View source for San Diego State University

{{Short description|Public research university in California, US}}
{{Redirect-distinguish|SDSU|South Dakota State University}}
{{About|text=For the University of California university, see [[University of California, San Diego]]. For the private university, see [[University of San Diego]].}}
{{Use American English|date=January 2025}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=August 2023}}
{{Infobox university
 | name                   = San Diego State University
 | image                  = San Diego State University seal.svg
 | image_upright          = .7
 | former_names           = San Diego Normal School (1897–1923)<br />San Diego State Teachers College (1923–1935)<br />San Diego State College (1935–1972) <br />California State University, San Diego (1972–1974)
 | motto                  = "Leadership Starts Here"
 | established            = {{start date and age|1897|03|13}}
 | type                   = [[Public university|Public]] [[research university]]
 | endowment              = $456.6 million (2023-24)<ref name=NACUBO>As of June 30, 2024. {{Cite web |title=Public NCSE Tables |url=https://www.nacubo.org/Research/2024/Public-NCSE-Tables |access-date=2025-05-23 |website=www.nacubo.org}}</ref>
 | budget                 = $1.43 billion (2024-25)<ref>{{cite web |url=https://bfa.sdsu.edu/financial/budget/docs/2024_25_university_budget_reports_uof.pdf |title=University Budget 2024/25 |website=San Diego State University |access-date=February 12, 2025}}</ref>
 | president              = [[Adela de la Torre]]
 | provost                = William Tong
 | faculty                = 2,135 (fall 2023)<ref>{{Cite web |title=College Navigator – San Diego State University |url=https://nces.ed.gov/collegenavigator/?q=San+Diego+State+University&s=all&id=122409 |access-date=2024-11-24 |website=nces.ed.gov}}</ref>
 | students               = 38,369 (fall 2024)<ref name=Enrollment>{{cite web |url=https://asir.sdsu.edu/enrollment-data/enrollment-summary-data-table/ |title=Enrollment Summary Data Table |publisher=San Diego State University Analytic Studies and Institutional Research |access-date=May 24, 2025}}</ref>
 | undergrad              = 33,839 (fall 2024)<ref name=Enrollment/>
 | postgrad               = 4,557 (fall 2024)<ref name=Enrollment/>
 | city                   = [[San Diego, California]]
 | state                  = 
 | country                = United States
 | coordinates            = {{Coord|32|46|31|N|117|04|20|W|region:US-CA_type:edu_source:GNIS|display=inline,title|notes=<ref>{{Cite gnis|type=retired|248828|San Diego State University}}</ref>}}
 | campus                 = Large city
 | campus_size            = {{convert|283|acre|km2}}
 | free_label2            = Newspaper
 | free2                  = ''[[The Daily Aztec]]''
 | colors                 = Red and black<ref>{{cite book |url=https://brand.sdsu.edu/_files/sdsu-brand-guidelines-5-12-22.pdf |title=San Diego State University Brand Guidelines |date=May 12, 2022 |access-date=June 25, 2022}}</ref><br/>{{color box|#D41736}}&nbsp;{{color box|#000000}}
 | sports_nickname        = [[San Diego State Aztecs|Aztecs]]
 | sporting_affiliations  = [[NCAA Division I FBS]] – [[Mountain West Conference|Mountain West]]
 | mascot                 = [[Eagle warrior|Aztec warrior]]
 | academic_affiliations  = [[National Space Grant College and Fellowship Program|Space-grant]]
 | parent                 = [[California State University]]
 | accreditation          = [[WASC Senior College and University Commission|WSCUC]]
 | website                = {{URL|sdsu.edu}}
 | logo                   = San Diego State University primary logo.svg
 | logo_upright           = 1.1
 | nrhp                   = {{Infobox NRHP
| embed = yes
| name = San Diego State College
| nrhp_type = hd
| nocat = yes
| image =
| caption =
| location = 5500 Campanile Drive,<br /> [[San Diego|San Diego, California]]
| architecture = Mission/Spanish Revival
| added = September 4, 1997
| area = {{convert|283|acre|ha|1}}
| refnum = 97000924<ref name="nris">{{NRISref |refnum=97000924|version=2010a}}</ref>
| designated_other1 = California
| designated_other1_number = 798
| designated_other1_date = 1964<ref name=CHL>{{cite ohp|798|San Diego State University|2012-10-13}}</ref>
}}
}}

'''San Diego State University''' ('''SDSU''') is a [[Public university|public]] [[research university]] in [[San Diego]], California, United States. Founded in 1897, it is the third-oldest university and southernmost in the 23-member [[California State University]] (CSU) system. SDSU is the oldest higher education institution in San Diego; its academic roots were established as a [[normal school]] in [[University Heights, San Diego|University Heights]], then known as the San Diego Normal School. In the fall of 2025, the university enrolled a record 41,184 students.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Avitabile |first=Rafael |date=October 29, 2025 |title=University census confirms record-breaking SDSU, SDSU Imperial Valley enrollment for 2025-26 |url=https://www.sdsu.edu/news/2025/10/university-census-confirms-record-breaking |url-status=live |access-date=November 5, 2025 |website=San Diego State University NewsCenter |language=en-US}}</ref>

SDSU comprises eight colleges and offers over 200 degree programs at the undergraduate and graduate levels.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Academics |url=https://www.sdsu.edu/academics/index.aspx |access-date=2024-08-13 |website=www.sdsu.edu |language=en}}</ref> It is [[Higher education accreditation in the United States|accredited]] by the [[Western Association of Schools and Colleges#WASC Senior College and University Commission|WASC Senior College and University Commission]] (WSCUC). The university is [[Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education|classified]] among "R1: Doctoral Universities – Very high research activity".<ref>{{Cite web |title=San Diego State University |url=https://carnegieclassifications.acenet.edu/institution/san-diego-state-university/ |access-date=2025-02-13 |website=CARNEGIE CLASSIFICATION OF INSTITUTIONS OF HIGHER EDUCATION |language=en-US}}</ref> It is a federally-designated [[Hispanic-Serving Institution]] (HSI) as well as an Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander-Serving Institution (AANAPISI).

SDSU's athletic teams compete as the [[San Diego State Aztecs]]; the ''[[Aztecs]]'' nickname was chosen by students in 1925.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Aztec Identity |url=https://president.sdsu.edu/priorities/aztec-identity#:~:text=The%20Aztec%20moniker%20was%20chosen,relates%20to%20our%20Aztec%20identity. |access-date=2024-12-28 |website=president.sdsu.edu |language=en}}</ref> They compete in [[National Collegiate Athletic Association]] (NCAA) [[NCAA Division I|Division I]], primarily as a member of the [[Mountain West Conference]] ([[Pac-12 Conference]] starting in 2026).<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-09-12 |title=San Diego State leaving Mountain West for Pac-12 in 'next step forward' |url=https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/2024/09/11/sdsu-three-other-mountain-west-schools-to-join-pac-12-conference/ |access-date=2024-12-28 |website=San Diego Union-Tribune |language=en-US}}</ref> SDSU currently fields varsity teams across 17 NCAA-sanctioned sports. As of 2021, athletes from the university had won 14 medals at the [[List of American universities with Olympic medals|Olympic Games]].

