ºÚÁϳԹÏ

ºÚÁÏ³Ô¹Ï is a leading public research university dedicated to high quality, research driven education, community engagement and global understanding. Founded in 1897, ºÚÁÏ³Ô¹Ï is an R1 institution serving 43,000 students offering broad academic programs and certificates across disciplines and emphasizes faculty mentorship, innovation and access. A major driver of economic mobility and regional growth, ºÚÁÏ³Ô¹Ï generates billions in statewide economic activity and strong returns for graduates. With expanding campuses, global partnerships and a commitment to equity, free expression and student success, ºÚÁÏ³Ô¹Ï advances opportunity, research excellence and public impact.

Quick Facts:

• Founded: 1897
• Alumni: 500,000+
• Students: 44,000
• Faculty & Staff: 6,890
• Degree Programs: Bachelor’s degrees in 97 areas, nearly 90 master’s degrees in 88 fields and 29 doctoral degrees (Ph.D., Ed.D, Au.D. and D.P.T.)
• No. graduating (May 2025): 11,200
• Research classification: R1 research institution
• Annual Research: Nearly $230 million
• Athletic Teams: 17
• Undergraduate Applicants (for fall 2025): more than 123,000
• Current President: Adela de la Torre, Ph.D.

Mission

ºÚÁÏ³Ô¹Ï transforms lives and transcends borders through education, research, and enriching experiences. Our community strives to create a more equitable, compassionate, and prosperous world.

A Driver of Prosperity

ºÚÁÏ³Ô¹Ï is a launchpad into gainful, fulfilling careers for its students and an engine of regional economic growth. According to a 2025 report, ºÚÁÏ³Ô¹Ï graduates earn an average of $505,286 more in present-value career earnings than peers without a bachelor’s degree, while their investments in an ºÚÁÏ³Ô¹Ï education generate an annual rate of return of 26.7%, exceeding the U.S. stock market’s 30-year average of 10.1%. On average, ºÚÁÏ³Ô¹Ï graduates recover their total educational investment, including opportunity costs, within six years of graduation. 

For the regional and state economy, ºÚÁÏ³Ô¹Ï and its alumni generate nearly $10 billion in annual economic activity statewide. The university:

• Supports 26,000 jobs statewide 
• Generates $239.8 million in local and state tax revenues
• Generates $12.66 in economic activity across the state for every $1 the state of California invests in the university (when including the increased earnings of ºÚÁÏ³Ô¹Ï alumni,  that impact triples to $38.28 for every $1)

ºÚÁÏ³Ô¹Ï Diversity Statement

At ºÚÁϳԹÏ, our diversity gives us power and benefits every single member of our community. Consistent with California law and federal civil rights laws, ºÚÁÏ³Ô¹Ï provides equal opportunity for all in education and employment. We encourage all members of our community to purposefully learn from one another through open and respectful dialogue and responsible engagement. We protect the right to free expression and encourage difficult conversations that help lead to improved individual and community learning and cohesion. Read our full Affirming Equal Opportunity Statement. 

History

ºÚÁÏ³Ô¹Ï is the oldest higher education institution in San Diego.

Since its founding in 1897, the university has grown to become a leading public research university. ºÚÁÏ³Ô¹Ï has officially been classified as an R1 research institution, the highest distinction given to doctoral universities by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching and the American Council on Education (ACE). It is also a federally-designated Hispanic-serving Institution as well as an Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander-Serving Institution (AANAPISI). ºÚÁÏ³Ô¹Ï provides 44,000 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.

A Leading Public Research University

ºÚÁÏ³Ô¹Ï can take pride in more than 125 years of achievement in education, research and service.

Only 187 of more than 4,000 U.S. universities to earn R1 classification, putting ºÚÁÏ³Ô¹Ï among the nation’s top 5% of U.S. institutions for research activity and doctoral education. Students participate in transformational research, international experiences, sustainability and entrepreneurship initiatives, internships and mentoring, and have access to a diverse range of student life opportunities. ºÚÁϳԹÏ, a federally-designated Hispanic-serving Institution residing on what was once Kumeyaay land, is known for its long-standing efforts advancing access and opportunity for all, and for its Division I Aztecs athletic program.

