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San Diego State University Admissions 2025: Application Deadline, Requirements & Costs
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International undergraduate and graduate students can take San Diego State University admission in the Fall semester. The San Diego State University application deadline for international students is given below:
UG Deadline:
- Regular Deadline: Apr 1, 2025 (Fall)
- Early Considerations Deadline: Dec 2, 2025 (Fall)
PG Deadline:
- Fall: Closed
- San Diego State University Admissions 2025 Highlights
- San Diego State University Application Process 2025
- San Diego State University Enrollment Statistics 2025
- San Diego State University Students review
- SDSU Admission FAQs 2025
San Diego State University Admissions 2025 Highlights
One of the oldest higher education institutions in San Diego, San Diego State University is a member of the California State University system and is renowned for providing more than 39,000 students with the opportunity to take part in an excellent academic curriculum.
San Diego State University courses comprise over 200 degree programs at undergraduate or graduate levels. Some popular specializations include Data Analytics, Computer Science, Information Systems; Cybersecurity Management; Accountancy; Electrical Engineering; Bioinformatics and Medical Informatics; Global Business Development; Bioengineering; and more.
The San Diego State University tuition fees range between INR 10L and INR 18L for undergraduate and INR 6L and INR 25L for postgraduate programs.
As per an unofficial source, the San Diego State University acceptance rate is 34%, which means that the university is highly competitive. International students applying to the university must meet UG and PG admissions requirements. Some of the essential factors the university considers are a good GPA in academic coursework, strong essays, LORs, professional experience, and good ELP scores. However, while all these factors are not essential to have, it’s suggested to have these as they add value to students’ portfolios.
Must Read: Study Guide to USA for International Students
San Diego State University Admissions 2025 Highlights
International students must fill out the required details to complete the San Diego State University admission process via Cal State application. Once the student fills out the application, students must submit the San Diego State University application fee. The San Diego State University requirements for international students are given below:
|
Particular |
San Diego State University Info |
|---|---|
|
Application portal |
calstate.edu/apply/international |
|
Application fee |
USD 70 (INR 6K) |
|
Acceptance rate |
34% |
|
English language tests accepted |
|
|
Standardized tests required |
|
|
International application deadlines |
UG: Apr 1, 2025 (Fall) PG: Closed |
(USD 1=INR 86.81)
San Diego State University Courses & Fees 2025
San Diego State University has more than 350 courses offered to international students annually. Some popular courses at SDSU are Business Administration; Cybersecurity Management; Accountancy; Global Business Development; International Business; Economics; and more. In addition, students must submit San Diego State University tuition fee varies depending on the level of study and the course chosen by the applicant. Some of the basic requirements from the university are the SAT or ACT(optional) for undergraduate students and the GMAT for MBA. Students can check the San Diego State University admission eligibility below:
San Diego State University PG Programs and Requirements
|
PG Programs |
Academic Qualifications |
English Proficiency Requirements |
Documents Required |
|---|---|---|---|
|
MBA/PGDM(12-24 months) |
|
IELTS: 6.5 & Above, TOEFL: 80 & Above, PTE: 58 & Above |
|
|
MS(12 months-3 years) |
|
IELTS: 6.5 & Above, PTE: 58 & Above, TOEFL: 80 - 85 |
|
|
M.A.(18 months-3 years) |
|
IELTS: 6.5 & Above, PTE: 58 & Above, TOEFL: 80 & Above, Duolingo: 105 & Above, GRE |
|
|
MEng(2 years) |
|
IELTS: 6.5 & Above, TOEFL: 80 & Above, PTE: 58 & Above, Duolingo: 105 & Above |
|
|
MPA(18-24 months) |
|
IELTS: 6.5 & Above, PTE: 58 & Above |
|
San Diego State University UG Programs and Requirements
|
UG Programs |
Academic Qualifications |
English Proficiency Requirements |
Documents Required |
|---|---|---|---|
|
B.A.(4 years) |
|
IELTS: 6.5 & Above, PTE: 58 & Above, TOEFL: 80 & Above |
|
|
B.E. / B.Tech(4 years) |
|
IELTS: 6.5 & Above, TOEFL: 80 & Above, PTE: 58 & Above, Duolingo: 105 & Above |
|
|
BBA(4 years) |
|
IELTS: 6.5 & Above, TOEFL: 80 & Above, PTE: 58 & Above, Duolingo: 105 & Above |
|
|
B.Sc.(4 years) |
|
IELTS: 6.5 & Above, PTE: 58 & Above, TOEFL: 80 & Above, Duolingo: 105 & Above |