==History==
{{Main|History of San Diego State University}}
[[File:Sdsumain.jpg|thumb|right|A landmark building ([[Hepner Hall]]) featured in the school's logo]]
Established on March 13, 1897, San Diego State University first began as the '''San Diego Normal School''', and was initially meant to educate local women as elementary school teachers. It was located on a {{convert|17|acre|ha|adj=on}} campus on Park Boulevard in [[University Heights, San Diego|University Heights]] (now the headquarters of [[San Diego Unified School District]]). It opened with 7 faculty members and 91 students; at first, the curriculum was limited to English, history and mathematics.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://newscenter.sdsu.edu/home/history.aspx?|title=In the beginning|work=San Diego State University|access-date=June 9, 2013}}</ref> In 1923, the San Diego Normal School became '''San Diego State Teachers College''', "a four-year public institution controlled by the [[California State Board of Education]]." 
[[File:SDNormalSchoolGraduatingClass1899.jpg|thumb|The first graduating class of the opening year of the newly constructed San Diego Normal School.]]

By the 1930s the school had outgrown its original campus. In 1931 it moved to its current location on Montezuma Mesa at what was then the eastern edge of San Diego. In 1935, the school expanded its offerings beyond teacher education and became '''San Diego State College'''.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.sdsu.edu/about/facts-mission-and-history|title=1931 Relocation|work=San Diego State University |access-date=August 8, 2024}}</ref> In 1960, San Diego State College became a part of the California State Colleges system, now known as the [[The California State University|California State University]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.sdsu.edu/about/facts-mission-and-history|title=Facts, Mission and History {{!}} SDSU|website=sdsu.edu|access-date=August 8, 2024}}</ref> In 1972, San Diego State College became '''California State University, San Diego''', and finally, in 1974, San Diego State University (SDSU).<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.calstate.edu/50th/timeline.shtml|title=Celebrating 50 Years – Timeline & Milestones|last=Chancellor|first=California State University Office of the|website=calstate.edu|language=en-US|access-date=August 15, 2017}}</ref>

[[John F. Kennedy]], then the [[president of the United States]], gave the graduation commencement address at the then-San Diego State College on June 6, 1963.<ref>[http://sdsuniverse.info/story.asp?id=6269 Forty Years Later, the Magic of JFK Lingers on the Mesa] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070706133627/http://sdsuniverse.info/story.asp?id=6269 |date=July 6, 2007 }}, Coleen L. Geraghty, ''SDSUniverse'' (May 12, 2003)</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://infodome.sdsu.edu/projects/buildings/aztecbowl.html |title=''SDSU Library'', Aztec Bowl: History of San Diego State University (accessed Jan. 16, 2009) |publisher=Infodome.sdsu.edu |access-date=January 1, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110721003154/http://infodome.sdsu.edu/projects/buildings/aztecbowl.html |archive-date=July 21, 2011 |url-status=dead }}</ref> Kennedy was given an honorary doctorate degree in law at the ceremony, making SDSC the first California State College to award an honorary doctorate. In 1964, the event was registered as [[California Historical Landmark]] #798.<ref name=CHL/>

On May 29, 1964, civil rights leader [[Martin Luther King Jr.]] addressed a near-capacity audience in the Open Air Theater. King discussed his vision for the future and called for the passage of the [[Civil Rights Act of 1964]], then being debated in the [[United States Senate|Senate]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://universe.sdsu.edu/sdsu_newscenter/news.aspx?s=73354 |title=MLK on the Mesa |publisher=SDSU NewsCenter |date=January 17, 2012}}</ref>

On August 15, 1996, there was [[1996 San Diego State University shooting|a shooting]] that occurred at the engineering building.<ref>"Murder in America", (2001) Ronald M. Holmes, Stephen T. Holmes. Page 155.</ref><ref>Pictorial history of world crime, Volume 2, p. 1015 (2004)</ref> Three professors were killed by master's degree student Frederick Martin Davidson.<ref>{{cite news |title=Timeline: Shootings at U.S. College Campuses |url=https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=9603275 |newspaper=NPR |date=April 16, 2007 |access-date=September 3, 2011}}</ref> Three months later, a copycat threat flier was sent, with threats against professors and racial insults.<ref>Violence goes to college: the authoritative guide to prevention and intervention By John Nicoletti, Sally Spencer-Thomas, Christopher Bollinger. pp. 267–268</ref>

In April 2012, the [[14th Dalai Lama]] spoke at SDSU's [[Viejas Arena]] as part of his "Compassion Without Borders" tour.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://newscenter.sdsu.edu/sdsu_newscenter/news.aspx?s=73560 |title=Dalai Lama Shares Compassion |publisher=Newscenter.sdsu.edu |date=April 20, 2012 |access-date=January 1, 2013}}</ref>

After the departure of the [[San Diego Chargers]] for Los Angeles in 2017, SDSU endeavored to gain control of [[San Diego Stadium]] (then called Qualcomm Stadium) and surrounding city property. The stadium hosted the [[San Diego State Aztecs football]] team, connected to the SDSU main campus by [[SDSU Transit Center]]. The proposal, called SDSU West, was put to city voters in November 2017 where it won approval by 54%, beating out a competing commercial proposal called SoccerCity.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.cbs8.com/story/39426788/fate-of-sdccu-stadium-to-come-down-to-measures-g-and-e|title=Measure G and E: Voters reject SoccerCity initiative, back SDSU West plan|date=November 7, 2018|work=CBS-8|access-date=March 1, 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/news/politics/sd-me-2019-yearahead-20181230-story.html|title=San Diego forecast: 19 people, events and issues to watch in '19: The football stadium  |work=The San Diego Union-Tribune |date=December 30, 2018 |author=Wilkens, John}}</ref> Negotiations began for SDSU to purchase the property from the city of San Diego. On May 29, 2020, the city council gave conceptual approval to sell 135 acres, including the stadium, to SDSU for $88 million.<ref name = approval/>

SDSU broke ground for a new 35,000-seat stadium in August 2020. The stadium, which opened in September 2022 as [[Snapdragon Stadium]], hosts SDSU football games and various concerts and events. Snapdragon Stadium is also the home of [[San Diego FC]] of [[Major League Soccer]] (MLS) and [[San Diego Wave FC]] of the [[National Women's Soccer League]] (NWSL).<ref>{{cite news|url=http://sdbj.com/news/2019/feb/28/sdsu-selects-clark-construction-build-250m-mission/|title=SDSU Selects Clark Construction to Build $250M Mission Valley Stadium|last=Adamek|first=Steve|date=February 28, 2019 |work=San Diego Business Journal|access-date=March 1, 2019}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/business/growth-development/story/2019-10-10/sdsu-is-about-to-make-an-offer-to-buy-the-citys-mission-valley-stadium-site|title=SDSU is about to make an offer to buy the city's Mission Valley stadium site|last=Van Grove|first=Jennifer|date=October 10, 2019|work=San Diego Union-Tribune|language=en-US|access-date=October 11, 2019}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=Kenney|first=Kirk|date=August 17, 2020|title=SDSU officially breaks ground on new Mission Valley stadium|url=https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/sports/aztecs/story/2020-08-17/san-diego-state-sdsu-aztecs-break-ground-on-new-stadium-mission-valley-adela-de-la-torre-jd-wicker-kevin-faulconer|access-date=September 15, 2020|website=San Diego Union-Tribune|language=en-US}}</ref> The entire $3.5 billion project, now known as SDSU Mission Valley, includes housing, office and retail space, hotels, and {{convert|80|acres}} of parks and open space, including a {{convert|34|acres|adj=on}} river park on city property; it will be rolled out in phases over 15 years.<ref name="approval">{{cite news|url=https://www.sdbj.com/news/2020/may/31/city-approves-deal-sell-stadium-site-sdsu/|title=City Approves Deal to Sell Stadium Site to SDSU|last=Huard|first=Ray|date=May 31, 2020|work=San Diego Business Journal|access-date=June 1, 2020}}</ref>

