How to Get Into San Diego State University (SDSU): Acceptance Rate and Strategies

October 15, 2025

sdsu acceptance rate, san diego state university

For the incoming Class of 2029, San Diego State University received a record 94,000+ total first-year undergraduate applications. Applicants to this member of the California State University system campus, which was once primarily the target of local residents, hail from all 50 states and 100+ countries.. This is a testament to how much SDSU has become a coveted postsecondary home and a selective university with just a sub-40% acceptance rate.

To help prepare aspiring Aztecs for the challenging process ahead, we will touch on the following topics:

SDSU’s Class of 2029 acceptance rate acceptance rate (plus how to predict your chances with our free admissions calculator)
SDSU’s in-state vs. out-of-state acceptance rate
GPA and class rank of accepted SDSU applicants
Admissions trends from the Class of 2029
The demographics of current San Diego State University undergraduates
San Diego State University’s yield rate
How SDSU’s admissions officers evaluate candidates
Tips for applying to SDSU
How to assess whether applying to San Diego State University is even worth the $70 application fee (for you)

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San Diego State University (SDSU) Overall Acceptance Rate – Class of 2029

The university received 94,935 freshman applications for a place in the Class of 2029. Of these applicants, they admitted 35,297. This translates to a SDSU acceptance rate of 37%.

Historical SDSU acceptance rates are as follows:

	Applicants	Admits	Acceptance Rate
Class of 2028	90,509	32,561	36%
Class of 2027	83,190	28,433	34%
Class of 2026	77,250	30,331	39%
Class of 2025	67,660	25,646	38%
Class of 2024	64,784	23,778	37%

San Diego State University In-State vs. Out-of-State Acceptance Rate

Admission is traditionally much easier for out-of-state applicants than locals. For the Class of 2028, the out-of-state SDSU acceptance rate was 87% compared to just 31% for CA residents.

What GPA do you need to get into SDSU?

Freshmen who enrolled in the Class of 2028 had an average GPA of 3.84. Moreover, 67% of students held a GPA of 3.75 or higher.

What class rank do you need to get accepted to San Diego State?

30% of 2024-25 freshmen hailed from the top 10% of their graduating class, while 68% earned a place in the top quarter.

What is the minimum SAT or ACT score for SDSU?

SDSU—and all other California public colleges—are test-blind, meaning that standardized test scores are neither required nor considered during the admissions process.

Admissions Trends & Notes – Class of 2029

22.9% of the Class of 2029 were first-generation students.
42.6% of the most recent freshman class were members of an underrepresented minority group.
SDSU experienced a 5.4% increase in applications this past cycle.
Only 8.6% of students who applied were local; 91.4% were not.

Who Gets Into SDSU?

Let’s now look at the demographics of San Diego State University undergraduates. The 2025-26 freshman class came from the following geographic locations:

Los Angeles: 21%
San Diego: 8.2%
Orange County: 10.9%
Santa Clara: 8.3%
Riverside: 7.8%
Alameda: 7%
Contra Costa: 4.9%
Out of State: 8.5% (Class of 2028)
International: 2%

Looking at ethnic identity, the breakdown of the Class of 2029 is as follows:

Asian American: 16.6%
Hispanic: 38.6%
African American: 3.9%
White: 25%
Filipino: 4%

On the gender front, the Class of 2029 is notably split in favor of women:

Male: 39.7%
Female: 58.8%
Nonbinary: 1%

You might assume that, with such a gender gap, it may be easier to gain admission into SDSU as a male. Yet, the acceptance rate for men and women tends to be almost identical.

Class of 2029 students most commonly applied to the following departments:

Sciences
Business
Health and Human Services

Yield Rate

San Diego State University’s yield rate—the percentage of accepted students who elect to enroll, divided by the total number of students who are admitted—was relatively low 20% last year. For comparison, historically, Cal Poly San Luis Obispo has a yield of about 28%, while UC San Diego comes in at 22%, and UCLA is a much higher 52%.

How the San Diego State University Rates Applicants

There are a mere two factors that the San Diego State University ranks as being “very important” to their admissions process: rigor of secondary school record and GPA. The two factors rated as “important” are: state residency and geographical residence. All other factors including essay, recommendations, extracurricular activities, class rank, and work experience are “not considered.”

In the admissions office’s own words:

“San Diego State University’s admissions process considers a comprehensive range of factors for each applicant. We seek to enroll students who are both academically qualified and demonstrate the potential to contribute to SDSU’s diverse community. SDSU students have a wide variety of backgrounds, curiosities, and passions.”
“You must choose a major when you apply to SDSU. All majors are competitive, and every major has more applicants than available spots (the CSUs call this impaction). While we look at all of the college-prep coursework you have taken during high school, we also consider your performance and the number of units taken in courses most relevant to predicted success in your intended academic discipline.”
Special consideration is given to students who have overcome life obstacles, participated in college preparatory programs, and attend high schools within SDSU’s local admission area.

Tips for Applying to San Diego State University

If you plan on joining the 94,000+ aspiring Aztecs for the next admissions cycle, you should know the following:

As mentioned earlier, SDSU is test-blind, meaning that you do not need to submit test scores alongside your application. If you do submit them, they will not be considered.
You can submit an application any time between October 1 and December 15.
Applications are completed through the Cal State Apply.
You must fulfill the A-G requirements to be eligible as a first-year student at SDSU.
San Diego State University states that they do not consider “demonstrated interest” in the admissions process. However, given their low yield rate, it can’t hurt to visit campus, contact an admissions officer, follow them on social media, etc.
If you get waitlisted, don’t give up hope. Last year, 21% of those who accepted a place on the waitlist were later accepted.
SDSU does not require a personal statement or supplemental essays.

Should I Apply to SDSU?

With acceptance rates of under 40%, San Diego State University is primarily seeking candidates who have earned a mixture of A’s and B’s in a rigorous high school program. In addition, if you’re an in-state applicant, you’ll need to bring credentials that are even more impressive.

SDSU Acceptance Rate — Final Thoughts

Unless you have earned perfect grades in high school, you’ll need to make sure that you have a rock-solid backup plan. All students need to make sure that they formulate an appropriate college list, containing a complement of “target” and “safety” schools.

Ready to start crafting your college applications? You might consider checking out the following:

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College Admissions

Dave Bergman

Dave has over a decade of professional experience that includes work as a teacher, high school administrator, college professor, and independent educational consultant. He is a co-author of the books The Enlightened College Applicant (Rowman & Littlefield, 2016) and Colleges Worth Your Money (Rowman & Littlefield, 2020).