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San Diego State University Rankings 2025

Q: Is San Jose State University more competitive than San Diego State University?

San Jose State University acceptance rate stands at 79%, which makes it a moderately selective university to get into. In comparison with the San Diego State University acceptance rate of 39%, SJSU can be considered less selective in its admission criteria. Nonetheless, getting into San Jose State Uni is competitive. Hence, students must excel in academics in order to boost their chances. Apart from this, students who are outstanding in activities outside class also stand a good chance of securing admission.

San Diego, California, USA

4.3 /5

(6 Reviews)

3.2k Student Q&A

Shiksha popularity ranking

#446 in World

#127 in USA

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283 acre campus
Estd. 1897

Last updated on 28 Mar '25

San Diego State Ranking

Table of content

San Diego State University Ranking
San Diego State Course Ranking
San Diego State University US News and World Report Rankings 2025
San Diego State University QS World University Rankings 2025
San Diego State University Times Higher Education (THE) World University Ranking 2025
San Diego State University ARWU (Shanghai) Ranking 2024
San Diego State Student Reviews

San Diego State
University Ranking

Renowned for its academic excellence and diverse campus community, San Diego State University has consistently secured top global university rankings. Offering a wide array of courses across various fields and disciplines for its students, San Diego State University stands out and has an impressive global ranking, and is surely a world-class education place for international students. The San Diego University is ranked #121 in the USA as per Shiksha Popularity Rankings 2025.

Although there are multiple grading platforms accessible for students to check university rankings, what makes Shiksha Ranking stand out is that Shiksha uses the aggregate of all the publicly available university and course rankings from top-ranking publishers and maps it into nine buckets. With this method, courses are graded on the basis of their availability at the college in a particular country and universities are graded by the countries.

Moving on, according to 'University Ranking' category of QS 2025, San Diego State University ranks #1001, which is stable in comparison to its last year’s ranking, i.e., #1001 in 2024. San Diego State University also ranks #801 in THE 'University Ranking' category 2024. As compared to the last year, San Diego State University witnessed a declining trend in its THE (Times Higher Education) ranking which stood at #601 in 2023. Additionally, San Diego State University ranks #105 in US News 'National University' category in 2024.

Check out more details on San Diego State University ranking in the below content.

#127

Country level

Shiksha Popularity Rank

World rank by different ranking providers

Shiksha

#446

ARWU Ranking

#501

US News Ranking

#708

THE Ranking

#1001

QS Ranking

#1001

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Commonly asked questions
On University Evaluation

Q: What rank is SDSU in the world?

According to the QS World Rankings 2025, San Diego State University has been ranked at #1001 in the world. Some of the other world rankings of the university are given as follows:

Year	QS World Rankings	US News Global Universities Rankings
2023	1001	593
2024	1001	708
20025	1001	NA

Q: Is San Jose State University more competitive than San Diego State University?

San Jose State University acceptance rate stands at 79%, which makes it a moderately selective university to get into. In comparison with the San Diego State University acceptance rate of 39%, SJSU can be considered less selective in its admission criteria.

Nonetheless, getting into San Jose State Uni is competitive. Hence, students must excel in academics in order to boost their chances. Apart from this, students who are outstanding in activities outside class also stand a good chance of securing admission.

San Diego State
Course Ranking

San Diego State University ranks well for its Aerospace Engineering PG, UG Business, Psychology, and Clinical & Health courses. In the previous years, San Diego State University has been ranked among the top universities in the world for Aerospace Engineering PG by US News. As per the US News, San Diego State University ranks at #57 in 2024 for its Aerospace Engineering PG courses. In 2023, this ranking stood at #50. Also, for US News UG Business raking category, San Diego State University ranks at #84 position in 2024. Additionally, in THE 2024 ranking, the San Diego State University is ranked #301 for Psychology.

Apart from the global ranking bodies, Shiksha has also ranked San Diego State University streams, such as Business & Management Studies, Engineering, and Law at #176, #100, and #171, respectively. The presence of multiple rankings online can prove to be overwhelming to students looking to study abroad. Hence, Shiksha Study Abroad has launched Shiksha Ranking. With it, students will no longer be required to check multiple ranking organisations to know about the performance of a particular university. Just checking Shiksha rating will suffice.

