San Diego State vs. UNLV

Should I go to San Diego State University or University of Nevada Las Vegas? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if San Diego State or UNLV 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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San Diego State University vs. University of Nevada Las Vegas comparison
San Diego State University University of Nevada Las Vegas College 3 College 4
San Diego State University University of Nevada Las Vegas
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Overview

San Diego State UNLV
Location San Diego, CA Las Vegas, NV
Setting Large City Midsize City
Enrollment 37,402 30,660
Type Public 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #337 #609
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website sdsu.edu unlv.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

San Diego State UNLV
Tuition (In State) $5,742 $8,159
Tuition (Out of State) $17,622 $24,701
Room & Board $19,714 $11,512
Avg Net Price $13,017 $13,159
Avg Grant Aid $9,934 $6,346
% Receiving Grant Aid 43% 89%

Admission

San Diego State UNLV
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 77,250 13,275
Admitted 30,331 11,325
Acceptance Rate 39.3% 85.3%
Enrolled % 21.7% 38.1%
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 1000/1220
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, 2024 Jun 1, 2025

Academics

San Diego State UNLV
Student to Faculty Ratio 25:1 18:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (23%)
  • Social Sciences (13%)
  • Psychology (8%)
  • English and Literature (7%)
  • Health Professions (7%)
  • Business (32%)
  • Psychology (8%)
  • Social Sciences (7%)
  • Education (6%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (6%)

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 42% 43%
% Women 58% 57%
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 77% 82%
% Out-of-State 21% 16%

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 (37,402 students vs. 30,660 students)

San Diego State vs. UNLV Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, San Diego State or UNLV?

  • University of Nevada Las Vegas is 42.1% more expensive to attend than San Diego State for in-state tuition ($8,159.00 vs. $5,742.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 40.2% higher at UNLV than San Diego State University ($24,701.00 vs. $17,622.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at San Diego State University than UNLV ($13,017 vs. $13,159)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of Nevada Las Vegas are 71.2% lower than costs at San Diego State University ($11,512 vs. $19,714)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at University of Nevada Las Vegas than San Diego State University (89% vs. 43%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by San Diego State University students is 56.5% larger than aid received University of Nevada Las Vegas ($9,934 vs. $6,346)

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 (85.3%) than San Diego State (39.3%)

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/