San Diego State University Reviews

  • 128 Reviews
  • San Diego (CA)
  • Annual Tuition: $20,054
94% of 128 students said this degree improved their career prospects
94% of 128 students said they would recommend this school to others
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Student & Graduate Reviews

Glenn Parker
  • Reviewed: 1/17/2020
  • Degree: Fitness Trainer
"I attended San Diego State University Aztec from 2005 to 2008 as a transfer student. I studied Kinesiology with emphasis in Fitness Nutrition and Health. San Diego State was an amazing school and I met many people and formed meaningful friendships. I made a habit of meeting with my professors one on one to get to know each other, especially in huge classes of 100 or more. I always sat in the front row and stood out to where the professors knew me by my first name. You can get caught up in the glamour and party life that San Diego has to offer or you can choose to focus academically. I had the pleasure of both and it lead me to the career I have now. My last year I was able to get an internship through my college and I now work for the company I interned with. I would advise new students to talk to as many advisors and professors one on one our in group sessions as you can because you can get lost in the hundreds of other students that the professors teach to. Always ask questions and you will always get your answer"
Matthew Giessman
  • Reviewed: 10/2/2019
  • Degree: Fitness Trainer
"My four years at San Diego State were some of the best years of my life. To start, the campus and the weather there are both beautiful! The campus is only a short drive away from the beach, so when I wasn't busy with school work I was hanging out in the sand or surfing. I learned so much during my studies to earn my BS in Kinesiology. My anatomy and physiology teachers were incredibly bright and engaging; I still think back to some of their lectures while studying in my graduate program because they were so memorable. My professor in my sport psychology class was an ex-Iron Man world champion, which was pretty incredible. In his class, he hosted a few guest speakers, one who was the blind golfing world champion and two more who were athletes that maintained their lifestyles while battling cancer. There were so many extracurricular activities that it made it hard to choose one. There were surfing, skiing, rowing, rock climbing, and adventure clubs, a really popular college radio station, countless cultural clubs, business and social fraternities, and so much more."
Kimberly McElwee
  • Reviewed: 9/11/2019
  • Degree: Journalism
"I enjoyed attending San Diego State University although I attended quite some time ago. When I attended all classes were taken on campus but being on campus was better for me because I was a bit shy when I first went to college. San Diego State at the time was a very large campus so I would recommend that you try to connect with a smaller group to get better connected with the university at large. I pledged a sorority which also helped me get connected. It's not the end result but the process. SDSU definitely prepared me for my future work life."
Arianna Escobar
  • Reviewed: 9/2/2019
  • Degree: Psychology
"I received my bachelors degree in Psychology at San Diego State University. This was a great institution for me, the college has many resources available to students however they are not advertised well. I learned about college resources through other students. The class sizes are very large, most of my classes had so many students that if people had questions they needed to make the time to go to the professors office hours. There are many organization that students can get involved with to become active on campus and I found those to be useful. I would recommend this college to future students however I do suggest they take the time to fins resources that can help them succeed and also take the time to build relationship with their professors during office hours in order to receive letters of recommendation."
Arianna Escobar
  • Reviewed: 9/2/2019
  • Degree: Psychology
"I received my bachelors degree in Psychology at San Diego State University. This was a great institution for me, the college has many resources available to students however they are not advertised well. I learned about college resources through other students. The class sizes are very large, most of my classes had so many students that if people had questions they needed to make the time to go to the professors office hours. There are many organization that students can get involved with to become active on campus and I found those to be useful. I would recommend this college to future students however I do suggest they take the time to fins resources that can help them succeed and also take the time to build relationship with their professors during office hours in order to receive letters of recommendation."
Victoria Mudd
  • Reviewed: 6/7/2019
  • Degree: Communications
"At San Diego State, students are guaranteed to get some of the most qualified professors in whatever field they have chosen to study. With every class I took, whether directly for my major or general education requirements, every instructor I had was an expert in their field. Specifically within the Communication department, I was able to form relationships with professors and build mentorships with people who had professional experience in the subjects I was most passionate about. Every professor genuinely cared that I was successful and I was learning in their environment. As a result, I found a passion in my degree and I feel like I graduated with an incredibly personalized academic experience."
Megan Oleson
  • Reviewed: 5/3/2019
  • Degree: Fitness Trainer
"Kinesiology is within San Diego State University's college of Exercise and Nutritional Sciences. I thoroughly enjoyed my program for the obvious reasons such as: the fun people I met, the great weather, and the beautiful campus. More than anything, I am grateful for my experience at SDSU because of the abundance of opportunities that are available by attending such a large institution. The advising office within my major was wonderful, and always provided volunteering opportunities for students to get involved in. The alumni network at SDSU is vast; If you have an interview somewhere, it is likely that the person you interview with has gone to SDSU or knows someone who has, which has always worked in my favor. Specifically in my major because it was so large, I still had classes with about 300 other people by my last semester at the school. If you want to get to know a professor, you really have to try hard because there are just too many students for the professors to remember everyone. Housing was a bit of a challenge in terms of price, but I know the school is working to improve that. If finances are an issue for you, there are several opportunities to work on or around campus to offset the cost of living. Overall, it was a great experience. Like any college, it has its pros and cons, but I experienced far more positive experiences than negatives."
