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USD UCSD UNCW UC Riverside ECU WCU Cal State Fullerton Cal Poly University of North Carolina at Asheville NC State Cal State Long Beach UNC Charlotte| San Diego State University | Appalachian State University | College 3 | College 4 | |
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| Remove | Remove | +Add | +Add | |
Overview |
San Diego State | ASU | ||
| Location | San Diego, CA | Boone, NC | ||
| Setting | Large City | Distant Town | ||
| Enrollment | 39,241 | 21,253 | ||
| Type | Public 4 Year | Public 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #337 | #597 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | - | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | sdsu.edu | appstate.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
San Diego State | ASU | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $5,742 | $4,242 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tuition (Out of State) | $17,622 | $21,238 | ||
| Room & Board | $21,630 | $12,258 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $19,500 | $14,712 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $5,459 | $7,677 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 94% | 47% |
Admission |
San Diego State | ASU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 82,800 | 24,001 | ||
| Admitted | 28,517 | 21,275 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 34.4% | 88.6% | ||
| Enrolled % | 21.6% | 19.9% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.82 | 3.96 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | A- | A- | ||
| Admissions Standards | Challenging | Average | ||
| Applicant Competition | High | |||
| ACT Range | 22/29 | 21/27 | ||
| SAT Range | 1090/1300 | 1100/1280 | ||
| Submit Test Scores | Not considered for admission, even if submitted (Test Blind) | Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) | ||
| Application Deadline | Nov 30, 2025 | Feb 1, 2026 |
Academics |
San Diego State | ASU | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 22:1 | 16:1 | ||
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Outcomes |
San Diego State | ASU | ||
| Graduation Rate | 66% | 65% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $53,400 | $41,600 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 65% | 74% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $15,349 | $20,500 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $158 | $211 |
Diversity |
San Diego State | ASU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 5% | 3% | ||
| % Women | 8% | 6% | ||
| Racial Diversity | Very High | Very Low | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 34% | 85% | ||
| % Black | 4% | 3% | ||
| % Hispanic | 31% | 4% | ||
| % Native American | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 7% | 3% | ||
| % International | 6% | 1% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 4% | 2% |
Students |
San Diego State | ASU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 75% | 87% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 23% | 13% | ||
Campus |
San Diego State | ASU | ||
| Campus Housing | Yes | Yes | ||
| Freshman Dorm Required | No | No | ||
| Meal Plan | Yes | Yes | ||
| Weekend/Evening Classes | No | No | ||
| Daycare Facility | Yes | Yes | ||
| Learn More | Details | Details |
Comparable Facts
- San Diego State University is larger than than ASU based on total student enrollment (39,241 students vs. 21,253 students)
San Diego State vs. ASU Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, San Diego State or ASU?
- San Diego State University is 35.4% more expensive to attend than ASU for in-state tuition ($5,742.00 vs. $4,242.00)
- Out of state tuition is 20.5% higher at ASU than San Diego State University ($21,238.00 vs. $17,622.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Appalachian State University than San Diego State ($14,712 vs. $19,500)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Appalachian State University are 76.5% lower than costs at San Diego State University ($12,258 vs. $21,630)
- More students receive financial grant aid at San Diego State University than Appalachian State University (94% vs. 47%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by Appalachian State University students is 40.6% larger than aid received San Diego State University ($7,677 vs. $5,459)
San Diego State vs. ASU Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, San Diego State or ASU? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between ASU or San Diego State .
- The average SAT score at Appalachian State University (1157) is 27 points higher than at San Diego State (1130)
- Incoming ASU students have a 1 point higher average ACT score (26) than students at San Diego State (25)
- Accepted freshman ASU students have a 0.14 point higher average high school GPA (3.96) than students at San Diego State (3.82)
- ASU has a higher acceptance rate (88.6%) than San Diego State (34.4%)
San Diego State vs. ASU Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, San Diego State or ASU? 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 ASU and San Diego State.
- The graduation rate at San Diego State is higher than Appalachian State University (66% vs. 65%)
- Graduates from San Diego State University earn on average $11,800 more per year than ASU graduates after ten years. ($53,400 vs. $41,600)
- San Diego State University students graduate with a $5,151 lower median federal student loan debt than ASU graduates. ($15,349 vs. $20,500)
- San Diego State graduates are paying $53 less per month on federal student loans than ASU graduates. ($158 vs. $211)
- More ASU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former San Diego State students, three years after graduation. (74% vs. 65%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/