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USD UCSD UC Riverside Cal State Fullerton Cal Poly Cal State Long Beach UCSC San Francisco State UCSB ASU San Jose State UCLA| San Diego State University | Sonoma State University | College 3 | College 4 | |
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| Remove | Remove | +Add | +Add | |
Overview |
San Diego State | Sonoma State University | ||
| Location | San Diego, CA | Rohnert Park, CA | ||
| Setting | Large City | Large Suburban | ||
| Enrollment | 39,241 | 5,990 | ||
| Type | Public 4 Year | Public 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #337 | #625 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | - | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | sdsu.edu | sonoma.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
San Diego State | Sonoma State University | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $5,742 | $5,742 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tuition (Out of State) | $17,622 | $17,622 | ||
| Room & Board | $21,630 | $15,770 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $19,500 | $15,113 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $5,459 | $8,546 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 94% | 83% |
Admission |
San Diego State | Sonoma State University | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 82,800 | 10,529 | ||
| Admitted | 28,517 | 9,974 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 34.4% | 94.7% | ||
| Enrolled % | 21.6% | 9.1% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.82 | 3.4 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | A- | B+ | ||
| Admissions Standards | Challenging | Very Easy | ||
| Applicant Competition | High | |||
| ACT Range | 22/29 | 17/23 | ||
| SAT Range | 1090/1300 | 950/1150 | ||
| 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, 2025 |
Academics |
San Diego State | Sonoma State University | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 22:1 | 15:1 | ||
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Outcomes |
San Diego State | Sonoma State University | ||
| Graduation Rate | 66% | 57% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $53,400 | $49,300 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 65% | 69% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $15,349 | $17,500 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $158 | $180 |
Diversity |
San Diego State | Sonoma State University | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 5% | 3% | ||
| % Women | 8% | 7% | ||
| Racial Diversity | Very High | Very High | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 34% | 48% | ||
| % Black | 4% | 2% | ||
| % Hispanic | 31% | 29% | ||
| % Native American | 0% | 1% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 7% | 7% | ||
| % International | 6% | 2% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 4% | 7% |
Students |
San Diego State | Sonoma State University | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 75% | 98% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 23% | 2% | ||
Campus |
San Diego State | Sonoma State University | ||
| 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 Sonoma State University based on total student enrollment (39,241 students vs. 5,990 students)
San Diego State vs. Sonoma State University Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, San Diego State or Sonoma State University?
- San Diego State University and Sonoma State University cost the same to attend based on in-state tuition ($5,742.00 vs. $5,742.00)
- Out of state tuition is the same at San Diego State as Sonoma State University ($17,622.00 vs. $17,622.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Sonoma State University than San Diego State ($15,113 vs. $19,500)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Sonoma State University are 37.2% lower than costs at San Diego State University ($15,770 vs. $21,630)
- More students receive financial grant aid at San Diego State University than Sonoma State University (94% vs. 83%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by Sonoma State University students is 56.5% larger than aid received San Diego State University ($8,546 vs. $5,459)
San Diego State vs. Sonoma State University Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, San Diego State or Sonoma State University? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between Sonoma State University or San Diego State .
- The average SAT score at San Diego State University (1130) is 134 points higher than at Sonoma State University (996)
- Incoming San Diego State students have a 3 point higher average ACT score (25) than students at Sonoma State University (22)
- Accepted freshman San Diego State students have a 0.42 point higher average high school GPA (3.82) than students at Sonoma State University (3.4)
- Sonoma State University has a higher acceptance rate (94.7%) than San Diego State (34.4%)
San Diego State vs. Sonoma State University Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, San Diego State or Sonoma State University? 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 Sonoma State University and San Diego State.
- The graduation rate at San Diego State is higher than Sonoma State University (66% vs. 57%)
- Graduates from San Diego State University earn on average $4,100 more per year than Sonoma State University graduates after ten years. ($53,400 vs. $49,300)
- San Diego State University students graduate with a $2,151 lower median federal student loan debt than Sonoma State University graduates. ($15,349 vs. $17,500)
- San Diego State graduates are paying $22 less per month on federal student loans than Sonoma State University graduates. ($158 vs. $180)
- More Sonoma State University graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former San Diego State students, three years after graduation. (69% vs. 65%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/