With an enrollment of more than 44,000 students, ºÚÁÏ³Ô¹Ï is increasingly becoming a top choice for undergraduates, graduates and transfers, as evidenced by receiving more than 120,000 applications each year. ºÚÁÏ³Ô¹Ï is consistently ranked by national organizations and publications, including Forbes, Fortune and U.S. News & World Report, for students studying abroad, numerous individually ranked academic programs, and overall academic excellence. The university is home to highly ranked undergraduate and graduate programs in business, engineering, public health, psychology, fine arts, biological sciences, public affairs, entrepreneurship, education and speech, language, and hearing sciences. Overall, ºÚÁÏ³Ô¹Ï students can choose from bachelor's degrees in 97 areas, master’s degrees in 87 fields, and 25 doctoral programs. Additionally, ºÚÁϳԹÏ’s Global Campus provides access to more than 100 undergraduate, graduate, and advanced certificate programs that can be completed online or in hybrid formats, along with dozens of certificate programs and related courses as part of its continuing education and lifelong learning portfolio.

Along with ºÚÁÏ³Ô¹Ï Imperial Valley, ºÚÁÏ³Ô¹Ï has expanded its footprint to includeºÚÁÏ³Ô¹Ï Georgia in Tbilisi, along with longstanding programs in Oaxaca, Mexico and the island nation of Palau.

ºÚÁÏ³Ô¹Ï Imperial Valley provides a uniquely intimate educational experience and offers 10 bachelor's and two master's degrees, including a nationally-acclaimed teacher education program. With locations in Brawley and Calexico, ºÚÁÏ³Ô¹Ï Imperial Valley offers students the advantages of small classes with convenient accessibility to a dedicated faculty and staff. In 2025, it opened a new, $80 million STEM facility in Brawley, designed to prepare students for careers in the area’s burgeoning Lithium Valley project. And in fall 2026, it will open its first student housing in Imperial Valley. Interactive videoconferencing provides students the opportunity to participate in classes broadcast live from ºÚÁϳԹÏ’s San Diego campus, and students can be involved in a rewarding campus life through its student clubs, Associated Students, guest lectures, art exhibits and musical events. The Brawley location is 24 miles north of ºÚÁÏ³Ô¹Ï Imperial Valley, Calexico.

ºÚÁÏ³Ô¹Ï Georgia, a U.S. Department of State-funded program in the nation’s capital of Tbilisi, is a collaboration with three of Georgia’s top universities: Tbilisi State University (TSU), Ilia State University (ISU), and Georgian Technical University (GTU). It was created to address a critical shortage of STEM professionals in the country and to provide an American university education that would strengthen the Georgian labor force. ºÚÁÏ³Ô¹Ï Georgia offers bachelor’s degrees in computer science, computer engineering and civil engineering. 

In The Beginning

Serving the San Diego region has always been a core part of ºÚÁϳԹÏ’s mission.

Founded March 13, 1897, ºÚÁÏ³Ô¹Ï began as the San Diego Normal School, a training facility for elementary school teachers. Seven faculty and 91 students met in temporary quarters over a downtown drugstore before moving to a newly constructed 17-acre campus on Park Boulevard.

The curriculum was first limited to English, history and mathematics. Course offerings broadened rapidly under the leadership of its first president, Samuel T. Black, who left his position as state superintendent of public instruction to become the new school's first president. Black served from 1898 to 1910.

From 1910 to 1935, ºÚÁÏ³Ô¹Ï President Edward L. Hardy headed a vigorous administration that oversaw major changes to the fledgling institution. In 1921, the Normal School became San Diego State Teachers College, a four-year public institution controlled by the State Board of Education. In that same year, the two-year San Diego Junior College, forerunner of today's local community colleges, became a branch of San Diego State Teachers College. That union lasted until 1946.

