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San Diego State University
(SDSU)
Part of California State University System
About
San Diego State University (SDSU) is a public research university in San Diego, California, United States. Founded in 1897, it is the third-oldest university and southernmost in the 23-member California State University (CSU) system. SDSU is the oldest higher education institution in San Diego; its academic roots were established as a normal school in University Heights, then known as the San Dieg...
San Diego State University (SDSU) is a public research university in San Diego, California, United States. Founded in 1897, it is the third-oldest university and southernmost in the 23-member California State University (CSU) system. SDSU is the oldest higher education institution in San Diego; its academic roots were established as a normal school in University Heights, then known as the San Diego Normal School. In the fall of 2025, the university enrolled a record 41,184 students.
Ranking Overview
Ranked Top 501 worldwide across 4 major ranking systems
Ranked in 41 subject rankings
QS World University Rankings
Times Higher Education World University Rankings
Academic Ranking of World Universities
U.S. News Best Global Universities Rankings
Key Facts
- Students
- 33,402
- Student-Staff Ratio
- 25.5 : 1
- Int'l Students
- 4%
- Female : Male
- 59 : 41
- Staff
- 3,719
Historical Trend
Longitudinal View
QS
THE
ARWU
US News
Top Subjects
Best-performing areasSubject Rankings
Detailed breakdownARWU
22 subjects|
Subject
|
Rank
|
Score
|
Year
|
|---|---|---|---|
| Transportation Science & Technology | 151-200 | - | 2021 |
| Nursing | 151-200 | - | 2019 |
| Communication & Media Studies | 151-200 | - | 2025 |
| Psychology | 151-200 | - | 2025 |
| Earth & Marine Sciences | 201-300 | - | 2025 |
| Geography | 201-300 | - | 2024 |
| Telecommunication Engineering | 201-300 | - | 2021 |
| Economics & Econometrics | 201-300 | - | 2025 |
| Law & Legal Studies | 201-300 | - | 2024 |
| Education & Training | 201-300 | - | 2025 |
| Hospitality & Tourism Management | 201-300 | - | 2023 |
| Ecology | 301-400 | - | 2025 |
| Atmospheric Science | 301-400 | - | 2025 |
| Politics | 301-400 | - | 2022 |
| Business Administration | 301-400 | - | 2025 |
| Management | 301-400 | - | 2017 |
| Electrical & Electronic Engineering | 401-500 | - | 2025 |
| Environmental Sciences | 401-500 | - | 2022 |
| Biological Sciences | 401-500 | - | 2020 |
| Human Biological Sciences | 401-500 | - | 2018 |
| Clinical Medicine | 401-500 | - | 2023 |
| Public Health | 401-500 | - | 2025 |
THE
10 subjects|
Subject
|
Rank
|
Score
|
Year
|
|---|---|---|---|
| Education & Training | 301–400 | 36.3 | 2026 |
| Psychology | 301–400 | 38.3 | 2026 |
| Clinical & Health | 501–600 | 33.9 | 2026 |
| Life Sciences | 601–800 | 29.3 | 2026 |
| Business & Economics | 601–800 | 28.8 | 2026 |
| Arts & Humanities | 601–800 | 16.8 | 2026 |
| Computer Science | 801–1000 | 23.4 | 2026 |
| Engineering & Technology | 801–1000 | 27.1 | 2026 |
| Physical Sciences | 801–1000 | 27.5 | 2026 |
| Social Sciences | 801–1000 | 21.6 | 2026 |
QS
4 subjects|
Subject
|
Rank
|
Score
|
Year
|
|---|---|---|---|
| Agriculture & Forestry | 301-350 | - | 2020 |
| Life Sciences & Medicine | 501-520 | - | 2023 |
| Biological Sciences | 551-600 | - | 2020 |
| Business & Management Studies | 601-650 | - | 2025 |
US News
9 subjects|
Subject
|
Rank
|
Score
|
Year
|
|---|---|---|---|
| Psychiatry/Psychology | =312 | 44.3 | 2026 |
| Public, Environmental and Occupational Health | 373 | 44.3 | 2026 |
| Geosciences | =430 | 44.3 | 2026 |
| Social Sciences and Public Health | 437 | 44.3 | 2026 |
| Neuroscience and Behavior | 463 | 44.3 | 2026 |
| Environment/Ecology | =555 | 44.3 | 2026 |
| Clinical Medicine | =769 | 44.3 | 2026 |
| Computer Science | =935 | 44.3 | 2026 |
| Engineering | =1,285 | 44.3 | 2026 |
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the ranking of San Diego State University?
San Diego State University's performance in the latest university rankings: QS Rank 1001-1200, THE Rank 1001–1200, ARWU Rank 501-600, US News Rank =822.
When was San Diego State University founded?
San Diego State University was founded in 1897.
What are the top subjects at San Diego State University?
Top subjects at San Diego State University include: Transportation Science & Technology, Nursing, Communication & Media Studies, Psychology, Earth & Marine Sciences.
Where is San Diego State University located?
San Diego State University is located in San Diego, United States.