San Diego State University Acceptance Rate
San Diego, California · Public · 4-year or above
- Applicants
- 82,800
- Admitted
- 28,517
- Yield
- 21.6%
- Test policy
- Test-blind
Latest official IPEDS 2023–24 · Updated July 2026
Acceptance rate & applications over time
Hover or tap the chart to read any year.
Over the 10 years of federal data, San Diego State University's acceptance rate has held roughly steady at 34.4% (34.5% in 2014–15, 34.4% in 2023–24). Applications grew from 56,921 to 82,800 (+45%) over that period.
Its 34.4% rate makes San Diego State University more selective than about 91% of the 1,419 schools tracked here. Among 84 tracked California schools, it is more selective than about 77%.
In 2023–24, women were admitted at a higher rate (36.6% for women vs 31.5% for men, a 5.1-point gap). San Diego State University has been test-blind (scores not considered) since 2021–22. Of admitted students, 21.6% enrolled (the yield rate) in 2023–24.
Full year-by-year table
| Year | Applicants | Admitted | Acceptance | Enrolled |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2014–15 | 56,921 | 19,625 | 34.5% | 5,054 |
| 2015–16 | 59,051 | 20,321 | 34.4% | 5,229 |
| 2016–17 | 60,834 | 21,072 | 34.6% | 5,077 |
| 2017–18 | 60,910 | 21,574 | 35.4% | 5,366 |
| 2018–19 | 69,399 | 23,998 | 34.6% | 5,750 |
| 2019–20 | 70,048 | 23,905 | 34.1% | 5,275 |
| 2020–21 | 64,784 | 23,778 | 36.7% | 4,852 |
| 2021–22 | 67,660 | 25,646 | 37.9% | 5,269 |
| 2022–23 | 77,250 | 30,331 | 39.3% | 6,573 |
| 2023–24 | 82,800 | 28,517 | 34.4% | 6,162 |
Acceptance rate by gender
| Group | Applicants | Admitted | Acceptance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Women | 47,978 | 17,536 | 36.6% |
| Men | 34,822 | 10,981 | 31.5% |
SAT / ACT ranges & policy
Test-blind (not considered).
How San Diego State compares
Where this school sits among peers of similar selectivity — each dot is a school's current acceptance rate on the same scale.
Frequently asked
What is San Diego State University's acceptance rate?
San Diego State University's acceptance rate is 34.4% for 2023–24, the most recent year of federal IPEDS data (28,517 admitted of 82,800 applicants).
Is San Diego State University test optional?
San Diego State University is test-blind: SAT/ACT scores are not considered in admission.
How many people apply to San Diego State University?
San Diego State University received 82,800 applications in 2023–24 and admitted 28,517.
How this is calculated
Acceptance rate = admitted ÷ applicants, first-time degree-seeking undergraduates, from the U.S. Department of Education's IPEDS Admissions (ADM) survey; institution details from the IPEDS Institutional Characteristics (HD) survey. Data span: 2014–15 to 2023–24. Official site: www.sdsu.edu/.