Lauryn Mellberg
  • Reviewed: 4/24/2019
  • Degree: Speech Pathology
"I really enjoyed SDSU. All of the professors are great and they are very easy to get into contact with. The campus is beautiful and has an area for everyone. There are two gyms, great restaurants, relaxing areas, and an amazing pool. The SLHS program is amazing. The professors care about you so much and want to make sure you succeed. You are placed in a cohort so you are surrounded by the same people so you have a familiar group, family almost, on campus."
Tiana Willis
  • Reviewed: 4/5/2019
  • Degree: Sociology
"San Diego State University is a great and open campus for 4-year students, it's a bit more difficult for transfer students to get involved. As an undergraduate, I majored in sociology and had an honors minor. The honors interdisciplinary minor offers a lot of support for students. There's great advising, special housing, and resources for study abroad. The general advisors at San Diego State are not as good. However, there is a lot of tutoring and job opportunities on campus. There's also a food pantry and cultural center resources on campus. Most professors are great I haven't had many problems."
Stephanie Ong
  • Reviewed: 2/11/2019
  • Degree: Psychology
"I am very satisfied with my education at San Diego State. The classes were very informative and interesting. I appreciate the professors for always trying to make lectures interesting and fun. I also appreciate that the assignments that were given, were for a purpose and not just busy work. I feel very informed about psychology, being a psychology major and I was inspired by my professors to pursue a doctorate degree. I definitely recommend SDSU for future psychology students! I"
Marco
  • Reviewed: 1/11/2019
  • Degree: Communications
"Without a doubt, attending SDSU for their Communication program was one of the worst choices I have ever made. They are disorganized, cater to those pursuing a career in education, and ironically are terrible at communication. Nearly everything about the program felt archaic, from their use of technology to how their professors conducted their classes. If you are reading this and thinking about applying to this program, please do yourself a favor and go to another school."
Christina Rhein
  • Reviewed: 12/31/2018
  • Degree: History
"The History department as SDSU is uniquely beneficial for students intending on pursuing either a major or a minor in History. The classes available have a broad range that meets the needs of anyone hoping to specialize in ancient through modern history, taught by professors who are actively publishing and are willing to go above and beyond to help their students achieve their goals. There is also a general feeling of community in this department."
Jay
  • Reviewed: 12/30/2018
  • Degree: Fitness Trainer
"Overall, San Diego State University (SDSU) was a really important institutions in my educational journey. As a young African American student from Oakland, California my entire first year at State was a huge culture shock. The campus was humongous and confusing, the lecture halls were massive and the campus as a whole lacked diversity. I was miserable and wanted to transfer back home my whole freshman year. However, deciding to stay at SDSU was one of the best decisions Ive ever made. As a Kinesiology major, I could have not asked for a better education. Although the class sizes were large and full of hundreds of students my professors were always approachable and willing you work with you as long as you were willing to try and willing to meet them during their office hours. Until this day, my professors were some of the best instructors i've ever had. The classes at SDSU were rigorous but enjoyable and the campus itself forced me to push past my comfort zone, teaching me more about myself than I ever thought possible. SDSU is one of those campuses that really embodies the notion you get out what you put in to it. Because of the sheer size and scale of the school and the number of students both in the classes and on campus, it is easy to get lost. I truly believe there is something for everyone there as long as you're willing to push yourself. If not, it is easy to get lost in the crowd. Due to determination and a strong support system, thankfullyI was able to find my place at SDSU and succeed."
Tiffany Vargas
  • Reviewed: 12/27/2018
  • Degree: Psychology
"San Diego State is an awesome university! There are always fun events to attend and they recently built a brand new student center. The student center includes meeting areas for clubs, a bowling alley, a gym and various. There are two concert venues: Viejas Arena and Open Air Theater. San Diego State University has many different clubs and organizations to join. Most of the dorms are getting renovated which is great because they were very old when I attended. There is a large number of houses to rent right by campus, however it is required to live in the dorms for your freshman year if you are not a San Diego resident. The campus is fairly safe, with the exception of a few robberies a year. However the university has taken steps to remedy this problem and they regularly update students when these events occur. Academics at San Diego State University are competitive. The average incoming GPA for my incoming freshman class was around 3.7 which is high for a state school. San Diego State have great psychology and social science programs. Academic advisers are accessible and helpful. I had some amazing professors who really took an interest in their students. The majority of my professors were kind and approachable as well as being incredibly knowledgeable in their field. Most professors use Blackboard, which was useful in keeping track of grades and assignments. I am completely satisfied with my education and I am glad I chose San Diego State. I am a proud Aztec alumni."