===University presidents===
SDSU has had ten presidents, two of whom served in an acting capacity. Several structures on the campus are named in past presidents' honor, such as [[Hardy Memorial Tower]], [[Hepner Hall]] (integrated in the university's logo), and [[Malcolm A. Love Library]].<ref name="ReferenceC">{{cite web|url=http://newscenter.sdsu.edu/ootp/history.aspx|title=University History &#124; SDSU|publisher=Newscenter.sdsu.edu|access-date=August 17, 2014}}</ref> In March 2017 President Hirshman announced his resignation for June 30, 2017; he will assume the position of president at [[Stevenson University]] in Maryland.<ref name="leaving">{{cite news|url=http://www.sdbj.com/news/2017/mar/08/hirshman-leaving-sdsu-president-post-june/|title=Hirshman Leaving SDSU President Post in June|last=Hirsh|first=Lou|date=March 8, 2017|work=San Diego Business Journal|access-date=March 9, 2017}}</ref> Sally Roush was the interim president until January 31, 2018.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.latimes.com/local/lanow/la-me-san-diego-state-president-salary-20170524-story.html|title=Search begins for new San Diego State president as trustees announce salary for interim leader|last=Xia|first=Rosanna|date=May 24, 2017|work=Los Angeles Times|access-date=August 13, 2017|language=en-US|issn=0458-3035}}</ref> On that date, the CSU Board of Trustees appointed Adela de la Torre to serve as the permanent President. De la Torre is the first woman to serve in the role on a permanent basis.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.sdsu.edu/news/2018/01/adela-de-la-torre-appointed-president-san-diego-state-university|title=NewsCenter – SDSU – Adela de la Torre Appointed President of San Diego State University|website=www.sdsu.edu|date=January 31, 2018 }}</ref>
{{clear}}

The following persons had served as president of San Diego State University:<ref>{{cite web |url=https://president.sdsu.edu/office/past-presidents |title=SDSU Presidents |publisher=SDSU}}</ref>