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San Diego State University US News and World Report Rankings 2025

US News and World Report is known to be a recognized leader in graduate school and college and other rankings as well. It also releases National, Global, Regional and Subject Rankings. In the Global Universities category, San Diego State University ranks at #708 in 2024. For the Global Universities category rankings, a few of the factors on which the universities are evaluated are Global Research Reputation, Publications, Normalized Citation Impact, Regional Research Reputation, etc. A few

Ranked by	2023	2024	2025
Global Universities	593	708	– / –
National University	151	105	109
Aerospace Engineering PG	57	55	– / –
Best Graduate Nursing Schools	86	78	– / –
Biomedical Engineering PG	106	105	– / –
Civil Engineering PG	– / –	77	– / –
Computer Engineering PG	98	112	– / –
Electrical Engineering PG	122	102	– / –
Mechanical Engineering PG	97	96	– / –
UG Business	73	84	77

San Diego State University Vs Other Universities: US News Ranking Comparison

A comparison of San Diego State University with other American universities is given as follows:

University Name	2023	2024
San Diego State University	593	708
San Jose State University	1452	1624
Texas A&M University	148	171
Arizona State University	156	179

For Global University category rankings, the U.S. News & World Report ranks the universities according to their performance set across a variety of indicators. These indicators are Global Research Reputation, Regional Research Reputation, Conferences, Books, Total Citations, Publications, etc.

San Diego State University QS World University Rankings 2025

The QS World University Rankings is known to be a yearly assessment of the rankings of top universities worldwide since the year 2004. For the year 2025, San Diego State University QS World ranking is #1001 for 2025 and in 2024, it has the same ranking.

Ranked by	2023	2024	2025
World University	1001	1001	1001

San Diego State University vs Other American Universities: QS Ranking Comparison

A comparison of American Universities with San Diego State University is given below:

University	2023	2024	2025
San Diego State University	1001	1001	1001
Texas A&M University	164	134	154
Arizona State University	219	179	200

For the year 2025, QS has ranked over 1,500 institutions. The key metrics are academic reputation, citations per faculty, employer reputation, faculty / student ratio, and international faculty ratio / international student ratio.

Parameters	Scores for 2025
Academic reputation	100
Citations per faculty	84.8
Employment outcomes	100
Employer reputation	100
Faculty student ratio	100
International faculty ratio	98.1
International research network	100
International student ratio	97.7
Sustainability	85

Also Check: QS World University Ranking Methodology

San Diego State University Times Higher Education (THE) World University Ranking 2025

Times Higher Education has been providing performance data on universities for students since 2004. It creates university rankings to evaluate university performance on the global stage and provides a resource for readers to know the different missions and successes of higher education institutions.

In the Times Higher Education (THE) University Rankings 2025, San Diego State University ranks at #1001 position in the nation. Some of the subjects that are ranked at the top are Arts & Humanities, Clinical and Health, Engineering, Law, Life Sciences, Business and Economics, Computer Sciences, etc.

Ranked by	2023	2024	2025
University	601	801	1001
Arts and Humanities	501	601	601
Clinical and Health	401	401	401
Engineering	601	601	801
Life Sciences	501	501	501
PG Business and Economics	601	601	601
PG Computer Science	601	601	601
Psychology	301	301	301

San Diego State University THE World University Ranking 2025: Ranking Comparison

As per THE World Rankings 2025, San Diego State University has been ranked in the top 1000 universities based on the global rankings and engagement. San Diego State University ranks at #75 position in 2025. A comparison of American Universities with Boston University is given below:

University	2023	2024	2025
San Diego State University	601	801	1001
University of California - San Diego Campus	32	34	34
Texas A&M University	181	118	143
Arizona State University	156	182	201

Times Higher Education (THE) World University Rankings are the global performance tables that judge research-intensive universities across their core missions: Research, Teaching, Knowledge Transfer, and International Outlook. For the year 2025, THE has ranked more than 2,000 institutions. Some of the other scores given for SSDU are given as follows:

Particulars	Scores in 2025
Teaching	96.8
Research Environment	100
Research Quality	98.8
Industry	99.6
International Outlook	97.3

Check THE World University Rankings Methodology from here.

