La Sierra University vs. San Diego State

Should I go to La Sierra University or San Diego State University? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if La Sierra University or San Diego State is the better college for you. The CollegeSimply comparison tool allows side-by-side comparison of 50+ statistics and facts for over 2,500 colleges and universities.

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La Sierra University vs. San Diego State University comparison
La Sierra University San Diego State University College 3 College 4
San Diego State University
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Overview

La Sierra University San Diego State
Location Riverside, CA San Diego, CA
Setting Large City Large City
Enrollment 1,614 37,402
Type Private 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #645 #337
Religious Affiliation Seventh Day Adventists - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website lasierra.edu sdsu.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

La Sierra University San Diego State
Tuition (In State) $33,912 $5,742
Tuition (Out of State) $33,912 $17,622
Room & Board $11,325 $19,714
Avg Net Price $25,076 $13,017
Avg Grant Aid $21,867 $9,934
% Receiving Grant Aid 100% 43%

Admission

La Sierra University San Diego State
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 1,878 77,250
Admitted 1,725 30,331
Acceptance Rate 91.9% 39.3%
Enrolled % 19.1% 21.7%
Avg High School GPA 3.54 3.82
Typical High School Grades B+ A-
Admissions Standards Moderate Challenging
Applicant Competition High
ACT Range 18/28 22/29
SAT Range 880/1140 1090/1300
Submit Test Scores Not considered for admission, even if submitted (Test Blind) Not considered for admission, even if submitted (Test Blind)
Application Deadline Nov 30, 2024

Academics

La Sierra University San Diego State
Student to Faculty Ratio 10:1 25:1
Popular Majors
  • Biology (24%)
  • Business (23%)
  • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (9%)
  • Psychology (9%)
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (7%)
  • Business (23%)
  • Social Sciences (13%)
  • Psychology (8%)
  • English and Literature (7%)
  • Health Professions (7%)

Outcomes

La Sierra University San Diego State
Graduation Rate 32% 66%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $51,900 $53,400
Making Student Loan Payments 52% 65%
Median Student Loan Debt $30,000 $15,349
Median Loan Payment $310 $158

Diversity

La Sierra University San Diego State
% Men 40% 42%
% Women 60% 58%
Racial Diversity Very High Very High
HBCU No No
% White 14% 34%
% Black 6% 4%
% Hispanic 48% 31%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 2% 0%
% Two or More Races 4% 7%
% International 11% 6%
% Unknown Race 0% 4%

Students

La Sierra University San Diego State
% In-State 84% 77%
% Out-of-State 9% 21%

Campus

La Sierra University San Diego State
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required No No
Meal Plan Yes Yes
Weekend/Evening Classes Yes No
Daycare Facility No Yes
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • San Diego State University is larger than than La Sierra University based on total student enrollment (37,402 students vs. 1,614 students)

La Sierra University vs. San Diego State Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, La Sierra University or San Diego State?

  • La Sierra University is 490.6% more expensive to attend than San Diego State for in-state tuition ($33,912.00 vs. $5,742.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 92.4% higher at La Sierra University than San Diego State University ($33,912.00 vs. $17,622.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at San Diego State University than La Sierra University ($13,017 vs. $25,076)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at La Sierra University are 74.1% lower than costs at San Diego State University ($11,325 vs. $19,714)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at La Sierra University than San Diego State University (100% vs. 43%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by La Sierra University students is 120.1% larger than aid received San Diego State University ($21,867 vs. $9,934)

La Sierra University vs. San Diego State Admissions Difficulty Comparison

Which college is harder to get into, La Sierra University or San Diego State? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between San Diego State or La Sierra University .

  • The average SAT score at San Diego State University (1130) is 201 points higher than at La Sierra University (929)
  • Incoming San Diego State students have a 6 point higher average ACT score (25) than students at La Sierra University (19)
  • Accepted freshman San Diego State students have a 0.28 point higher average high school GPA (3.82) than students at La Sierra University (3.54)
  • La Sierra University has a higher acceptance rate (91.9%) than San Diego State (39.3%)

La Sierra University vs. San Diego State Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, La Sierra University or San Diego State? Graduation rate, salary and amount of student loan debt are indicators of a college which offers better outcomes for its graduates. Compare the following outcomes facts between San Diego State and La Sierra University.

  • The graduation rate at San Diego State is higher than La Sierra University (66% vs. 32%)
  • Graduates from San Diego State University earn on average $1,500 more per year than La Sierra University graduates after ten years. ($53,400 vs. $51,900)
  • San Diego State University students graduate with a $14,651 lower median federal student loan debt than La Sierra University graduates. ($15,349 vs. $30,000)
  • San Diego State graduates are paying $152 less per month on federal student loans than La Sierra University graduates. ($158 vs. $310)
  • More San Diego State graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former La Sierra University students, three years after graduation. (65% vs. 52%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/