{| class="wikitable"
|-
!{{abbr|No.|Number}}
!Image
!President
!Start
!End
!Notes
|-
|1
|[[File:SamuelTBlack1905.jpg|70px]]
|Samuel T. Black
|October 1, 1898
|September 8, 1910
|<ref>{{cite news |url=https://cdnc.ucr.edu/?a=d&d=SDDU18980915.2.10&srpos=3&e=------189-en--20-SDDU-1-byDA-txt-txIN-normal+school+president+Samuel+Black----1898--- |title=BLACK CHOSEN |newspaper=San Diego Union and Daily Bee |page= |date=September 15, 1898 |via=[[California Digital Newspaper Collection]] |quote=State Superintendent of Public Instruction Samuel T. Black was today elected president of the state normal school at San Diego, at the joint meeting of state normal boards which assembled at the governor's office... His salary will be $3,400 per year and will begin October 1.}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://cdnc.ucr.edu/?a=d&d=VDP19100908.2.4&srpos=6&e=------191-en--20--1-byDA-txt-txIN-president+%22Edward+L.+Hardy%22----1910--- |title=PROF. S. T BLACK RECIPIENT OF HIGH HONORS |newspaper=Ventura Daily Post |volume=9 |number=56 |page=1 |date=September 8, 1910 |via=[[California Digital Newspaper Collection]] |quote=Nearly one hundred members of the University club and members of the faculty of the San Diego state normal school were guests last night at a dinner given by the club in farewell compliment to Samuel Thorburn Black, retiring president of the normal school and honored member of the University club, who, with his daughter, Miss Pauline T. Black, is to leave tomorrow on a tour of the world.}}</ref>
|-
|2
|
|Edward L. Hardy
|September 9, 1910
|August 31, 1935
|<ref>{{cite news |url=https://cdnc.ucr.edu/?a=d&d=SDU19100529.2.62&srpos=3&e=------191-en--20--1-byDA-txt-txIN-president+%22Edward+L.+Hardy%22----1910--- |title=HARDY SUCCEEDS BLACK |newspaper=Sacramento Daily Union |volume=119 |number=97 |page=4 |date=May 29, 1910 |via=[[California Digital Newspaper Collection]] |quote=Superintendent of Public Instruction Edward Hyatt was informed ye.sterday of the election of Edward L. Hardy as president of the Sail Diego normal school, to succeed Samuel T. Black, resigned.}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://cdnc.ucr.edu/?a=d&d=IVP19350608.2.17&srpos=34&e=------193-en--20--21-byDA-txt-txIN-president+Walter+Hepner+----1935--- |title=Dr. Hardy Resigns President Of San Diego State |newspaper=[[Imperial Valley Press]] |volume=35 |number=42 |page=22 |date=June 8, 1935 |via=[[California Digital Newspaper Collection]] |quote=The state board of education by unanimous vote today appointed Walter R. Hepner, chief of the division of secondary education in the California state department of education, to succeed Dr. E. L. Hardy as president of San Diego State college. The board also unanimously accepted Dr. Hardy's resignation. He has been president of the college for the past 25 years... Hepner will take office September 1.}}</ref>
|-
|3
|
|Walter R. Hepner
|September 1, 1935
|August 31, 1952
|<ref>{{cite news |url=https://cdnc.ucr.edu/?a=d&d=OT19511017.1.22&srpos=4&e=------195-en--20--1-byDA-txt-txIN-president+Walter+Hepner+retire------- |title=Educator to Retire |newspaper=[[Oakland Tribune]] |volume=155 |number=109 |page=1 |date=October 17, 1951 |via=[[California Digital Newspaper Collection]] |quote=Dr. Walter Hepner today announced his retirement effective September 1, 1952, as president of San Diego State College. He will be 60 on October 30.}}</ref>
|-
|4
|
|[[Malcolm Love]]
|September 1, 1952
|September 1971
|<ref>{{cite news |url=https://latimes.newspapers.com/newspage/381172223/ |title=New President Named for San Diego College |date=April 25, 1952 |page=37 |newspaper=[[Los Angeles Times]] |url-access=subscription |quote=The State Board of Education today confirmed appointments of Dr. Malcolm A. Love as president of San Diego State College and Dr. John T. Wahlquist as president of San Jose State College. Dr. Love, 48, has been president of the University of Nevada for the last two years... He succeeds Dr. Walter Hepner, 60, San Diego State College president for 17 years, who is retiring.}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://latimes.newspapers.com/newspage/381179267/ |title=University Head Resigns |date=April 30, 1952 |page=19 |newspaper=[[Los Angeles Times]] |url-access=subscription |quote=The University of Nevada board of regents today accepted Dr. Malcolm Love's resignation as president. He has been appointed president of San Diego State College starting Sept. 1.}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://cdnc.ucr.edu/?a=d&d=HS19710714.1.10&srpos=5&e=------197-en--20--1--txt-txIN-%22Malcolm+A.+Love%22----1971--- |title=School Leader |page=10 |date=July 14, 1971 |newspaper=[[Hanford Sentinel]] |via=[[California Digital Newspaper Collection]] |quote=At the opening session Tuesday of the trustees two-day meeting, Board Chairman E. Guy Warren of Hayward deferred action on appointing a replacement for Malcolm A. Love, who will retire next September after 19 years in the job.}}</ref>
|- bgcolor="#e6e6aa"
|acting
|
|Donald E. Walker
|September 1971
|June 30, 1972
|<ref>{{cite news |url=https://cdnc.ucr.edu/?a=d&d=NCT19710923.1.19&srpos=4&e=------197-en--20--1--txt-txIN-%22Malcolm+Love%22----1971--- |title=College gets acting prexy |page=19 |newspaper=[[North County Times]] |volume=60 |date=September 23, 1971 |via=[[California Digital Newspaper Collection]] |quote=Donald E. Walker, vice president for academic affairs at San Diego State College, Wednesday was appointed acting president by state college Chancellor Glenn Dumke. Walker, 50, joined San Diego State in 1968 as academic affairs vice president and professor of sociology and public administration. Dumke said a search would continue for a permanent president to succeed Malcolm Love, who resigned this year after 19 years as president.}}</ref>
|-
|5
|
|Brage Golding
|July 1, 1972
|August 31, 1977
|<ref>{{cite news |url=https://cdnc.ucr.edu/?a=d&d=DS19720408.2.123&srpos=1&e=------197-en--20--1--txt-txIN-president+Brage+Golding----1972--- |title=S.D. State Names Head |newspaper=[[The Desert Sun]] |volume=45 |number=212 |page=17 |date=April 8, 1972 |via=[[California Digital Newspaper Collection]] |quote=Dr. Brage Golding, president of Wright State University, Dayton. Ohio, today was named president of San Diego State College. Dr. Golding’s appointment, to become effective this summer, was announced by George D. Hart, chairman of the Board of Trustees of The California State University and Colleges, and Chancellor Glenn S. Dumke... He will succeed Dr. Donald E. Walker, whose appointment, as acting president continues until June 30, 1972.}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://latimes.newspapers.com/newspage/383292644/ |title=The president of San Diego State University was named eighth president of Kent State University in Ohio. |date=June 10, 1977 |page=2 |newspaper=[[Los Angeles Times]] |url-access=subscription |quote=Dr. Brage Golding, 57, chemical researcher and founding president of Wright State University near Dayton, has been chief administrator at San Diego State since 1972. He will succeed Dr. Glenn Olds, former U.N. diplomat who has headed Kent State since 1971.}}</ref>
|- bgcolor="#e6e6aa"
|acting
|[[File:Trevor Colbourn portrait.jpg|70px]]
|Trevor Colbourn
|September 1, 1977
|July 1, 1978
|<ref>{{cite news |url=https://latimes.newspapers.com/newspage/384944919/ |title=Ex-SDSU Chief Makes Name at Florida College |date=December 20, 1978 |page=27 |newspaper=[[Los Angeles Times]] |url-access=subscription |quote=Colbourn served as acting president of San Diego State from Sept. 1, 1977, through July 1, 1978, following the resignation of controversial President Brage Golding.}}</ref>
|-
|6
|
|[[Thomas B. Day]]
|July 5, 1978
|July 4, 1996
|<ref>{{cite news |url=https://latimes.newspapers.com/newspage/384367624/ |title=SDSU Yearns to Overcome Its Image as 'Weak Sister' |date=April 23, 1978 |page=13 |newspaper=[[Los Angeles Times]] |url-access=subscription |quote=For eight months now, San Diego State has been without a permanent president. Although a selection was finally made last month, it will be July before University of Maryland administrator Thomas Day can take over the helm.}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://latimes.newspapers.com/newspage/384604306/ |title=New SDSU Chief Sets Out to Tackle Some Problems |date=July 18, 1978 |page=22 |first=Lanie |last=Jones |newspaper=[[Los Angeles Times]] |url-access=subscription |quote=It was only his 12th day on the job, but even as a newcomer, Thomas Day, San Diego State University's new president, had some strong views on the problems at his urban campus.}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://latimes.newspapers.com/newspage/157257544/ |title=University President to Step Down in '96 |date=February 2, 1995 |page=16 |first=Amy |last=Wallace |newspaper=[[Los Angeles Times]] |url-access=subscription |quote=Thomas B. Day, whose 17 years as president of San Diego State University have been marked by recent clashes with students and faculty, will step down within the next 18 months, university officials announced Wednesday.}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://cdnc.ucr.edu/?a=d&d=CC19960711.2.4&srpos=1&e=------199-en--20--1-byDA-txt-txIN-president+%22Stephen+L.+Weber%22----1996--- |title=Ballesteros To Quit In 1998 |newspaper=Calexico Chronicle |volume=92 |number=102 |page=1 |via=[[California Digital Newspaper Collection]] |quote=The notice of Ballesteros’ resignation came just four days before Day’s resignation as president of SDSU became effective.. Day served as president for 18 years. Stephen L. Weber has been named president of SDSU replacing Day.}}</ref>
|-
|7
|
|Stephen L. Weber
|July 5, 1996
|July 4, 2011
|<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.sdsu.edu/news/2010/08/sdsu-president-stephen-weber-retire-2011 |title=SDSU President Stephen Weber to Retire in 2011 |first=Gina |last=Jacobs |date=August 24, 2010 |publisher=SDSU}}</ref>
|-
|8
|
|[[Elliot Hirshman]]
|July 5, 2011
|June 30, 2017
|<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.sdsu.edu/news/2011/05/hirshman-named-president |title=Hirshman Named President |date=May 11, 2011 |publisher=SDSU}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.sdsu.edu/news/2011/07/sdsu-welcomes-eighth-president |title=SDSU Welcomes Eighth President |date=July 6, 2011 |publisher=SDSU}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://thedailyaztec.com/82023/news/president-hirshman-to-leave-sdsu/ |title=President Hirshman to leave SDSU |first=Kayla |last=Jimenez |date=March 8, 2017 |newspaper=The Daily Aztec}}</ref>
|- bgcolor="#e6e6aa"
|acting
|
|Sally Roush
|July 1, 2017
|June 27, 2018
|<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.latimes.com/local/lanow/la-me-san-diego-state-president-salary-20170524-story.html |title=Search begins for new San Diego State president as trustees announce salary for interim leader |first=Rosanna |last=Xia |date=May 24, 2017 |newspaper=[[Los Angeles Times]] |url-access=subscription}}</ref>
|-
|9
|
|[[Adela de la Torre]]
|June 28, 2018
|present
|<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.sdsu.edu/news/2018/01/adela-de-la-torre-appointed-president-san-diego-state-university |title=Adela de la Torre Appointed President of San Diego State University |date=January 31, 2018 |publisher=SDSU}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.sdsu.edu/news/2018/03/getting-know-president-designate-adela-de-la-torre |title=Getting to Know President-Designate Adela de la Torre |date=March 13, 2018 |publisher=SDSU}}</ref>
|-
|}