Copy of graduation certificate or diploma A GPA of 3 (B grade or 80%) or higher English language proficiency score ACT/SAT score |
|
B.Arch(4 years) |
|
IELTS: 6.5 & Above, TOEFL: 80 & Above, PTE: 58 & Above, Duolingo: 105 & Above |
|
Also Read: Cost of living in USA for Indian students
San Diego State University Fees 2025
The San Diego State University cost ranges between INR 10L and INR 18L for undergraduate and INR 6L and INR 25L for postgraduate programs. International students can check the table below for tuition cost of popular programs at SDSU:
|
Courses |
1st Year Tuition Fees |
|---|---|
|
MBA/PGDM(6 courses) |
INR 16 L - 26 L |
|
MS(34 courses) |
INR 6 L - 26 L |
|
B.A.(29 courses) |
INR 17 L - 18 L |
|
B.E. / B.Tech(8 courses) |
INR 17 L - 18 L |
|
BBA(10 courses) |
INR 17 L - 18 L |
|
B.Sc.(15 courses) |
INR 11 L - 18 L |
|
M.A.(17 courses) |
INR 11 L - 19 L |
|
MPH(1 course) |
INR 18 L |
San Diego State University Application Deadlines 2025
San Diego State University has distinct application deadlines for undergraduate and postgraduate students for Fall 2025. The regular application deadline for UG students is Apr 1, 2025(tentative). Prospective undergraduates must submit their applications by the given deadlines for admission. For postgraduate students, the deadline is later. Meeting these deadlines is essential as applications received after these dates will not be reviewed. The San Diego State University admission deadlines for international students are given as follows:
|
Program |
Application Deadline |
|---|---|
|
UG-Regular |
Apr 1, 2025 (Fall) |
|
UG-Early |
Dec 2, 2025 |
|
PG |
Closed (Fall) |
Also Read: Admission Intakes in US Universities
San Diego State University Visa Requirements for International Students
International students must fulfill the visa eligibility such as students must have an offer letter for a full-time academic course, proving their English language proficiency, and having financial support. Along with fulfilling eligibility, students must submit some documents for a visa to study in the UK. Some of the mandatory San Diego State University visa requirements for international students are given below:
- I-94 Form
- Passport
- SEVIS I-20 Form for F-1 students
- Health insurance
- Financial documents
Commonly asked questions On Admissions
With a 34% acceptance rate, San Diego State University is quite hard to get into for international students. The acceptance rate indicates that the university is stringent during admission and follows a holistic approach while selecting candidates for the university. The university considers various academic and non-academic factors during admission including rigor of secondary school report, academic GPA, graphical residence, and state residency. Students must perform academically well to be a part of this university.
San Diego State University does not ask for GRE or GMAT scores for graduate programs. To support their application, students can take the GMAT or GRE and post their unofficial results on Interfolio. However, SDSU does not give preference to either exam if students choose to submit test results; instead, the university will typically choose the student's best score.
San Diego State University offers various scholarships to international students including the Sara Stelzer Study Abroad Scholarship; SDSU Associated Students Study Abroad Scholarship; Minor Scholarship for Study Abroad; Joyce M. Gattas Scholarship for Internships and International Experiences; and more. The SDSU scholarships along with the details are given below:
SDSU Scholarship | Details |
|---|---|
Sara Stelzer Study Abroad | Scholarship to help financially deserving students participate in an international experience |
SDSU Associated Students Study Abroad | Scholarships for conducting research outside the United States |
Minor Scholarship for Study Abroad | Scholarship to get an International Studies Minor from the College of Professional Studies and Fine Arts |
Joyce M. Gattas Scholarship for Internships and International Experiences | Scholarship designed for PSFA undergraduate and graduate students for global education |
Jim Sanders Media and Leadership Scholarship | Scholarship designed for journalism, news media, or communication students |
San Diego State University MS Admissions 2025
The San Diego State University provides 1-year master's program in specializations such as Data Analytics, Computer Science, Information Systems; Cybersecurity Management; Accountancy; Electrical Engineering; Bioinformatics and Medical Informatics; Global Business Development; Bioengineering; and more. The tuition fee ranges between INR 6L and INR 26L for these programs. At the time of admission, students must submit a copy of their degree certificate and transcript, personal statement, letter of recommendation, CV, English language test scores, and GMAT/GRE score (optional).