1931 Relocation

By the 1920s, the college was already beginning to outgrow its Park Boulevard location, and San Diegans launched a campaign to build a new campus on the city's eastern border.

In February 1931, students, faculty and staff moved to the university’s current location, occupying seven buildings surrounding a common area still known nearly a century later as the Main Quad.

Four years later, the state Legislature authorized expansion of degree programs beyond teacher education. San Diego State Teachers College became San Diego State College and Walter R. Hepner took the helm as president, beginning a 17-year tenure.

The college continued to grow over time, reaching an enrollment of more than 25,000 students during the administration of Malcolm A. Love, who served as president from 1952 to 1971. Today, the ºÚÁÏ³Ô¹Ï Library is named after Love..

In 1959, what is now known as ºÚÁÏ³Ô¹Ï Imperial Valley was founded on the original site of the first Calexico High School. Originally known as the Imperial Valley Campus, its name was officially changed to ºÚÁÏ³Ô¹Ï Imperial Valley in 2018 by President Adela de la Torre, with the support of Imperial Valley Dean Gregorio Ponce and the approval of the ºÚÁÏ³Ô¹Ï University Senate.

In 1960, San Diego State College became part of the newly created California State College system, now known as the California State University (CSU) system.

In 1963, just months before he was assassinated, U.S. President John F. Kennedy gave the commencement address at San Diego State College. President Kennedy received the university's first honorary doctorate—also the first in the CSU system.

In the early 1970s, with legislative approval, San Diego State College became ºÚÁϳԹÏ.

Leading the university during the 1970s were Acting President Donald E. Walker (1971–1972), President Brage Golding (1972–1977), Acting President Trevor Colbourn (1977–1978) and President Thomas B. Day (1978–1996).

Day championed the teacher-scholar model for faculty and promoted research across campus. His vision led the way for new areas of exploration and an increase in research grants and contracts awarded to ºÚÁÏ³Ô¹Ï faculty.

In 1996, Stephen L. Weber became the university's seventh president. He presided over the university's significant gains in student preparation and graduation, study abroad, philanthropy, research and other areas of excellence.

Elliot Hirshman served as president of ºÚÁÏ³Ô¹Ï from 2011 to June 30, 2017—a period in which ºÚÁÏ³Ô¹Ï raised its national and international profile as a major public research university. ºÚÁÏ³Ô¹Ï created a new strategic plan, raised over $800 million for scholarships and new initiatives and programs, established and endowed the Susan and Stephen Weber Honors College, and built and remodeled facilities across campus.

Sally Roush—a former senior vice president at ºÚÁϳԹÏ—began her term as interim president on July 1, 2017. She was the first woman to be named president of ºÚÁϳԹÏ.

On Jan. 31, 2018 it was announced that Adela de la Torre, vice chancellor for student affairs and campus diversity at University of California, Davis, became ºÚÁϳԹÏ's ninth president—and its first permanently appointed woman as president.

In her first several years as president, de la Torre was credited with leading new initiatives that leveraged the university’s historic legacy to elevate the campus into a new era of excellence. Under de la Torre’s leadership, the university launched a new, 5-year strategic plan, saw record increases in philanthropy, diversified the university’s funding and auxiliary sources to balance revenue streams, and expanded investments in ºÚÁÏ³Ô¹Ï Imperial Valley. The university also saw improvements in student retention and graduation rates, while closing equity gaps in student achievement across several categories through expanded investments in advising, innovative use of virtual technologies, support programs, student aid initiatives, health and well-being offerings, and other efforts.

De la Torre led the university through its response plan during the COVID-19 pandemic that began in early 2020, launching and sustaining ºÚÁÏ³Ô¹Ï Flex, a flexible repopulation, instruction and business continuity plan.

The purchase, groundbreaking and initial construction of ºÚÁÏ³Ô¹Ï Mission Valley—approved by San Diego voters as 2018’s Measure G—also began under de la Torre’s tenure. A critical component of ºÚÁÏ³Ô¹Ï Mission Valley will be the Innovation District, which is important to growing the university’s already unique status as a high research-activity, community-engaged, border-connected, R1 institution.

