Since its founding in 1897, the university has grown to become a leading public research university, and a federally-designated Hispanic-serving Institution. Each year, SDSU provides more than 36,000 students with the opportunity to participate in an academic curriculum distinguished by direct contact with faculty and an international emphasis that prepares them for a global future.

SDSU is the oldest higher education institution in San Diego, uniquely situated only 30 minutes north of the U.S.-Mexico border on Kumeyaay land. Our community is fully committed to excellent teaching, meaningful research and service to our regional community and others we serve throughout the state, across the nation and internally.

We have an incredible past, and a powerful future ahead of us, marked by:

• A five-year strategic plan, “We Rise We Defy: Transcending Borders, Transforming Lives,” launched in 2020.
• The development of SDSU Mission Valley, a mixed-use, medium-density development that is transit-oriented and that will expand the university’s educational, research, entrepreneurial, and technology transfer programs.
• The expansion of the border-connected SDSU Imperial Valley, which has been infused with new investments to introduce new programs and student services.
• The growth of SDSU Global Campus, which is growing educational access to adult learners through the creation of new degree programs.
• Our campus diversity being our pride. SDSU is recognized for its commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion. About 54 percent of students are of color, the university recognized for our military and veteran program and ranked as a top college for LGBTQ students.

For generations, SDSU has overcome hurdles and defied expectations, forging ahead to deliver academic excellence, student success and groundbreaking research. We will continue to do so as we build SDSU’s new chapter of inclusive opportunity for more students, reimagining a university designed to thrive for many years to come, and impacting San Diego, our border region, and the world as never before.

SDSU formally recognizes Native and Indigenous peoples as traditional stewards of the land on which our university resides, and respects the enduring relationship that exists between Indigenous peoples and their ancestral territories. At San Diego State University, we recognize the land as Kumeyaay.