San Diego State University ARWU (Shanghai) Ranking 2024

The Academic Ranking of World Universities (ARWU) is also known as the Shanghai Ranking is one of the annual publications of world university rankings. ARWU is regarded as one of the three most influential and widely observed university rankings, alongside QS World University Rankings and Times Higher Education World University Rankings.

Ranked by	2022	2023	2024
Universities	501	601	501
Law	151	201	201
Political Sciences	301	– / –	– / –

San Diego State University Vs Other Universities: ARWU Ranking Comparison

A comparison of San Diego State University rankings with other similar universities is given below:

University	2023	2024
San Diego State University	601	501
University of California - San Diego Campus	19	18
Texas A&M University	151	201
Arizona State University	101	151

The ranking parameters of ARWU are quality of education, quality of faculty, research output, and per capita performance. The weightage that each parameter carries is given below:

Parameter	Weightage
Quality of Education	10%
Quality of Faculty	20%
Research Output	40%
Per Capita Performance	10%

Check Shanghai (ARWU) Ranking Methodology from here

San Diego State
Students Ratings & Reviews

4.3/5

6 Verified Reviews Info Icon

Vibe of Campus

Friendly
Multi-dimensional
Fun loving
Academically oriented

Student Views

33% students never faced discrimination in this university

Internships3.8

Part time work4.7

Post study jobs4.3

Quality of faculty4.7

Student Life4.8

Value for money4.8

Public transportation4.3

Safety4.3

Indian Food4.2

Permanent Immigration3.5

Anonymous

MS in Big Data Analytics - Batch of 2024

4.2

School of fun & opportunities

Tips: There are so many hidden opportunities like scholarships, job opportunities, fun gigs. Be open to opportunities and don't hesitate to speak to anyone. You don't know where you find the gold. Do not just sit in the heads of Indian students. Make at least two or three American friends and learn about their work styles and methods.

Likes (Part time work): SDSU has a lot of options for part time jobs. You just have to be proactive. There are ample opportunities in student dorms, dining, TA & RA, and Lab Assistant opportunities. Also, there are many clubs and cultural centres that hire Undergraduate and Graduate Student Assistants. So make sure you follow their Instagram pages for lot many opportunities.

Dislikes (Permanent Immigration): Permanent settlement in US is very difficult if you follow the track of doing Masters and then availing work permit. It depends on factors if your employer sponsors the position then if your H1B is picked. USCIS has been very strict in recent years considering the immigration norms. US is any time place with lots of money and opportunities. However India is still growing at a rapid pace. So if you are earning more than 20LPA in India with an experience of less than 3 years. I would suggest considering growth opportunities in India!

Reviewed on 15 Jan 2024Read more

Anonymous

MS Information Systems - Batch of 2024

4.6

The University in America's Finest City: San Diego State University

Tips: There is a cultural shift as there is a very diverse student population and campus culture. University has welcoming faculty and staff are always ready to help you. SDSU is known for academic excellence, diverse student body and vibrant college life, you can get engaged in research activities on campus. I am satisfied with the course structure and curriculum as it aligns with my area of interest. San Diego is popular for its climate, beaches and attraction.

Reviewed on 1 May 2023Read more

Anonymous

MS/MA in Geography - Batch of 2026

3.9

Lovely place to study.

Tips: The best thing about this university is how accepting and welcoming the environment is and students often go out of their way to make you feel included. Another plus point has been the faculty and the fact that they are happy to help out whenever needed. Explore the campus when you get here as the architecture is beautiful and you will get an idea about where your classes are located.

Reviewed on 31 Oct 2024Read more

Prashanth Kattela Chandrashekar Verified Icon

Master of Science in Computer Science - Batch of 2023

4.1

Research well before joining.

Tips: I would say that as a student one should research on the coursework and the department. Thesis requirements, number of credits, course fees and living expenses. The taxes after getting a job are quite high compared to other states in California. All these said San Diego is a beautiful city and I don't intend to leave this city anytime soon.

