University of Houston (UofH) vs San Diego State University (SDSU)

Nestled in the heart of Houston, Texas, and the vibrant city of San Diego, California, University of Houston and San Diego State University stand as prominent educational institutions with distinct characteristics. While both universities offer a diverse range of academic programs and opportunities, they differ in several key aspects. From their acceptance rates and popular majors to student body demographics and graduation rates, these institutions present unique experiences for prospective students. Explore our comprehensive comparison table to delve into the details and discover which university aligns best with your academic aspirations and personal preferences.
San Diego State University logo

San Diego State University

University of Houston logo

University of Houston

Overview

Location San Diego, California Houston, Texas
Campus setting City: Large City: Large
College type 4 year 4 year
Control/business model Public Public
Calendar system Semester Semester
Degrees offered Undergraduate and Graduate Undergraduate and Graduate
Students retention rate 90.0% 85.0%
Common app member No Yes
Religious affiliation

Admission

Acceptance rate 37.9% 65.5%
Application fees
Undergraduate: $70

Graduate: $70
Undergraduate: $75

Graduate: $75
SAT range N/A 1140 - 1330
ACT range N/A 23 - 28
Students submitting SAT score 51.0%
Students submitting ACT score 12.0%
Total number of applicants 67,660 29,721
Total number of admissions given out 25,646 19,474
Admitted students who chose to enroll 5,269 5,437
Yield rate 20.5% 27.9%
Test scores (SAT/ACT) N/A N/A
High school GPA Required Required
Recommendation letters Not required Not required
High school transcript Not required Required
English proficiency test (e.g. TOEFL) Not required Required

Tuition and Fees

Sticker price
In state: $28,256

Out of state: $40,136
In state: $25,516

Out of state: $37,708
Average net price $6,867 $14,339
Tuition
In state: $5,742

Out of state: $17,622
In state: $8,685

Out of state: $20,877
Room & board
Room/dormitory: $12,824

Meal plan: $6,344
Room/dormitory: $5,542

Meal plan: $4,420
Available payment plans
  • Tuition payment plan
  • Guaranteed tuition plan
  • Tuition payment plan

Financial Aid

Students receiving financial aid

(Grants & scholarships)

47.0%
Average amount $9,026
79.0%
Average amount $10,409
Students receiving federal student loan 18.0%
Average amount $5,015
28.0%
Average amount $4,941
Students taking out private loans 2.0%
Average amount $21,638
3.0%
Average amount $13,286

Students and Campus

Undergraduate students 31,321
Men 43.1% Women 56.9%
38,581
Men 48.8% Women 51.2%
Graduate students 5,163
Men 35.9% Women 64.1%
8,450
Men 45.2% Women 54.8%
Racial/ethnic diversity
Moderate
Moderate
Out-of-state students 24.2% N/A
International students 5.5% 7.7%
Campus local/setting City: Large City: Large
Dormitory capacity 6,514 8,397
First year students are required to live on campus? No No
Top 5 states where most U.S. students come from California Washington Colorado Texas New Jersey N/A

Academics

Popular study areas
  • Health Professions
  • Engineering
  • Education
  • Kinesiology & Leisure Studies
  • Business
  • Business
  • Engineering
  • Psychology
  • Health Professions
  • Computer and Information Science
Students to faculty ratio 26:1 21:1
Institutional accreditation Western Association of Schools and Colleges Senior Colleges and University Commission Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges

Outcome

Graduation rate 76.2% 62.0%
Dropout rate 20.5% 25.3%
Transferred out 1.4% 8.7%
Alumni salary by major (Top 10)
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $84,200
  • Year 2: $68,499
  • Year 3: $87,104
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $89,225
  • Year 2: $87,377
  • Year 3: $85,451
Aerospace, Aeronautical and Astronautical Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $61,870
  • Year 2: $63,005
  • Year 3: $80,004
Mechanical Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $65,965
  • Year 2: $65,089
  • Year 3: $79,350
Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $72,385
  • Year 2: $69,757
  • Year 3: $78,880
Computer Science (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $62,997
  • Year 2: $66,318
  • Year 3: $76,755
Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions (Doctoral Degrees)
  • Year 1: $74,008
  • Year 2: $71,575
  • Year 3: $75,680
Communication Disorders Sciences and Services (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $71,000
  • Year 2: $70,456
  • Year 3: $75,014
Civil Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $63,495
  • Year 2: $62,317
  • Year 3: $73,021
Educational Administration and Supervision (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $52,099
  • Year 2: $67,995
  • Year 3: $72,884
Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Administration (First Professional Degrees)
  • Year 1: $110,469
  • Year 2: $120,138
  • Year 3: $121,476
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $98,237
  • Year 2: $92,563
  • Year 3: $101,684
Educational Administration and Supervision (Doctoral Degrees)
  • Year 1: $83,905
  • Year 2: $92,809
  • Year 3: $101,554
Optometry (First Professional Degrees)
  • Year 1: $91,785
  • Year 2: $95,549
  • Year 3: $99,780
Information Science/Studies (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $52,557
  • Year 2: $67,660
  • Year 3: $90,735
Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $99,747
  • Year 2: $71,015
  • Year 3: $89,796
Law (First Professional Degrees)
  • Year 1: $70,167
  • Year 2: $74,200
  • Year 3: $87,533
Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $75,967
  • Year 2: $74,576
  • Year 3: $85,834
Petroleum Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $73,141
  • Year 2: $67,380
  • Year 3: $83,990
Industrial Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $72,713
  • Year 2: $73,530
  • Year 3: $79,151

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