==Campus==
Several buildings are listed on the [[National Register of Historic Places]]:<ref name="histbldgs">{{cite web|url=http://dometest.sdsu.edu/projects/buildings/bldgs.html|title=Historic Buildings of San Diego State University|work=Infodome – SDSU Historic Buildings|publisher=San Diego State University|access-date=July 30, 2009|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060906094946/http://dometest.sdsu.edu/projects/buildings/bldgs.html|archive-date=September 6, 2006}}</ref>
* Scripps Cottage was finished in September 1931, funded with a donation of $6,000 from [[Ellen Browning Scripps]] matched with $5,000 from the state. It was the headquarters for the Associated Women Students and was used for meetings, women's activities, and served as a lounge.<ref name="Starr78">Starr, p. 78</ref> On September 3, 1968, the building was moved to make room for the new school. It was used mainly as a conference and meeting building, and in 1993, began serving as a center for international students.<ref name="Starr156">Starr, p. 156</ref>
* The area next to Scripps Cottage is home to a campus famous turtle pond. While this pond is colloquially known among students as the turtle pond, the university actually intended it to be a Koi Pond only, and the turtles are unwelcome guests left abandoned by previous owners.<ref>{{Cite web|author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.-->|date=January 17, 2007|title=Turtles are unwelcome guests at SDSU|url=http://thedailyaztec.com/19489/daily-aztec-stories/turtles-are-unwelcome-guests-at-sdsu/|access-date=September 18, 2020|website=The Daily Aztec}}</ref>
*[[Aztec Bowl (stadium)|Aztec Bowl]], costing $500,000 to construct, was dedicated on October 3, 1936, before 7,500 people. The stadium was initially supposed to be expanded to 45,000 seats, but instead was only expanded once with 5,000 seats in 1948. 
*[[Viejas Arena]] (originally known as Cox Arena) was constructed over part of Aztec Bowl, opening in July 1997.
* The CalCoast Credit Union Open Air Theatre<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.nbcsandiego.com/news/local/san-diego-state-open-air-theatre-232420841.html |title=SDSU's Open Air Theatre Gets Name Change |last1=Wood |first1=Matthew |date=November 13, 2013 |website=[[KNSD]] |publisher=[[NBCUniversal]] |access-date=April 24, 2016}}</ref> (formerly The Greek Bowl and the Open Air Theatre) was financed by the [[Works Progress Administration]] and the state for $200,000 and originally dedicated on May 3, 1941.<ref name="Starr96">Starr, p. 96</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/news/2011/may/03/open-air-theatre-still-stepping-out-at-70/ |title=SDSU's Open Air Theatre still stepping out at 70 |last1=Hall |first1=Matthew T. |date=May 3, 2011 |website=[[The San Diego Union-Tribune]]  |access-date=April 24, 2016}}</ref>
*[[Hepner Hall]] took on its current name on January 19, 1976, when the Montezuma Mesa building was renamed to honor Walter R. Hepner Hall. On May 1, 1977, the Humanities building was named after John Adams, a professor, administrator, and archivist. The Humanities-Social Sciences building was renamed in 1986 after geographer Alvena Storm and historian Abraham P. Nasatir.<ref name="Starr191">Starr, p. 191</ref>
*[[Peterson Gym]]nasium was finished in 1961.
*[[Hardy Memorial Tower]], in the [[Mission Revival]] style, resembles a Spanish bell tower and is one of the most recognizable buildings on campus. The building housed the university's first library, which featured [[mural]]s painted by the Works Progress Administration.<ref name="hardyhist">{{cite web|url=http://dometest.sdsu.edu/projects/buildings/hardy.html|title=Hardy Memorial Tower|work=Infodome – SDSU Historic Buildings|publisher=San Diego State University|access-date=July 30, 2009|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070208185858/http://dometest.sdsu.edu/projects/buildings/hardy.html|archive-date=February 8, 2007}}</ref>
* The WPA Mission Revival Communications building, Exercise and Nutritional Sciences building, Faculty-Staff Club, Life Sciences building and Annex, Little Theatre, Physical Plant Boiler Shop, and the Physical Science building are also listed on the National Register.<ref name="histbldgs" />
Other buildings on campus include:
* [[Malcolm A. Love Library]] acquired its 100,000th book on May 21, 1944. By the end of World War II it was adding about 8,000 books a year.<ref name="Starr125">Starr, p. 125</ref> In 1959, a {{convert|40000|sqft|m2|abbr=on}}. addition to the library was finished, but it was already deemed too small.<ref name="Starr138">Starr, p. 138</ref> In 1952, the library had 125,000 books, and state regulations required that old books be eliminated before new ones could be added. By 1965, there were more than 300,000 books housed in a library that could hold 230,000. This was ranked highest in state colleges in terms of library size. In the 1960s, construction of a new library began, which required the relocation of Scripps Cottage. The $8 million building was designed with {{convert|300000|sqft|m2|abbr=on}}. of space to accommodate one million books.<ref name="Starr1556">Starr, p. 155-56</ref> In February 1971, the library opened, housing 700,000 books, and was named after President Malcolm A. Love for his popularity on campus and his role in bringing State to university status.<ref name="Starr187">Starr, p. 187</ref> Governor [[Ronald Reagan]] said the library would "... serve as a lasting memorial to the man who led the college through its growing pains ... to one of the finest state colleges in California".<ref name="Starr188">Starr, p. 188</ref> The building was five stories high and was the largest building on campus. A four-story kinetic (and sound) sculpture entitled "Hanging Discus" by sculptor George Baker was specifically designed for the library and added to the interior staircase in November 1973.<ref name="Starr189">Starr, p. 189</ref>
* The Conrad Prebys [[Aztec Student Union]] (formerly Aztec Center) secured financing in 2010 and was completed in March 2014, replacing and approximately doubling<ref>{{cite news |last=Guerrero |first=Amanda |date=March 21, 2013 |title=A look at SDSU's student union throughout the years |url=http://thedailyaztec.com/2013/03/a-look-at-sdsus-student-union-throughout-the-years/ |access-date=June 27, 2014 |newspaper=[[The Daily Aztec]]}}</ref> in size from its former structure. The facility is the first student union in the United States to qualify for [[LEED Platinum]] distinction.<ref>{{cite book |last=Barlett |first=Peggy |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=YcldAAAAQBAJ |title=Sustainability in Higher Education: Stories and Strategies for Transformation |author2=Geoffrey W. Chase |date=August 16, 2013 |publisher=MIT Press |isbn=9780262519656 |page=254 |access-date=June 27, 2014}}</ref>
* The Parma Payne Goodall Alumni Center opened in October 2009, costing $11 million, and is home to the SDSU Alumni Association and the Campanile Foundation.<ref name="AlumniCenter">{{cite news |last=Lee |first=Jaimy |date=April 14, 2008 |title=Tucker Sadler has designs on $11m center at SDSU |url=http://www.accessmylibrary.com/coms2/summary_0286-34442995_ITM |access-date=October 11, 2008 |newspaper=[[San Diego Business Journal]]}}</ref>
* Storm and Nasatir Halls opened in 2014. Originally built in 1957, the 137,700 square foot complex received a complete makeover to house eight academic departments from the College of Arts & Letters, newly upgraded classrooms, faculty offices, research facilities, two large lecture halls, and a food service facility. Total cost for the construction neared $74 million, began in 2012, and was completed in 2014. Included in the opening were two new named facilities: Charles Hostler Hall (a 435-seat lecture auditorium) and the J. Keith Behner and Catherine M. Stiefel Auditorium (a 252-seat lecture hall).<ref name="ReferenceA">{{cite web|author=Natalia Elko |url=http://newscenter.sdsu.edu/sdsu_newscenter/news.aspx?s=74762 |title=Storm and Nasatir Halls Grand Opening and Dedication|publisher=Newscenter.sdsu.edu |date=February 21, 2014 |access-date=August 17, 2014}}</ref> Storm Hall was named in honor of geography department professor Alvena Storm, who served as department chair, and on the faculty for over 40 years since 1926. Nasatir Hall was named for Abraham P. Nasatir, a professor emeritus of history who taught at SDSU for 46 years (1928–74) and was later internationally recognized for his research on California history, receiving four Fulbright Fellowships.<ref name="ReferenceA" />
[[File:College West, San Diego, CA, USA - panoramio (16).jpg|thumb|Conrad Prebys Aztec Student Union]]

