After San Diego State University: graduation, pay and debt
San Diego, California · Public · 35,377 undergrads
78% of San Diego State University students finish within six years, the typical student earns $73,494 ten years after starting and graduates leave with $14,500 in federal loans at the median.
The short answers
$73.5k
median pay 10 years after starting college.
78%
finish within six years.
57%
finish in four years.
91%
of first-years come back for year two.
$14.5k
median federal debt at graduation.
66%
of borrowers were paying down their loans three years after leaving.
All the federal numbers
Finishing
Finished in four yearsIPEDS, fall 2023
57%
Finished within six yearsIPEDS, fall 2023
78%
First-years who came back for year twoCollege Scorecard, fall 2024
91%
Men who finished within six yearsIPEDS, students who started in 2017
74%
Women who finished within six yearsIPEDS, students who started in 2017
82%
Students in that six-year groupIPEDS, students who started in 2017
5,084
Earned a degree or certificate here within eight yearsIPEDS, full-time students who started in 2015
77%
Still enrolled here after eight yearsIPEDS, full-time students who started in 2015
15%
Students in that eight-year groupIPEDS, full-time students who started in 2015
4,998
Transferred to another collegeCollege Scorecard, earlier release
1.4%
Pay after college
Median pay 6 years after starting collegeCollege Scorecard
$59,773
Median pay 10 years after starting collegeCollege Scorecard, 2022-23
$73,494
Earning more than $25,000 six years after startingCollege Scorecard, earlier release
70%
Debt and paying it back
Median federal debt, students who graduatedCollege Scorecard, 2024-25
$14,500
Median federal debt, everyone who borrowed (finished or not)College Scorecard, earlier release
$12,847
Median federal debt, students with a Pell GrantCollege Scorecard, earlier release
$12,500
Median federal debt, students without a Pell GrantCollege Scorecard, earlier release
$14,000
Paying down their loans 3 years after leavingCollege Scorecard, 2024-25
66%
Paying down their loans 5 years after leavingCollege Scorecard, earlier release
71%
Paying down their loans 7 years after leavingCollege Scorecard, earlier release
73%
Where these numbers come from
- Admit rate and applicants: IPEDS, fall 2024 (checked Oct 31, 2026)
- Cost, pay and debt: College Scorecard, 2024-25 (checked Oct 31, 2026)
Updated Oct 31, 2026Spot a mistake?How we get our numbers