Overview: San Diego State University honored by Money magazine

Money reviews over 700 four-year public and private nonprofit colleges, ranking them based on factors like graduation rates, tuition costs, financial aid availability, alumni income, and other key metrics.

Digital finance publication Money named San Diego State University one of the top colleges in the country in its annual rankings released earlier this summer.

The magazine’s Best Colleges in America list highlights “top value” institutions — schools that deliver strong academics at affordable prices — to help students find quality colleges that best fit their budget. 

Money reviews more than 700 four-year public and private nonprofit colleges, ranking them based on factors like graduation rates, tuition costs, financial aid availability, alumni income, and other key metrics.

The ranking recognized SDSU with 4.5 out of 5 possible stars, highlighting the school’s internationally acclaimed research, diverse student body, and prime location in San Diego – a growing hub for science and technology innovations. 

Specifically, the ranking emphasized SDSU’s strong scholarship support, noting that “almost all students receive some form of grant or scholarship to bring down the sticker price.”

This aligns with recent data released by the university, which shows that the school has made significant strides in expanding its financial aid offerings in recent years.

In the 2023–24 academic year, SDSU reached a scholarship distribution rate of 99.92%, a historic first in the university’s 128-year history, according to the SDSU Scholarship Office. 

The following year, they came even closer to full distribution, hitting 99.96%.

“(We are) incredibly proud of (our) work in setting new scholarship records over the past two academic years,” the office said. 

“Every dollar made available by our generous donors, augmented by institutional and state aid, is awarded directly to our students.”

SDSU students benefitting

One of those students is Spenser Vanrossum, a 20-year-old computer science major and incoming junior. 

While both of his older siblings chose schools far from home, he decided on SDSU due to the affordability and proximity.

“Whenever I’m at SDSU, I feel right at home,” Vanrossum said. “I don’t have to pay too much out of pocket either; you get such a good discount.” 

He was awarded the semesterly navy dependent scholarship — part of his financial aid package through his dad’s military service — which he said has played a major role in shaping his college experience so far.

Beyond scholarships, the magazine called attention to the school’s impressive graduation rate, noting that, given its campus demographics, 11% more students graduate than predicted.

According to a press release, SDSU’s four-year graduation rate reached a record high for the fall 2020 cohort, nearly 61% in San Diego and just over 61% at SDSU Imperial Valley.

“The tremendous scale at which we are graduating and serving students across the CSU is truly impactful, and indeed unmatched among four-year higher education systems,” CSU Chancellor Mildred García said in the release. 

This year’s ranking featured all California State University campuses, which earned four stars or higher. Additionally, 15 of them placed in the top 10% nationwide.

In a statement about the system as a whole, Money praised CSU schools as “engines of social mobility.”

“They excel at enrolling and graduating low-income and minority students,” the magazine added.