PUC vs. San Diego State

Should I go to Pacific Union College or San Diego State University? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if PUC or San Diego State is the better college for you. The CollegeSimply comparison tool allows side-by-side comparison of 50+ statistics and facts for over 2,500 colleges and universities.

Add a college to compare up to four schools

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

USD UCSD UC Riverside Cal State Fullerton Cal Poly Cal State Long Beach UCSC San Francisco State UCSB ASU San Jose State UCLA
Pacific Union College vs. San Diego State University comparison
Pacific Union College San Diego State University College 3 College 4
Pacific Union College San Diego State University
Remove Remove +Add +Add

Overview

PUC San Diego State
Location Angwin, CA San Diego, CA
Setting Rural Fringe Large City
Enrollment 870 37,402
Type Private 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #337
Religious Affiliation Seventh Day Adventists - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website puc.edu sdsu.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

PUC San Diego State
Tuition (In State) $32,655 $5,742
Tuition (Out of State) $32,655 $17,622
Room & Board $9,273 $19,714
Avg Net Price $21,841 $13,017
Avg Grant Aid $23,383 $9,934
% Receiving Grant Aid 100% 43%

Admission

PUC San Diego State
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 1,364 77,250
Admitted 661 30,331
Acceptance Rate 48.5% 39.3%
Enrolled % 16.9% 21.7%
Avg High School GPA 3.24 3.82
Typical High School Grades B A-
Admissions Standards Very Easy Challenging
Applicant Competition Low High
ACT Range 18/23 22/29
SAT Range 990/1200 1090/1300
Submit Test Scores Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) Not considered for admission, even if submitted (Test Blind)
Application Deadline Nov 30, 2023

Academics

PUC San Diego State
Student to Faculty Ratio 13:1 25:1
Popular Majors
  • Health Professions (41%)
  • Business (12%)
  • Biology (9%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (8%)
  • Education (5%)
  • Business (23%)
  • Social Sciences (13%)
  • Psychology (8%)
  • English and Literature (7%)
  • Health Professions (7%)

Outcomes

PUC San Diego State
Graduation Rate 45% 66%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $59,200 $53,400
Making Student Loan Payments 57% 65%
Median Student Loan Debt $30,000 $15,349
Median Loan Payment $310 $158

Diversity

PUC San Diego State
% Men 37% 42%
% Women 63% 58%
Racial Diversity Very High Very High
HBCU No No
% White 26% 34%
% Black 9% 4%
% Hispanic 28% 31%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 2% 0%
% Two or More Races 7% 7%
% International 3% 6%
% Unknown Race 5% 4%

Students

PUC San Diego State
% In-State 77% 77%
% Out-of-State 21% 21%

Campus

PUC San Diego State
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required No No
Meal Plan Yes Yes
Weekend/Evening Classes Yes No
Daycare Facility No Yes
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • San Diego State University is larger than than PUC based on total student enrollment (37,402 students vs. 870 students)

PUC vs. San Diego State Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, PUC or San Diego State?

  • Pacific Union College is 468.7% more expensive to attend than San Diego State for in-state tuition ($32,655.00 vs. $5,742.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 85.3% higher at PUC than San Diego State University ($32,655.00 vs. $17,622.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at San Diego State University than PUC ($13,017 vs. $21,841)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Pacific Union College are 112.6% lower than costs at San Diego State University ($9,273 vs. $19,714)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Pacific Union College than San Diego State University (100% vs. 43%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Pacific Union College students is 135.4% larger than aid received San Diego State University ($23,383 vs. $9,934)

PUC vs. San Diego State Admissions Difficulty Comparison

Which college is harder to get into, PUC or San Diego State? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between San Diego State or PUC .

  • The average SAT score at San Diego State University (1130) is 146 points higher than at PUC (984)
  • Incoming San Diego State students have a 4 point higher average ACT score (25) than students at PUC (21)
  • Accepted freshman San Diego State students have a 0.58 point higher average high school GPA (3.82) than students at PUC (3.24)
  • PUC has a higher acceptance rate (48.5%) than San Diego State (39.3%)

PUC vs. San Diego State Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, PUC or San Diego State? Graduation rate, salary and amount of student loan debt are indicators of a college which offers better outcomes for its graduates. Compare the following outcomes facts between San Diego State and PUC.

  • The graduation rate at San Diego State is higher than Pacific Union College (66% vs. 45%)
  • Graduates from Pacific Union College earn on average $5,800 more per year than San Diego State graduates after ten years. ($59,200 vs. $53,400)
  • San Diego State University students graduate with a $14,651 lower median federal student loan debt than PUC graduates. ($15,349 vs. $30,000)
  • San Diego State graduates are paying $152 less per month on federal student loans than PUC graduates. ($158 vs. $310)
  • More San Diego State graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former PUC 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/