===Residence halls===
In 1937, Quetzal Hall, the first dormitory, opened for 40 women students and was located off campus.<ref name="Starr96"/> In 1968, the coed dorm Zura Hall was built, and more rooms were added later.<ref name="Starr168">Starr, p. 168</ref> Chapultepec Hall held 580 students when first built.<ref name="Starr220">Starr, p. 220</ref>

Today, the university owns and operates housing for over 7,600 students in residence halls and student apartments, fraternity row, and language and honors housing. There are 22 dorm buildings located on campus.<ref>{{cite web |title=Housing and Residential Education |url=https://housing.sdsu.edu/communities |website=San Diego State University |access-date=June 17, 2025}}</ref>

Approximately 70 percent of first-time freshmen live in on-campus housing, while about 24 percent of the overall undergraduate student body resides in on-campus housing.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://asir.sdsu.edu/Documents/CommonDataSets/CDS_2024-25.pdf|title=SDSU Analytic Studies and Institutional Research|access-date=June 17, 2025}}</ref> SDSU offers themed living communities in the freshman and upperclassman housing, such as "pathways for transfers", "[[gender-neutral housing]]", and "explore San Diego".

===Off-campus facilities===

====Mount Laguna Observatory====
{{main|Mount Laguna Observatory}}
Since 1968, SDSU's Astronomy Department has owned [[Mount Laguna Observatory]] located in the [[Cleveland National Forest]].<ref name="Mount Laguna Observatory">[[Mount Laguna Observatory]]</ref>

====Biological field stations====
*Operated by the SDSU College of Sciences:<ref>[http://fs.sdsu.edu/kf/ fs.sdsu.edu/kf/]{{subscription required}} {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110809164055/http://fs.sdsu.edu/kf/ |date=August 9, 2011 }}</ref>
** Santa Margarita Ecological Reserve
** Sky Oaks Field Station
** Fortuna Mountain Research Reserve
** [[Tijuana River National Estuarine Research Reserve]]

====Coastal and Marine Institute Laboratory (CMIL)====
The Coastal and Marine Institute Laboratory (CMIL), formerly known as the Coastal Waters Laboratory, is an academic laboratory operated by the SDSU College of Sciences. It is located on a coastal site on the grounds of the old San Diego Naval Training Center (now part of [[Liberty Station]]).

===Branch campuses===

====SDSU Imperial Valley====
SDSU operates a branch campus, Imperial Valley Campus (SDSU Imperial Valley) located in [[Calexico, California]], with an additional campus in [[Brawley, California]]. SDSU Imperial Valley includes a research park and related facilities. The campus originally served only upper division, teacher certification, and graduate students but now serves a selective cohort of freshmen and sophomores pursuing degrees in criminal justice, liberal studies, or psychology.<ref>[http://www.ivcampus.sdsu.edu/About_SDSU_IVC/] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060908033807/http://www.ivcampus.sdsu.edu/About_SDSU_IVC/|date=September 8, 2006}}</ref>

====SDSU Georgia====
{{main|San Diego State University Georgia Campus}}
SDSU Georgia is a branch campus located in [[Tbilisi]], Georgia, in the former Soviet Republic of Georgia.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://georgia.sdsu.edu |title=San Diego State University Georgia |publisher=Georgia.sdsu.edu |date=January 4, 2016 |access-date=March 28, 2016}}</ref> SDSU Georgia is run in conjunction with three Georgian universities: [[Georgian Technical University]] (GTU), [[Ilia State University]] (ISU), and [[Tbilisi State University]] (TSU).<ref name="georgia.sdsu.edu">{{cite web |url=http://georgia.sdsu.edu/welcome-to-sdsu-georgia/about-us/ |title=About Us &#124; San Diego State University Georgia |access-date=November 3, 2015 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151208093947/http://georgia.sdsu.edu/welcome-to-sdsu-georgia/about-us/ |archive-date=December 8, 2015 }}</ref> The SDSU-Georgia branch campus is offering courses leading to science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) bachelor's degrees.<ref name="georgia.sdsu.edu"/>

==== Former branch campus locations ====
SDSU formerly operated a campus in [[North County (San Diego area)|North County]], which was later converted into [[California State University San Marcos]]. In the South Bay, SDSU operated a campus in [[National City, California]]. This campus shared facilities with [[Southwestern College (California)|Southwestern College]]. The South Bay Campus is now closed indefinitely.
{{Clear}}

==Academics and student body==
{| class="wikitable" style="font-size:88%; text-align:center; float:right; clear:right; margin-left:1em"
|+ style="font-size:120%" |''Fall Freshman Profile<ref name=Admissions>{{cite web |url=https://asir.sdsu.edu/interactive-data-visualizations/applications-interactive/ |title=First-time Freshmen Apps, Admits, and New Enrollees |publisher=San Diego State University Analytic Studies & Institutional Research |access-date=January 24, 2018}}</ref><ref name="asir.sdsu.edu">{{cite web | url=https://asir.sdsu.edu/data-profiles/sdsu-at-a-glance-sd-campus/ | title=SDSU at a Glance – SD Campus – Analytic Studies & Institutional Research }}</ref>''
|-
! &nbsp; 
! 2024 || 2023!! 2022!! 2021!! 2020!! 2019!! 2018 !! 2017 !! 2016 !! 2015 !! 2014
|-
! Applicants
| 90,112 || 82,691 || 76,821 || 67,602 || 64,700 || 69,713 || 68,897 || 60,554 || 60,545 || 58,898 || 56,759
|-
! Admits
| 32,249 || 28,344 || 30,231 || 25,610 || 23,711 || 23,685 || 23,676 || 21,311 || 20,858 || 20,204 || 19,524
|-
! % Admitted
| 35.8 || 34.3 || 39.4 || 37.9 || 36.6 || 34.0 || 34.4 || 35.2 || 34.5 || 34.3 || 34.4
|-
! Enrolled
| 6,538 || 6,095 || 6,514 || 5,236 || 4,798 ||5,210 || 5,680 ||5,301 || 5,011 || 5,142 || 4,978
|-
! Avg GPA
| 3.84 || 3.86 || 3.87 || 3.82 || 3.81 || 3.78 || 3.73 || 3.71 || 3.68 || 3.69 || 3.69
|-
! ACT
| N/A || N/A || N/A || N/A || 25.2 || 25.2 || 25.2 || 25.4 || 25.2 || 25.0 || 24.5
|-
! SAT*
| N/A || N/A || N/A || N/A || 1198 || 1212 || 1208 || 1195 || 1117 || 1118 || 1115
|-
|*<small>(out of 1600)</small>
|}