Eligibility Criteria
- Accepting Exams: IELTS, PTE, Duolingo, TOEFL, GRE, GMAT
Commonly asked questions On MS Admissions
As part of the California State University system, San Diego State University is one of the city's the oldest universities and is well-known for offering over 39,000 students a top-notch academic program.
More than 200 undergraduate and graduate degree programs are offered at San Diego State University. Data analytics, Computer Science, Information Systems, Cybersecurity Management, Accounting, Electrical Engineering, and more are some of the most sought-after disciplines. Along with the top-rankings, and excellent academic structure, SDSU is a good university in terms of affordability.
San Diego State University expects a minimum cumulative GPA of 3 and 3.4 on a 4-point scale from international UG and PG applicants respectively. Students must meet the requirements for basic eligibility, which include verification of high school graduation for undergraduate programs and a bachelor's degree from an accredited university or its equivalent for postgraduate programs. They also need to turn in the required paperwork, which includes their transcripts from the school or institution they attended, their GPA, their results on standardized tests, and their English language proficiency.
San Diego State University MBA Admissions 2025
The San Diego State University provides 1-year MBA program in specializations such as Business Administration; Cybersecurity Management; Accountancy; International Business; Economics; and more. The tuition fee ranges between INR 16 L and INR 26 L for these programs. At the time of admission, students must submit a copy of their degree certificate and transcript, personal statement, letter of recommendation, SOP, Essay, English language test scores, and GMAT/GRE score (optional).
Eligibility Criteria
- Accepting Exams: IELTS, TOEFL, PTE, Duolingo, GRE, GMAT
Commonly asked questions On MBA/PGDM Admissions
San Diego State University offers one of the best Computer Science programs to international students. The programs help students to get fundamental knowledge of computer science, such as how to use and create programming languages and store and retrieve data. The programme also covers the hardware systems that understand these languages, as well as the theoretical underpinnings of data structures and architecture that serve as the basis for computing. SDSU offers a variety of specialised electives in areas such as Artificial Intelligence, Autonomous Systems, Robotics, Graphics, Systems Programming, Simulation, and Computer Networks.
Below are the requirements for San Diego State University MBA Course:
LOR: Some MBA programs ask for a LOR, with particular exceptions.
Transcripts and degrees: the applicant must provide the university with transcripts of their academics with degree certificates.
English Language Proficiency exams: The following table explains the minimum score of each English exam the university is excepting:
English Language proficiency | Minimum score |
|---|---|
IELTS | 6.5 and above in all bands |
PTE Academic | 58 and above |
TOFEL | 80 and above |
Duolingo English Test | 105 and above |
Entrance exam: Applicants need not submit any GRE/GMAT score, however, it’s not compulsory for applicants.
San Diego State University Application Process 2025
Below is the San Diego State University application process for international students:
Step 1: Complete the Cal State Apply online application, and the applicant must pay a USD 70 (INR 6K) non-refundable application fee. (USD 1=INR 86.85)
Step 2: Applicants must make sure that their names match their passports and use the month/Day/Year format for their date of birth.
Step 3: Applicant must review the academic requirements for their country on SDSU requirements by country page. Contact the international admissions office for questions.
Step 4: Within two weeks of applying, receive an email with your SDSU ID which grants access to ‘my. SDSU’
Step 5: Log in to ‘my.SDSU’ with your SDSU ID and password. Applicants must keep their email updated in their profile and use the admission portal to track their application status.
