The Student Achievement Measure is supported by six sponsoring associations, working together to provide a more comprehensive and accurate picture of student progress and completion as students move across institutions and state boundaries.

San Diego State University

San Diego State University is a major public research institution providing transformative experiences for more than 43,000 students, with bachelor’s degrees in 97 areas, master’s degrees in 88 fields, 29 doctoral programs, and additional certificates and programs at regional microsites. An R1-designated institution, SDSU ranks No. 1 in the California State University system for federal research support and is a top public research university in California. In addition to academic offerings at SDSU, SDSU Imperial Valley and SDSU Georgia in Tbilisi, SDSU Global Campus offers online training, certificates and degrees to meet the needs of students everywhere. Students participate in research, international experiences, entrepreneurship, internships, mentoring, and a range of other student life and leadership opportunities. SDSU is nationally recognized for its study abroad initiatives, veterans’ programs, support of LGBTQIA+ students and its powerhouse Division I athletics. About 50% of SDSU’s undergraduate and graduate students are students of color.

Website:

www.sdsu.edu

Fall 2019 First-time Full-time Cohort

6-year outcomes for undergraduate bachelor’s-seeking students as of 2025

First-Time Full-Time

First-Time Full-Time Students Starting Fall 2019

Number of students: 5,169

roll over each bar for detail data

78%
8%
3%
3%
8%
WITHIN 6 YEARS
74%
6%
8%
4%
8%
WITHIN 5 YEARS
58%
4%
25%
7%
6%
WITHIN 4 YEARS
view detail data for graph »
Graduated: Reporting institution
Transferred & Graduated: Other Institution
Enrolled: Reporting institution
Transferred & Enrolled: Other Institution
Current Status Unknown

The SAM Full-time Bachelor's Degree model tracks a group of students who started a bachelor's degree program at San Diego State University in the Fall of 2019. The students' progress toward a degree is reported within 4, 5, and 6 years. The same group of students is included in the results for every year.

The sections of the SAM chart represent the proportion of students in the original group with the following five outcomes.

  • Students who started at and graduated from San Diego State University are represented by the darker purple bar with the solid black bar underneath (). (This section of the chart Within 6 Years is approximately the same as the federal graduation rate, but it may differ slightly for each institution.)
  • Students who started at San Diego State University and then transferred to and graduated from another institution are represented by the lighter purple bar with the white stripe underneath ()
  • Students who started at and are still enrolled at San Diego State University are represented by the darker aqua bar with two white stripes underneath ().
  • Students who started at San Diego State University and then transferred to and are still enrolled at another institution are represented by the lighter aqua bar with the bottom white stripe ().
  • Students from the original group whose status is unknown are represented by the green bar with the top white stripe (). These students may have graduated or still be enrolled somewhere, but their status could not be determined conclusively.

San Diego State University | Bachelor's Seeking Model - First-Time Full-Time

OUTCOMES FOR STUDENT STARTING AT
SAN DIEGO STATE UNIVERSITY IN FALL 2019 BY SUMMER 2025
 
2019-20
 
2020-21
 
2021-22
WITHIN 4 YEARS
2022-23
WITHIN 5 YEARS
2023-24
WITHIN 6 YEARS
2024-25
+ view details
Bachelor's degree from San Diego State University 0% 0% 4% 58% 74% 78%
+ Associate and/or Certificate degree from San Diego State University 0% 0% 0% 0% 0% 0%
= Total Graduated from San Diego State University 0% 0% 4% 58% 74% 78%
+ view details
Bachelor's degree from another institution 0% 0% 0% 3% 5% 6%
+ Associate and/or Certificate degree from another institution 0% 1% 1% 1% 1% 1%
= Total Graduated from another institution 0% 1% 1% 4% 6% 8%
Enrolled at San Diego State University 94% 87% 79% 25% 8% 3%
+ view details
Enrolled at another 4-year institution 0% 3% 6% 4% 2% 2%
+ Enrolled at another 2-year institution 1% 3% 3% 2% 2% 2%
= Total Transferred and enrolled
at another institution		 1% 6% 8% 7% 4% 3%
Current Status Unknown 5% 6% 8% 6% 8% 8%
Full-Time Transfer

Full-Time Transfer Students Starting Fall 2019

Number of students: 3,406

roll over each bar for detail data

90%
2%
1%
7%
WITHIN 6 YEARS
87%
1%
3%
1%
8%
WITHIN 4 YEARS
60%
1%
35%
1%
3%
WITHIN 2 YEARS
view detail data for graph »
Graduated: Reporting institution
Transferred & Graduated: Other Institution
Enrolled: Reporting institution
Transferred & Enrolled: Other Institution
Current Status Unknown

The SAM Full-time Bachelor's Degree model tracks a group of students who started a bachelor's degree program at San Diego State University in the Fall of 2019. The students' progress toward a degree is reported within 4, 5, and 6 years. The same group of students is included in the results for every year.

The sections of the SAM chart represent the proportion of students in the original group with the following five outcomes.

  • Students who started at and graduated from San Diego State University are represented by the darker purple bar with the solid black bar underneath (). (This section of the chart Within 6 Years is approximately the same as the federal graduation rate, but it may differ slightly for each institution.)
  • Students who started at San Diego State University and then transferred to and graduated from another institution are represented by the lighter purple bar with the white stripe underneath ()
  • Students who started at and are still enrolled at San Diego State University are represented by the darker aqua bar with two white stripes underneath ().
  • Students who started at San Diego State University and then transferred to and are still enrolled at another institution are represented by the lighter aqua bar with the bottom white stripe ().
  • Students from the original group whose status is unknown are represented by the green bar with the top white stripe (). These students may have graduated or still be enrolled somewhere, but their status could not be determined conclusively.

San Diego State University | Bachelor's Seeking Model - Full-Time Transfer

OUTCOMES FOR STUDENT STARTING AT
SAN DIEGO STATE UNIVERSITY IN FALL 2019 BY SUMMER 2025
 
2019-20
WITHIN 2 YEARS
2020-21
 
2021-22
WITHIN 4 YEARS
2022-23
 
2023-24
WITHIN 6 YEARS
2024-25
+ view details
Bachelor's degree from San Diego State University 1% 60% 83% 87% 89% 90%
+ Associate and/or Certificate degree from San Diego State University 0% 0% 0% 0% 0% 0%
= Total Graduated from San Diego State University 1% 60% 83% 87% 89% 90%
+ view details
Bachelor's degree from another institution 0% 0% 1% 1% 1% 1%
+ Associate and/or Certificate degree from another institution 2% 1% 1% 1% 1% 1%
= Total Graduated from another institution 2% 1% 1% 1% 2% 2%
Enrolled at San Diego State University 95% 35% 8% 3% 1% 0%
+ view details
Enrolled at another 4-year institution 0% 0% 0% 1% 1% 1%
+ Enrolled at another 2-year institution 0% 0% 0% 1% 0% 0%
= Total Transferred and enrolled
at another institution		 0% 1% 1% 1% 1% 1%
Current Status Unknown 2% 3% 7% 8% 7% 7%