The university awards 190<ref>{{Cite web |title=Achievements & Distinctions |url=http://advancement.sdsu.edu/AandD/index.html |access-date=February 1, 2017 |website=advancement.sdsu.edu}}</ref> [[bachelor's degrees]], 91 [[master's degrees]], and 30 [[doctorate|doctoral]] degrees, including [[Doctor of Education|EdD]], [[Doctor of Physical Therapy|DPT]], [[Juris Doctor|JD]], [[Doctor of Audiology|AuD]], [[Doctor of Nursing Practice|DNP]], and [[Doctor of Philosophy|PhD]] programs in collaboration with other universities. SDSU also offers 26 different [[teaching credential]]s.<ref>{{cite web |title=California State University Credential Programs • 2013–2014 |url=http://degrees.calstate.edu/uploads/55/64/5564d4b6ec1584227ca2d1054c759f0f/Credential-Programs-08212012.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150424234126/http://degrees.calstate.edu/uploads/55/64/5564d4b6ec1584227ca2d1054c759f0f/Credential-Programs-08212012.pdf |archive-date=April 24, 2015 |access-date=May 16, 2015 |publisher=Degrees.calstate.edu}}</ref> The university offers more doctoral degrees than any other campus in the entire [[California State University]], while also enrolling the largest student body of doctoral students in the system.<ref name="PhD">{{cite web |author1=Monica Malhotra |author2=Lisa Limbeek |title=CSU &#124; AS &#124; Student Enrollment in Degree Programs Report – Fall 2012 |url=http://www.calstate.edu/as/stat_reports/2012-2013/fmaj08.htm |access-date=August 17, 2014 |publisher=Calstate.edu |archive-date=December 24, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131224120421/http://www.calstate.edu/as/stat_reports/2012-2013/fmaj08.htm |url-status=dead }}</ref> In 2015, SDSU enrolled the most doctoral students in its entire history.<ref>{{cite web |title=SDSU Analytic Studies and Institutional Research |url=http://asir.sdsu.edu/app/reports/enrollsum/all_enrollsum_134.pdf?CFID=278754&CFTOKEN=86795231 |access-date=October 14, 2014}}{{dead link|date=December 2017|bot=InternetArchiveBot|fix-attempted=yes}}</ref>

San Diego State University is consistently one of the most applied-to universities in the United States, receiving over 90,000 undergraduate applications (including transfer and first time freshman) for the fall 2024 semester and accepting over 32,000 for an admission rate of 35.8 percent across the university,<ref name=Admissions/>

In Fall 2022, SDSU hit an all-time high enrollment record student body of nearly 37,000<ref>{{cite web |title=SDSU Budget: FY 2022/23 Update |url=https://view.comms.sdsu.edu/?qs=b486b6babc3df7a3cd5aa740340e051170706c3f5afe67d89becac8965d6b9405dda8de12b50a63fd451b2bbbdfc64466d3feb93e9ae10ebc1999b0a69c6f550481873fc8fa1d8bd745c7b9d3781e68d |access-date=December 21, 2022 |website=San Diego State University}}</ref> and an alumni base of more than 400,000.<ref>{{cite web |title=Home – SDSU |url=https://www.sdsu.edu/ |work=sdsu.edu}}</ref>

San Diego State University is a [[Hispanic-serving institution]] and an [[Minority-serving institution|Asian American Native American Pacific Islander serving institution]] (AANAPISI).

{| class="wikitable floatright sortable collapsible"; text-align:right; font-size:80%;"
|+ style="font-size:90%" |Undergraduate demographics as of Fall 2023
|-
! Race and ethnicity<ref name=Ethnicity>{{cite web |title=San Diego State University |url=https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/school/?122409-San-Diego-State-University|access-date=May 24, 2025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250525032931/https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/school/?122409-San-Diego-State-University|archive-date=May 25, 2025}}</ref>
! colspan="2" data-sort-type=number |Total
|-
| [[Hispanic and Latino Americans|Hispanic]]
|align=right| {{bartable|36|%|2||background:green}}
|-
| [[Non-Hispanic whites|White]]
|align=right| {{bartable|34|%|2||background:cyan}}
|-
| [[Asian Americans|Asian]]
|align=right| {{bartable|13|%|2||background:orange}}
|-
| Two or more races
|align=right| {{bartable|7|%|2||background:violet}}
|-
| [[African Americans|Black]]
|align=right| {{bartable|4|%|2||background:purple}}
|-
| Unknown
|align=right| {{bartable|3|%|2||background:tan}}
|-
| [[Foreign national]]
|align=right| {{bartable|2|%|2||background:#008080}}
|-
! colspan="4" data-sort-type=number |[[Economic diversity]]
|-
| [[American lower class|Low-income]]{{efn|The percentage of students who received an income-based federal [[Pell grant]] intended for low-income students.}}
|align=right| {{bartable|32|%|2||background:blue}}
|-
| [[Affluence in the United States|Affluent]]{{efn|The percentage of students who are a part of the [[American middle class]] at the bare minimum.}}
|align=right| {{bartable|68|%|2||background:red}}
|}

The university's 1987 student body of 35,945 FTES (Full-Time Equivalent Students) made it at the time the largest university in California and the tenth largest university in the United States.<ref name="Starr193">Starr, p. 193</ref> Due to the overwhelming number of students and lack of facilities and majors, The California State University Board of Trustees voted to cap enrollment for SDSU at 33,000. However, in 1993 enrollment dropped to 26,800 (the lowest since 1973) due to a financial crisis.<ref name="Starr193"/> Nonetheless, enrollment has fluctuated through the years and rose back to nearly 35,000 (exceeding the cap) in 2008. For the fall 2016 semester, the university had a total enrollment of 33,778 students – approximately 29,046 undergraduate and 4,732 postgraduate<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://newscenter.sdsu.edu/mediarelations/fastfacts.aspx|title=Fast Facts {{!}} SDSU|website=newscenter.sdsu.edu|access-date=February 1, 2017}}</ref> – making it one of the largest research universities in the state of California. In fall 2013, SDSU had the most doctoral students enrolled in its history at 534 students,<ref name=PhD/> also the highest amount of doctorate-seeking students enrolled across the 23-campus CSU system.<ref name="PhD"/>
{{Clear}}

