  • ASU High
  • San Diego State Very High
  • HBCU
  • ASU No
  • San Diego State No
  • % White
  • ASU 52%
  • San Diego State 34%
  • % Asian
  • ASU 7%
  • San Diego State 14%
  • % Black
  • ASU 4%
  • San Diego State 4%
  • % Hispanic
  • ASU 19%
  • San Diego State 31%
  • % Native American
  • ASU 1%
  • San Diego State 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • ASU 0%
  • San Diego State 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • ASU 4%
  • San Diego State 7%
  • % International
  • ASU 12%
  • San Diego State 6%
  • % Unknown Race
  • ASU 1%
  • San Diego State 4%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • ASU 63%
  • San Diego State 74%
  • % Out-of-State
  • ASU 30%
  • San Diego State 23%

  • Campus

  • Campus Housing
  • ASU Yes
  • San Diego State Yes
  • Freshman Dorm Required
  • ASU No
  • San Diego State No
  • Meal Plan
  • ASU Yes
  • San Diego State Yes
  • Weekend/Evening Classes
  • ASU Yes
  • San Diego State No
  • Daycare Facility
  • ASU Yes
  • San Diego State Yes

Comparable Facts

Compare Arizona State University in Tempe, AZ with San Diego State University in San Diego, CA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Arizona State University is larger than San Diego State based on total student enrollment (79,818 students vs. 41,137 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Arizona State University is located in Tempe, AZ (Midsize City setting); San Diego State University is in San Diego, CA (Large City setting).
  • Arizona State University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. San Diego State University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Arizona State University 18:1; San Diego State University 27:1.

ASU vs. San Diego State Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, ASU or San Diego State? Published tuition is the sticker price; many students pay less after aid (see average net price below).

  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at San Diego State University than ASU ($14,704 vs. $17,779).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Arizona State University are 27.4% lower than at San Diego State University ($16,712 vs. $23,030).
  • Arizona State University is 40% more expensive for in-state tuition than San Diego State (about $3,495 more per year; $12,223.00 vs. $8,728.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 55.4% higher at ASU than at San Diego State University (about $11,811 more per year; $33,139.00 vs. $21,328.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Arizona State University than at San Diego State University (89% vs. 47%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Arizona State University students is 1% larger than aid received by San Diego State University students ($12,172 vs. $12,053).

ASU vs. San Diego State Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, ASU or San Diego State? Typical SAT and ACT scores (same estimates as in the table above), middle 50% test ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between San Diego State and ASU.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Arizona State University (1210) is 10 points higher than at San Diego State (1200).
  • Incoming San Diego State students have a 1 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (25 vs. 24 at ASU).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Arizona State University 1100/1320; San Diego State University 1090/1300.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Arizona State University 21/28; San Diego State University 22/29.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: ASU - Test optional; San Diego State - Test-free.
  • Typical fall application deadline: San Diego State Nov 30, 2026.
  • Accepted freshman San Diego State students have a 0.28 point higher average high school GPA (3.82) than students at ASU (3.54).
  • ASU has a higher acceptance rate (89.9%) than San Diego State (36.2%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 22.1% at ASU vs. 20.4% at San Diego State.

ASU vs. San Diego State Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for ASU and San Diego State? Graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt are common indicators. The bullets below summarize the same federal outcomes fields as the comparison table (College Scorecard / IPEDS where applicable).

  • San Diego State University's six-year graduation rate (66%) is higher than Arizona State University's (57%).
  • Graduates from San Diego State University earn a median of about $800 more per year than ASU graduates about ten years after starting college ($53,400 vs. $52,600), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, San Diego State University graduates have a $4,929 lower median loan debt than ASU graduates ($15,349 vs. $20,278).
  • Among borrowers, San Diego State graduates have an estimated $51 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than ASU graduates ($158 vs. $209).
  • More San Diego State graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former ASU students, three years after graduation. (65% vs. 57%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.