Reviewed on 12 Apr 2023Read more

Chiranjivi Aulakh Verified Icon

MS in Medical Physics - Batch of 2024

4.3

University where you could have fun while studying.

Tips: It is like every other American university. The fees here are less compared to other universities. It is very tough to get scholarships for your fees, but there are a ton of part-time opportunities at the university. Additionally, the weather here is beautiful so you do not have to worry about snow and harsh weather conditions. Plus, the university graduate association is very active, they will take you out for free to some tourist attractions in San Diego like the beach, zoo, sea world, etc.

Likes (Part time work): There are a lot of part time options here in the university. You can work as a TA, RA with your professors in your department. Apart from that, you could also work on campus with many restaurants and cafeterias. Also, the university has a stadium where all kinds of events happen and many students are employed there as well.

Dislikes (Permanent Immigration): It seems like a very long process, with first on F1 visa as a student, then OPT, then H1B and then PR. From what I have heard from the seniors, they have been in the US for like eight to ten years and they are still on some kind of work visa. But, life here is pretty good in San Diego.

Reviewed on 23 Mar 2023Read more

Vaibhav Joshi Verified Icon

MS Information Systems - Batch of 2024

Wonderfull Life at San Diego State University

Tips: Everyone should research properly for the course curriculum of this university and find out proper accommodations off campus. This university provides each and every information that is required by students, so that they can figure out the best course for themselves.

Likes (Public transportation): SDSU is famous for weekend parties. Everyone enjoys studying, working and parting on campus. The campus has movie night on every Mondays, where we can connect with other fellow students and learn from their experiences. The students here are polite enough to guide other students.

Dislikes (Internships): Faculties help every student to understand each and every concept. San Diego State University has a variety of professors that teaches even after provided class time. They help us in every possible way, be it with assignments, coding lectures and even self doubt classes for upcoming exams.

Reviewed on 17 Oct 2022Read more

View All 6 Reviews

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San Diego State

Student Forum

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Is it hard to get admission at San Diego State University?

Answered 4 days ago

The San Diego State University acceptance rate stands as 35.9%, meaning that out of every 100 students who apply to SDSU admissions, the university is likely to offer the opportunity to enroll to around 35-36 students. This makes the admission criteria of SDSU rather selective as less than half the

Ridhi

Contributor-Level 8

Which is better FAU or San Diego State University?

Answered 4 days ago

FAU acceptance rate is around 73%, whereas, that of San Diego State University is around 34%. This means that San Diego State University is more selective. A comparison between these two universities is given below:

Particulars	FAU	San Diego State University
Acceptance rate	Around 73%	Around 34%.
No. of courses offered	170+	200+
Annual tuition fees	INR 11.9 L - 28.98 L	INR 6.1 L - 25.31 L
Popular courses	MS, MBA	MS, MBA, BBA

Gunjan Thapa

Contributor-Level 9

What is the San Diego State University acceptance rate?

Answered 4 days ago

San Diego State University received over 90,500 applications from students for the admission cycle of 2024-25. Whereas the number of students admitted crossed 32,500, and the students enrolled crossed 6,600. This suggests that the San Diego State University acceptance rate stands at 35.97%.

Whereas

Ridhi

Contributor-Level 8

Is it hard to get admission at San Diego State University?

Answered 2 months ago

Yes, it is quite difficult to get admission at San Diego State University.

The admissions are very selective at San Diego State University as on the basics of records only 34 out of 100 application are accepted per year which makes a percentage of 34% only.

Should have at least a 2.5 GPA or greater

Richa Shukla

Contributor-Level 7

What skills does San Diego State University prioritize for placement?

Answered 3 months ago

San Diego State University is one of the most prominent universities for international students to continue higher education in the USA. The average salary of SDSU graduates falls under the range of USD 83,000 (INR 71.91 LPA) annually. The San Diego State University graduate are consistently in high

Mohit Thapa

Contributor-Level 8

About the author

Tasneem Hoda

Study Abroad Expert

Tasneem Hoda is a Content Creator and Writer working for Shiksha.com. Her role includes developing and maintaining web pages for international universities at the Shiksha Study Abroad Portal, ensuring accuracy, completeness, and alignment with instit...Read Full Bio