San Diego, CA · Public · Graduate degree · College Scorecard data · Updated September 10, 2026
| Tuition | Difference | |
|---|---|---|
| San Diego State University (in-state) | $8,728 | — |
| CA average | $16,639 | -48% |
| National average | $18,082 | -52% |
| Per year | Four years | |
|---|---|---|
| In-state | $8,728 | $34,912 |
| Out-of-state | $21,328 | $85,312 |
Tuition only. Housing, books and living costs are not included — most colleges publish a fuller cost-of-attendance figure.
San Diego State University ranks 152 by in-state tuition among the 288 CA colleges that report a rate — lower is cheaper. Out-of-state students pay 144% more than in-state students.
| Colleges with a similar price to San Diego State University | In-state tuition |
|---|---|
| San Francisco Bay University | $8,830 |
| Sonoma State University | $8,624 |
| California State University-Chico | $8,472 |
| San Jose State University | $8,410 |
In-state tuition at San Diego State University is $8,728 per year; out-of-state students pay $21,328.
San Diego State University in-state tuition is 48% below the CA average of $16,639.
National average in-state tuition is $18,082; San Diego State University is 52% below that.
$8,728 is the official in-state tuition published by College Scorecard for the most recent cohort year.
Four years of tuition at San Diego State University comes to about $34,912 for an in-state student and $85,312 for an out-of-state student at current rates. That is tuition only — it excludes housing, books and living costs.
By in-state tuition, San Diego State University ranks 152 out of the 288 CA colleges that report a rate — lower numbers are cheaper. The five cheapest and five most expensive colleges in the state are listed above.