Head to head
San Diego State University vs University of Southern California
San Diego State University (San Diego, CA) and University of Southern California (Los Angeles, CA) compared on cost, admissions, size, and outcomes, using each college’s own federal reporting. Every comparison below is drawn from figures both colleges report — where only one reports a number, no comparison is made.
Side-by-side comparison
| Measure | San Diego State University | University of Southern California |
|---|---|---|
| Location | San Diego, CA | Los Angeles, CA |
| Institution type | University | University |
| Public or private | Public | Private |
| Campus setting | Urban | Urban |
| Published in-state tuitionSticker price before aid | $8,728 | $72,097 |
| Published out-of-state tuition | $21,328 | $72,097 |
| Average net priceAverage paid after grants and scholarships | $15,364 | $32,740 |
| Acceptance rate | 36% | 10% |
| SAT range (middle 50%) | 1061–1309 | 1440–1550 |
| Total enrollment | 38,845 | 46,941 |
| Graduation rate | 76% | 92% |
| First-year retention | 91% | 96% |
What the numbers show
- San Diego State University has the lower published in-state tuition ($8,728 vs $72,097 at University of Southern California).
- San Diego State University has the lower published out-of-state tuition ($21,328 vs $72,097 at University of Southern California).
- San Diego State University has the lower average net price after aid ($15,364 vs $32,740 at University of Southern California).
- University of Southern California has the higher graduation rate (92% vs 76% at San Diego State University).
- University of Southern California has the lower acceptance rate (10% vs 36% at San Diego State University).
- University of Southern California has the larger student body (46,941 students vs 38,845 students at San Diego State University).
How to read this comparison
Every statement above is a direct comparison of two reported figures, and appears only when bothcolleges report that measure. Where one reports and the other does not, the row shows “Not reported” and no conclusion is drawn — a data gap is not a finding.
CampusPin does not rank these colleges or declare a winner. A lower acceptance rate is not a quality score, a higher graduation rate partly reflects who a college admits, and published tuition is not what most students pay. Which college is better depends on your program, your finances, and your circumstances.
Frequently asked questions
- Which is cheaper, San Diego State University or University of Southern California?
- San Diego State University has the lower published in-state tuition: $8,728 versus $72,097. After grants and scholarships, average net price is $15,364 at San Diego State University and $32,740 at University of Southern California — net price is the better basis for a cost comparison.
- Is San Diego State University or University of Southern California harder to get into?
- University of Southern California has the lower acceptance rate — 10% versus 36%. A lower acceptance rate means more applicants per seat; it is not by itself a measure of academic quality or of your own chances.
- Which has the better graduation rate, San Diego State University or University of Southern California?
- University of Southern California reports the higher graduation rate: 92% versus 76%. Graduation rates reflect the students a college enrolls as well as the support it provides, so read them alongside admissions selectivity.
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Data sources & methodology
Figures for San Diego State University and University of Southern California come from federal datasets and each institution's own reporting.
Sources used across this page
Not every source informs every figure. Each data point draws on the source appropriate to it see the relevant section and the data dictionary for field-level provenance.
IPEDS / NCES College Navigator
Federal enrollment, admissions, tuition, retention, and program data. Released annually with a 1–2 year lag.
U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard
Net price by income band, post-graduation earnings, and federal aid context.
Clery Act campus security reports
Annual campus security and fire-safety disclosures required of U.S. institutions.
Institutional websites
Each school's official admissions, registrar, and financial-aid pages are the authoritative source for current details.
Where a value is unavailable it is shown as unavailable, never as 0, free, or a negative judgment. Always confirm final details with the institution before applying.
Suggested citation
CampusPin. San Diego State University vs University of Southern California. Retrieved from https://campuspin.com/compare/san-diego-state-university-vs-university-of-southern-california