Campus Growth and Expansion

ºÚÁÏ³Ô¹Ï is committed to providing a state-of-the-art learning environment for students, faculty and staff. Perhaps the most visible evidence of ºÚÁϳԹÏ's growth is in the physical additions to ºÚÁϳԹÏ, ºÚÁÏ³Ô¹Ï Mission Valley and the new Sciences and Engineering Laboratories at ºÚÁÏ³Ô¹Ï Imperial Valley. The university has reimagined and renovated academic buildings and complexes, along with its library, labs and residence halls. The Engineering and Interdisciplinary Sciences Complex, completed in 2018, houses instructional areas and provides ample capacity for collaborative space and labs for interdisciplinary teams and ºÚÁϳԹÏ's entrepreneurship centers.

The Conrad Prebys Aztec Student Union serves as the center of ºÚÁÏ³Ô¹Ï university life. It contains many sustainable and energy-efficient features and has obtained LEED-certified platinum status for both building features and operations. The Aztec Recreation Center, ºÚÁϳԹÏ’s on-campus fitness and recreation facility, opened in 1997 and underwent a major renovation in 2022 that led to LEED Double Platinum certification. In addition, the Parma Payne Goodall Alumni Center welcomes alumni back to campus and provides a professional meeting and events venue for the entire San Diego region.

In 2020, the university broke ground on ºÚÁÏ³Ô¹Ï Mission Valley, which is designed as a vibrant, mixed-use, medium-density development that is transit-oriented, and expands the university’s educational, research, entrepreneurial, and technology transfer programs. ºÚÁÏ³Ô¹Ï Mission Valley includes Snapdragon Stadium and a 34-acre river park. Additional development will include retail, parking and hundreds of units of market-rate and affordable housing. A 1.5 million-square-foot Innovation District—with labs, classrooms and office space—will be a hub for innovation, research and industry partnerships. Plans include a facility developed jointly with the San Diego Community College District, facilitating collaboration and transfer pathways for students.

In 2025, the university was officially classified as an R1 research institution, the highest distinction given to doctoral universities by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching and the American Council on Education (ACE). Of more than 4,000 colleges and universities in the U.S., only 187 hold the R1 classification for the highest levels of research activity and doctoral education. R1 institutions receive a large majority of research grants and contracts, funding cutting-edge facilities, attracting faculty leaders in their fields, and providing students with opportunities for hands-on experiences that accelerate career readiness. 

Notable Alumni

Beyond accolades and campus expansion, ºÚÁÏ³Ô¹Ï remains, as always, most proud of its alumni family, more than 500,000 strong, including:

• Hollywood producer and Lucasfilm president Kathleen Kennedy
• Former Federal Trade Commission chair Timothy Muris
• Former Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Merrill A. "Tony" McPeak
• Former San Diego Mayor Kevin Faulconer
• Former San Diego County Supervisors:
  • Greg Cox
  • Dianne Jacob
  • Ron Roberts
  • Bill Horn
• Astronaut and former Johnson Space Center director Ellen Ochoa, a Presidential Medal of Freedom recipient
• Costco co-founder Jim Sinegal
• Linda A. Lang, former CEO of Jack in the Box restaurants
• Ralph Rubio, founder and chairman of Rubio’s Fresh Mexican Grill.
• Entertainers:
  • Gregory Peck
  • Marion Ross
  • Julie Kavner
  • Kathy Najimy
• Baseball Hall of Famer Tony Gwynn
• Former Major League Baseball manager Bud Black
• U.S. Open winner and former PGA tour golfer Gene Littler
• America's Cup sailing skipper Dennis Conner
• Washington Nationals pitcher Stephen Strasburg
• NBA basketball star Kawhi Leonard

The success of these individuals and hundreds of thousands of other ºÚÁÏ³Ô¹Ï alumni attest to the motivating influence of their alma mater. From modest beginnings, ºÚÁÏ³Ô¹Ï has evolved into a premier center of education, research and service for its students and communities.