Sarah Lively-Lopez
  • Reviewed: 8/28/2018
  • Degree: Public Administration
"SDSU was an amazing experience for me. I like to say that it is truly where I found myself. San Diego is a very diverse city and attracts people from all over the world. They have an amazing study abroad program and international student program. The campus is beautiful and their programs are highly ranked like their Accounting department. There are great opportunities and organizations on campus. Plenty of job fairs and a well qualified career center. I would highly recommend this school not only for the academics, but for the location in a beautiful city."
Denise
  • Reviewed: 8/23/2018
  • Degree: Liberal Studies
"Attending San Diego State University was one of the most influential experiences I have ever had in my life. It was educational, inspiring, and enjoyable. The Liberals Studies degree program is in the College of Education at SDSU. The new advisors of the college are extremely helpful and understanding. The courses were helpful and very different from one to the next. The courses most often depend on the professors that are teaching it. I would recommend getting to know your professors, and that goes with any school you may attend. The same goes for the advisors at your field of study office.The relationships I gained with professors in my undergrad career were also the letters of recommendation for my graduate career application. SDSU has great amenities around the campus as well. There are many social and cultural events that can help you become involved and meet more people. The basketball and football games are also very popular. The campus is very large, but beautiful. Also plan ahead if your classes are back to back. The library has many great areas. What many people do not know is that the entire fifth floor is a quiet study area. That is always helpful to decrease distractions when studying for a big exam. Finally, I would like to remind students at SDSU they although there are many fun aspects of this college campus, your main goal is to graduate. Your GPA should be your top priority and being a student is what you are ultimately paying for."
Alexandria Loiseau
  • Reviewed: 6/30/2018
  • Degree: Psychology
"This was a good school to attend. The teachers that I had were very helpful and prompt at responding to emails and questions. They are an open-minded university that embraces everyones background and lifestyle while ensuring that everyone stays safe. The last semester that I attended was when Trump was voted president and their were several racial attacks that happened to Muslim students. The school was very quick to issue statements condemning those activities and ensuring that the culprit was found. They have a very good safety alert system. They also have an overwhelming list of scholarships that you can apply for. There are many extra-curricular activities that the university hosts, including concerts and even fairs, with rides. There is something for everyone."
David R
  • Reviewed: 6/28/2018
  • Degree: Sociology
"San Diego State University is a school that has a little bit of something for everyone as long as you are willing to actively look for and pursue it. It's true that there is still a party culture there, but it's overblown to a very high degree. There's also hundreds of clubs here, tons of academic, creative, and professional resources, as well as a sports scene. The weather is amazing and most of my professors were some of the most helpful people I have ever had the privilege to work with. I definitely recommend trying to stay overnight with a friend here if you are considering the school, get a feel for it both during the day and night. But as someone who read more books then partied, I can say without a doubt San Diego State has something for you here, just got to look for it."
Anonymous
  • Reviewed: 6/5/2018
  • Degree: Marketing
"I had a conflict with another student as I was harassed. I was told by one of the head of the programs that I need to be careful with my words and dont use the word harassment and bullying, even though I was. They do not care about students welfare and try to brush any issues under the rug. And none of the classes were relevant, their teachings were very outdated. I know this school is one of the cheapest, but I guess you get what you paid for."
June Louis Cabales
  • Reviewed: 3/12/2018
  • Degree: Marriage & Family Therapy
"The marriage and family therapy program at San Diego State University (SDSU) became my #1 choice very quickly in my graduate search. Of the handful of schools I was interested in, SDSU was the only one to present itself as a place where I could truly grow and learn about myself as a person. It was the only one that made me feel comfortable to give not just 2 years of my life but also the opportunity to shape my future trajectory. In fact when I visited the department after driving down from Las Vegas, they took time out to really listen to what I was looking for in a program and make the connections to what the program had to offer. This was in contrast to some other campus visits where I was lucky to get even 15 minutes of someone's time. In the interview to get into the program, it was so apparent how important the cohort structure was to the curriculum. Many of the 1st and 2nd year graduate students were there in support and it was inspiring to see how close they all were with each other. I imagine learning in these groups enhances the experience as cohorts who are placed in vulnerable positions are able to really lean in into the learning knowing that the people in the room also care about their growth. I am so happy to have been accepted into the program and I can't wait to start in the summer. I knew that I wanted to pursue a career in Marriage and Family Therapy, but now, I know that these people are who I want to pursue it with - this family of individuals so dedicated to helping others not only for the 2 years of the program but beyond as well."