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Academics

San Diego State University
Academics

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How strong are the academics at San Diego State University?

Let's cover class sizes, graduation rates, and outcomes.

23:1
Student to faculty ratio
35
Average class size

Class Sizes

Class sizes likely stayed the same for you through high school. You'll find that college is much different. Some of the largest universities have classes that can seat hundreds of students in giant lecture halls. Conversely, as they progress and their focus narrows, higher-level courses can sometimes have just a handful of students.

San Diego State has an average student-to-faculty ratio of 23:1. The typical school is 14:1. While this ratio is important, what’s more important is how big a typical class is.

Class Sizes
2-9
289
10-19
628
20-29
1,051
30-39
439
40-49
268
50-99
437
100+
174

Honors Programs

San Diego State University has an honors program and/or honors college. Specifics of these programs vary, but benefits of being in an Honors Program might include priority registration, being part of a tight-knit community, and accessing unique learning opportunities.

Learn more about honors options on San Diego State's website.

Outcomes

It’s critical to understand a school’s outcomes to understand if your four (or more) years at the school will be worth it. Here are some key statistics about the outcomes of students who enroll at San Diego State University:

90%
First-year retention rate

Majors

Many students choose a school largely based on the what they want to study. The are San Diego State University's most popular majors, ranked by how many people graduated with the concentration in the most recent year:

Business Administration and Management, General
Psychology, General
Criminal Justice/Safety Studies
Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness, General
Biology/Biological Sciences, General
-69
345
759
1173
1587
2001

The Full List

Major Graduates
Area
  • Women's Studies 13
  • Hispanic-American, Puerto Rican, and Mexican-American/Chicano Studies 13
  • African-American/Black Studies 7
  • Ethnic, Cultural Minority, Gender, and Group Studies, Other 2
  • Latin American Studies 2
  • American Indian/Native American Studies 2
  • Asian Studies/Civilization 1
  • European Studies/Civilization 0
  • Russian, Central European, East European and Eurasian Studies 0
Biological And Biomedical Sciences
  • Biology/Biological Sciences, General 276
  • Microbiology, General 27
Business
  • Business Administration and Management, General 2001
  • International Business/Trade/Commerce 105
  • Hospitality Administration/Management, General 53
  • Accounting 0
Communication
  • Speech Communication and Rhetoric 257
  • Journalism 166
  • Radio and Television 92
  • Health Communication 33
Computer And Information Sciences And Support Services
  • Computer Science 205
  • Information Science/Studies 0
Education
  • Early Childhood Education and Teaching 138
  • Music Teacher Education 0
  • Trade and Industrial Teacher Education 0
Engineering
  • Mechanical Engineering 259
  • Civil Engineering, General 142
  • Computer Engineering, General 122
  • Aerospace, Aeronautical, and Astronautical/Space Engineering, General 111
  • Electrical and Electronics Engineering 101
  • Environmental/Environmental Health Engineering 36
  • Bioengineering and Biomedical Engineering 0
Engineering/Engineering-Related Technologies/Technicians
  • Construction Engineering Technology/Technician 16
English Language And Literature/Letters
  • English Language and Literature, General 106
  • Writing, General 6
  • Rhetoric and Composition 0
Foreign Languages
  • Spanish Language and Literature 48
  • Linguistics 16
  • Comparative Literature 9
  • Classics and Classical Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics, General 2
  • French Language and Literature 2
  • Classics and Classical Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics 2
  • Japanese Language and Literature 1
  • German Language and Literature 1
  • Russian Language and Literature 0
Health Professions And Related Programs
  • Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse 195
  • Public Health, General 168
  • Speech-Language Pathology/Pathologist 157
  • Athletic Training/Trainer 1
  • Dietetics/Dietitian 0
  • Communication Sciences and Disorders, General 0
  • Health Services/Allied Health/Health Sciences, General 0
  • Health Services/Allied Health/Health Sciences, General 0
  • HEALTH PROFESSIONS AND RELATED PROGRAMS 0
History
  • History, General 80
Homeland Security
  • Criminal Justice/Safety Studies 402
  • Criminal Justice/Law Enforcement Administration 0
Liberal Arts And Sciences
  • Liberal Arts and Sciences/Liberal Studies 223
  • Humanities/Humanistic Studies 4
Mathematics And Statistics
  • Statistics, General 38
  • Applied Mathematics, General 38
  • Mathematics, General 27
Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies
  • Multi-/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other 243
  • Nutrition Sciences 84
  • International/Globalization Studies 16
  • Gerontology 10
  • Linguistics and Anthropology 1
Natural Resources And Conservation
  • Environmental Studies 64
  • Environmental Science 35
Parks
  • Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness, General 353
  • Parks, Recreation, and Leisure Studies 18
Philosophy And Religious Studies
  • Philosophy 26
  • Religion/Religious Studies 5
  • Islamic Studies 2
  • Jewish/Judaic Studies 0
Physical Sciences
  • Chemistry, General 95
  • Physics, General 20
  • Geology/Earth Science, General 8
  • Physical Sciences, General 3
  • Astronomy 2
  • Atomic/Molecular Physics 0
Psychology
  • Psychology, General 630
Public Administration And Social Service Professions
  • Social Work 121
  • Public Administration 56
Social Sciences
  • Economics, General 194
  • Political Science and Government, General 157
  • Sociology, General 157
  • International Relations and National Security Studies, Other 47
  • Anthropology, General 46
  • Social Sciences, General 41
  • Geography 41
  • Urban Studies/Affairs 17
  • International Relations and Affairs 0
Visual And Performing Arts
  • Art/Art Studies, General 248
  • Drama and Dramatics/Theatre Arts, General 45
  • Music Performance, General 45
  • Dance, General 7
  • Music, General 1

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