Commonly asked questions On Application Process
San Diego State University offers various popular majors to international students including Business Administration; Management; Computer Science; Speech Communication and Rhetoric; and more. Students can check the table below for SDSU's popular majors along with its graduation rates:
SDSU Majors | Graduation Rates |
|---|---|
Business Administration and Management | 32% |
Multi-Interdisciplinary studies | 5% |
Computer Science | 4% |
Speech Communication and Rhetoric | 4% |
Psychology | 4% |
Note: The data is taken from an unofficial source, and hence subject to vary
The San Diego State University application fee for undergraduate and graduate programs is USD 70 (INR 6K). Students must fulfill the basic eligibility by having a bachelor's degree from a recognised university or equivalent for postgraduate, and proof of high school completion for undergraduate programs. In addition, they must submit the necessary documents including transcripts from the school/university attended, standardized test scores, GPA scores, and English language requirements. (USD 1=INR 86.81)
San Diego State University expects an IELTS score of 6.5 or higher from international students to join their undergraduate and graduate programs. Along with the IELTS scores, students must fulfill their English language proficiency by submitting the scores of TOEFL, PTE, and Duolingo. The San Diego State University English language requirements for international students are given below:
San Diego State University Enrollment Statistics 2025
According to the San Diego State University enrollment for 2023-2024, the international applications received by the university was 83,190 out of which 6,162 students were enrolled in the UG program. The table below talks about San Diego State University acceptance rate and their segregation for all UG students:
|
Particular |
Statistics 2023-2024 |
Statistics 2022-2023 |
|---|---|---|
|
Application Received |
83,190 |
77,250 |
|
Admitted Students |
28,433 |
30,331 |
|
Total Students Enrolled |
6,162 |
6,573 |
|
Yield Rate |
21.7% |
21.7% |
|
Acceptance Rate |
34.18% |
39.26% |
Commonly asked questions On Admission
Some of the tips for students starting their first-semester at the San Diego State University:
- Students who applied for University of San Diego State University must be humble and should interact with as many people as possible. Mainly beacause, the more people you talk to the better knowledge you get.
- Attend as many gathering and parties as much as you can.
- Applicants should avoid missing classess, as 70% of learning comes from students going to classes.
- Students can get invovlved with extracuricular activities, i.e joing university clubs, sports etc. This will also look good on a portfolio in the longer run.
The San Diego State University acceptance rate is 34%. As per the acceptance rate, the university selects applicants via a comprehensive process and has strict admissions requirements. When admitting students, the institution takes into account several academic and non-academic criteria, such as the quality of the secondary school report, academic GPA, graphical residence, and state residency. Students who want to attend this university must do well academically and take part in co-curricular activities to stand out.
Yes, San Diego State University accepts international students from all over the globe. As per an unofficial source, SDSU enrolled over 37,000 students of which more than 32,000 were undergraduate and over 4,000 were graduates. The ethnic diversity indicates that 3% of total university enrollment were international students. Students can check the ethnic breakdown at SDSU below:
Category | Enrolled Percentage |
|---|---|
Minority | 59% |
Hispanic | 35% |
White | 34% |
Asian | 13% |
Two or more races | 7% |
Black | 4% |
Unknown | 4% |
International | 3% |
Note: The data is taken from an unofficial source, and hence subject to vary
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SDSU Admission FAQs 2025
The steps for international students to apply to San Diego State University are listed below:
Step 1: First, complete the Cal State online application, submit an online application, and pay a non-refundable application fee of USD 70 (INR 6K). (USD 1 = INR 86.85)
Step 2: Candidates must ensure that their names correspond to those on their passports and enter their birthdates in the month, day, and year format.
Step 3: The applicant needs to go over the nation-specific academic requirements on the SDSU requirements by country website. For inquiries, get in touch with the foreign admissions office.
Step 4: Student will receive an email with their SDSU ID, which gives them access to "my.SDSU," within two weeks of submitting their application.
Step 5: Enter your SDSU ID and password to access "my.SDSU." Candidates need to change their email address in their profile and use the admission portal to check their status.
If we consider the below comparison table, the University of Colorado Boulder is better than the SDSU based on the national and top-public school rankings. As per the unofficial source, the University of Colorado Boulder ranked #98 among national universities whereas the SDSU ranked #109. The rankings are based on various factors however, students must also prioritize factors like tuition cost, career opportunities, academic structure, and campus life while choosing a university. Students can check the table below for the comparison between the two:
US News Rankings 2025 | CU Boulder | San Diego State University |
|---|---|---|
National Universities | #98 | #109 |
Top public schools | #46 | #52 |
Best Value shools | #189 | #162 |
International students must fulfill the eligibility criteria and submit the required documents for the desired programme at the San Diego State University. The San Diego State University requirements for UG and PG for international students are given below:
Undergraduate requirements:
- Completion of high school or secondary level
- Copy of graduation certificate or diploma
- A GPA of 3 (B grade or 80%) or higher
- English language proficiency score
- ACT/SAT score
Graduate requirements:
- A three-year baccalaureate degree from an international institution
- University mark sheets for all studies (bachelor's/master's)
- Provisional degree certificates
- Transcripts/ academic records
- English language requirements
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