San Diego State vs. Texas Tech

Deciding between San Diego State University and Texas Tech 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.

San Diego State University
Texas Tech University

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • San Diego State San Diego, CA
  • Texas Tech Lubbock, TX
  • Setting
  • San Diego State Large City
  • Texas Tech Midsize City
  • Total enrollment
  • San Diego State 41,137
  • Texas Tech 40,757
  • Type
  • San Diego State Public 4 Year
  • Texas Tech Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • San Diego State #353
  • Texas Tech #448
  • Religious Affiliation
  • San Diego State -
  • Texas Tech -
  • Status
  • San Diego State Non-profit
  • Texas Tech Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • San Diego State
  • Texas Tech

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • San Diego State $8,728
  • Texas Tech $11,852
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • San Diego State $21,328
  • Texas Tech $24,451
  • Room & Board
  • San Diego State $23,030
  • Texas Tech $10,742
  • Average Net Price
  • San Diego State $14,704
  • Texas Tech $16,919
  • Average Grant Aid
  • San Diego State $12,053
  • Texas Tech $10,494
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • San Diego State 47%
  • Texas Tech 79%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • San Diego State 89,972
  • Texas Tech 34,356
  • Admitted
  • San Diego State 32,561
  • Texas Tech 24,958
  • Acceptance Rate
  • San Diego State 36.2%
  • Texas Tech 72.6%
  • Enrolled
  • San Diego State 20.4%
  • Texas Tech 27.1%
  • Typical SAT score
  • San Diego State 1200
  • Texas Tech 1190
  • Typical ACT score
  • San Diego State 25
  • Texas Tech 25
  • Average High School GPA
  • San Diego State 3.82
  • Texas Tech 3.76
  • Typical High School Grades
  • San Diego State A-
  • Texas Tech A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • San Diego State Challenging
  • Texas Tech Challenging
  • Applicant Competition
  • San Diego State High
  • Texas Tech Low
  • ACT Range
  • San Diego State 22/29
  • Texas Tech 23/28
  • SAT Range
  • San Diego State 1090/1300
  • Texas Tech 1090/1280
  • Submit Test Scores
  • San Diego State Test-free
  • Texas Tech Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • San Diego State Nov 30, 2026
  • Texas Tech

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • San Diego State 27:1
  • Texas Tech 20:1
  • Popular Majors
  • San Diego State
    • Business (23%)
    • Social Sciences (13%)
    • Psychology (8%)
    • English and Literature (7%)
    • Health Professions (7%)
  • Texas Tech
    • Business (23%)
    • Engineering (10%)
    • Work and Family Studies (8%)
    • Communication (6%)
    • Social Sciences (6%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • San Diego State 66%
  • Texas Tech 61%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • San Diego State $53,400
  • Texas Tech $58,500
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • San Diego State 65%
  • Texas Tech 66%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • San Diego State $15,349
  • Texas Tech $22,500
  • Median Loan Payment
  • San Diego State $158
  • Texas Tech $232

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • San Diego State 43%
  • Texas Tech 49%
  • % Women
  • San Diego State 57%
  • Texas Tech 51%
  • Racial Diversity
  • San Diego State Very High
  • Texas Tech High
  • HBCU
  • San Diego State No
  • Texas Tech No
  • % White
  • San Diego State 34%
  • Texas Tech 60%
  • % Asian
  • San Diego State 14%
  • Texas Tech 2%
  • % Black
  • San Diego State 4%
  • Texas Tech 6%
  • % Hispanic
  • San Diego State 31%
  • Texas Tech 23%
  • % Native American
  • San Diego State 0%
  • Texas Tech 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • San Diego State 0%
  • Texas Tech 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • San Diego State 7%
  • Texas Tech 3%
  • % International
  • San Diego State 6%
  • Texas Tech 5%
  • % Unknown Race
  • San Diego State 4%
  • Texas Tech 1%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • San Diego State 74%
  • Texas Tech 90%
  • % Out-of-State
  • San Diego State 23%
  • Texas Tech 8%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare San Diego State University in San Diego, CA with Texas Tech University in Lubbock, TX on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

San Diego State University is larger than Texas Tech based on total student enrollment (41,137 students vs. 40,757 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • San Diego State University is located in San Diego, CA (Large City setting); Texas Tech University is in Lubbock, TX (Midsize City setting).
  • San Diego State University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Texas Tech University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: San Diego State University 27:1; Texas Tech University 20:1.

San Diego State vs. Texas Tech Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, San Diego State or Texas Tech? 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 Texas Tech ($14,704 vs. $16,919).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Texas Tech University are 53.4% lower than at San Diego State University ($10,742 vs. $23,030).
  • Texas Tech University is 35.8% more expensive for in-state tuition than San Diego State (about $3,124 more per year; $11,852.00 vs. $8,728.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 14.6% higher at Texas Tech than at San Diego State University (about $3,123 more per year; $24,451.00 vs. $21,328.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Texas Tech University than at San Diego State University (79% vs. 47%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by San Diego State University students is 14.9% larger than aid received by Texas Tech University students ($12,053 vs. $10,494).

San Diego State vs. Texas Tech Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, San Diego State or Texas Tech? 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 Texas Tech and San Diego State.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at San Diego State University (1200) is 10 points higher than at Texas Tech (1190).
  • Incoming San Diego State students have the same typical ACT composite (median estimate; 25) as students at Texas Tech (25).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: San Diego State University 1090/1300; Texas Tech University 1090/1280.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: San Diego State University 22/29; Texas Tech University 23/28.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: San Diego State - Test-free; Texas Tech - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: San Diego State Nov 30, 2026.
  • Accepted freshman San Diego State students have a 0.06 point higher average high school GPA (3.82) than students at Texas Tech (3.76).
  • Texas Tech has a higher acceptance rate (72.6%) than San Diego State (36.2%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 20.4% at San Diego State vs. 27.1% at Texas Tech.

San Diego State vs. Texas Tech Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for San Diego State and Texas Tech? 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 Texas Tech University's (61%).
  • Graduates from Texas Tech University earn a median of about $5,100 more per year than San Diego State graduates about ten years after starting college ($58,500 vs. $53,400), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, San Diego State University graduates have a $7,151 lower median loan debt than Texas Tech graduates ($15,349 vs. $22,500).
  • Among borrowers, San Diego State graduates have an estimated $74 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Texas Tech graduates ($158 vs. $232).
  • More Texas Tech graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former San Diego State students, three years after graduation. (66% vs. 65%)

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.