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USD UCSD UC Riverside Cal State Fullerton Cal Poly Cal State Long Beach UCSC San Francisco State University of Nevada-Reno UCSB ASU San Jose State| San Diego State University | University of Nevada Las Vegas | College 3 | College 4 | |
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| Remove | Remove | +Add | +Add | |
Overview |
San Diego State | UNLV | ||
| Location | San Diego, CA | Las Vegas, NV | ||
| Setting | Large City | Midsize City | ||
| Enrollment | 39,241 | 31,094 | ||
| Type | Public 4 Year | Public 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #337 | #652 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | - | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | sdsu.edu | unlv.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
San Diego State | UNLV | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $5,742 | $8,354 | ||
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| Tuition (Out of State) | $17,622 | $25,310 | ||
| Room & Board | $21,630 | $12,072 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $19,500 | $11,388 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $5,459 | $7,580 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 94% | 90% |
Admission |
San Diego State | UNLV | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 82,800 | 12,232 | ||
| Admitted | 28,517 | 11,774 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 34.4% | 96.3% | ||
| Enrolled % | 21.6% | 38.9% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.82 | 3.4 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | A- | B+ | ||
| Admissions Standards | Challenging | Easy | ||
| Applicant Competition | High | |||
| ACT Range | 22/29 | 18/24 | ||
| SAT Range | 1090/1300 | 980/1230 | ||
| 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 | Jun 1, 2026 |
Academics |
San Diego State | UNLV | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 22:1 | 18:1 | ||
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Outcomes |
San Diego State | UNLV | ||
| Graduation Rate | 66% | 40% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $53,400 | $47,600 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 65% | 52% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $15,349 | $19,018 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $158 | $196 |
Diversity |
San Diego State | UNLV | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 5% | 7% | ||
| % Women | 8% | 10% | ||
| Racial Diversity | Very High | Very High | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 34% | 35% | ||
| % Black | 4% | 8% | ||
| % Hispanic | 31% | 26% | ||
| % Native American | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 1% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 7% | 9% | ||
| % International | 6% | 4% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 4% | 1% |
Students |
San Diego State | UNLV | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 75% | 85% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 23% | 14% | ||
Campus |
San Diego State | UNLV | ||
| 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 UNLV based on total student enrollment (39,241 students vs. 31,094 students)
San Diego State vs. UNLV Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, San Diego State or UNLV?
- University of Nevada Las Vegas is 45.5% more expensive to attend than San Diego State for in-state tuition ($8,354.00 vs. $5,742.00)
- Out of state tuition is 43.6% higher at UNLV than San Diego State University ($25,310.00 vs. $17,622.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at University of Nevada Las Vegas than San Diego State ($11,388 vs. $19,500)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of Nevada Las Vegas are 79.2% lower than costs at San Diego State University ($12,072 vs. $21,630)
- More students receive financial grant aid at San Diego State University than University of Nevada Las Vegas (94% vs. 90%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by University of Nevada Las Vegas students is 38.9% larger than aid received San Diego State University ($7,580 vs. $5,459)
San Diego State vs. UNLV Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, San Diego State or UNLV? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between UNLV or San Diego State .
- The average SAT score at San Diego State University (1130) is 123 points higher than at UNLV (1007)
- Incoming San Diego State students have a 3 point higher average ACT score (25) than students at UNLV (22)
- Accepted freshman San Diego State students have a 0.42 point higher average high school GPA (3.82) than students at UNLV (3.4)
- UNLV has a higher acceptance rate (96.3%) than San Diego State (34.4%)
San Diego State vs. UNLV Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, San Diego State or UNLV? 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 UNLV and San Diego State.
- The graduation rate at San Diego State is higher than University of Nevada Las Vegas (66% vs. 40%)
- Graduates from San Diego State University earn on average $5,800 more per year than UNLV graduates after ten years. ($53,400 vs. $47,600)
- San Diego State University students graduate with a $3,669 lower median federal student loan debt than UNLV graduates. ($15,349 vs. $19,018)
- San Diego State graduates are paying $38 less per month on federal student loans than UNLV graduates. ($158 vs. $196)
- More San Diego State graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former UNLV 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/