==Rankings and reputation==
<!-- Please put department-specific rankings in the article for that particular college-->
{{Infobox US university ranking
| THE_WSJ = 251
| Forbes = 77
| USNWR_NU = 109
| Wamo_NU = 99
| QS_W = 1001–1200
| THES_W = 1001-1200
| USNWR_W = 708
| ARWU_W = 601-700
}}
{|class="floatright" style="width: 16em; background-color:#f8f9fa; border: 1px solid #a2a9b1; color:black; padding:0.2em;"
|+2024-2025 ''USNWR'' Best Regional Colleges West Rankings<ref name=USNWR>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.usnews.com/best-colleges/san-diego-state-university-1151/overall-rankings |title=San Diego State University Rankings |magazine=U.S. News & World Report |access-date=May 24, 2025}}</ref>
|-
| Top Performers on [[Social Mobility]]
| 92
|-
| Top [[Public university|Public Schools]]
| 52
|-
| Best College for [[Veterans]]
| 70
|-
| Best [[Value investing|Value]] School
| 162
|-
| [[Nursing]]
| 96
|-
| [[Economics]]
| 114
|-
| Best [[Undergraduate]] [[Engineering]] Programs
| 98 (At schools whose highest degree is a doctorate)
|}
{| class="wikitable sortable collapsible collapsed" style="float:right" "text-align:center"
|-
! colspan=4 style="background:#FF0000; color:#FFFFFF; {{box-shadow border|a|#000000|2px}}"| 2025 USNWR Graduate School Rankings<ref name="USNWR Grad School Rankings">{{cite magazine|title=SDSU's Graduate School Rankings|magazine=U.S. News & World Report|access-date=May 24, 2025|url=https://www.usnews.com/best-graduate-schools/san-diego-state-university-122409/overall-rankings}}</ref>
|-
! Program
! Ranking
|-
| [[Rehabilitation Counseling]] || 7
|-
| [[Speech–language pathology|Speech–Language Pathology]] || 11
|-
| [[Audiology]] || 23
|-
| [[Clinical Psychology]] || 27
|-
| [[Public health]] || 27
|-
| [[Education]] || 45
|-
| [[Physical Therapy]] || 50
|-
| [[Social Work]] || 51
|-
| Part-time [[MBA]] || 52
|-
| [[Public policy school|Public Affairs]] || 72
|-
| [[Psychology]] || 81
|-
| [[Fine Arts]] || 89
|-
| [[Earth Sciences]] || 98
|-
| [[Chemistry]] || 108
|-
| [[Biological Sciences]] || 119
|-
| [[Mathematics]] || 133
|-
| [[Engineering]] || 173
|}

San Diego State University ranked 231th in the U.S. for in-state students in ''[[PayScale]]''{{'s}} 2024 "Best Value Colleges", which ranked 1,978 colleges and universities for [[return on investment]] (ROI). According to ''PayScale'''s projections, SDSU has a 20-year net return on investment of $540,000 for an in-state student.<ref>{{Cite web |title=San Diego State University (SDSU) - Main Campus Salary {{!}} PayScale |url=https://www.payscale.com/research/US/School=San_Diego_State_University_(SDSU)_-_Main_Campus/Salary |access-date=2025-02-20 |website=www.payscale.com}}</ref>

''[[Money (magazine)|Money]]'' magazine ranked SDSU 79th in the country out of 739 schools evaluated for its 2020 "Best Colleges for Your Money" edition.<ref>{{cite magazine |title=The Best Colleges in America, Ranked by Value |url=http://money.com/money/best-colleges/ |magazine=Money |date=August 25, 2020}}</ref>  In 2024, ''[[Washington Monthly]]'' ranked SDSU 99th among 438 national universities in the U.S. based on Montclair State's contribution to the public good, as measured by social mobility, research, and promoting public service.<ref>{{Cite web |title=2024 National University Rankings |url=https://washingtonmonthly.com/2024-college-guide/national/ |access-date=2025-03-01 |website=Washington Monthly |language=en-US}}</ref>

''[[U.S. News & World Report]]'' 2021 rankings:<ref name="USNWR" /> SDSU is tied for 143rd overall among 389 national universities, tied for 65th among 209 "Top Public Schools", tied for 100th out of 142 "Best Colleges for Veterans", and 153rd out of 180 "Best Value Schools" among national universities in the U.S. The [[San Diego State University College of Engineering|College of Engineering]]'s undergraduate program ranks tied for 102nd out of 206 schools whose highest engineering degree offered is a doctorate.

The ''[[Academic Ranking of World Universities]]'' ranked San Diego State University as one of the top 200 world universities for Economics/Business (between 151 and 200).<ref>"Academic Ranking of World Universities 2017: USA". Shanghai Ranking Consultancy. Retrieved August 29, 2017.</ref>
[[File:Sdsu-engineering-eis-building.jpg|thumb|Engineering & Interdisciplinary Science Building]]
In graduate school rankings, [[QS Global 200 Business Schools Report]] ranks SDSU's business college the 80th best in all of North America.<ref>[http://topmba.prod.qs.com/sites/qs.topmba/files/qs-global200-business-schools-report-2013_0.pdf] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130626032751/http://topmba.prod.qs.com/sites/qs.topmba/files/qs-global200-business-schools-report-2013_0.pdf|date=June 26, 2013}}</ref><ref>[https://www.topmba.com/mba-rankings/us/2018 QS MBA Rankings.] 2018.</ref> Bloomberg Businessweek ranked SDSU as #84 among business colleges in the United States.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bloomberg.com/graphics/2017-best-business-schools/|title=These Are The Best Graduate Business Schools of 2017|first=Shahien|last=Nasiripour|agency=Bloomberg}}</ref> As there are 1656 schools offering business degree programs in the U.S. (529 of which are accredited by AACSB, the bulk of the others by ACBSP), these rankings would put SDSU in the top 5% of American business schools (or the top 15% of American AACSB schools).<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.forbes.com/top-colleges |title=America's Top Colleges – 2023 |date=2023 |website=forbes.com |access-date=September 18, 2023}}</ref> Its [[Master of Business Administration|MBA]] program is also ranked by QS as between the 151st and 200th best in the world.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.topmba.com/mba-rankings/global/2018|title=World University Rankings – Full Time MBA: Global 2018|date=November 23, 2017|website=TopMBA.com}}</ref>

The [[College and university rankings#Center for World University Rankings|Center For World University Rankings]] ranks San Diego State University as #376 globally and #126 nationally as of 2017. The CWUR rankings place emphasis on alumni employment and quality of teaching, rather than being purely research-based like ARWU's.<ref>[https://cwur.org/2018-19.php CWUR 2017 – World University Rankings].</ref>

SDSU is also a top producer of U.S. Fulbright Scholars, the U.S. government's flagship international educational exchange program. SDSU has had more than 65 students receive Fulbright Scholarships since 2005.<ref name="newscenter.sdsu.edu">{{cite web|url=http://newscenter.sdsu.edu/marcomm/rankings.aspx |title=Achievements & Distinctions |publisher=Newscenter.sdsu.edu |access-date=August 17, 2014}}</ref> The university ranks No. 30 as the nation's best universities for veterans, according to Military Times Edge.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://newscenter.sdsu.edu/sdsu_newscenter/news.aspx?s=72479 |title=SDSU Ranks No. 30 on List of Best Universities for Vets &#124; NewsCenter &#124; SDSU |publisher=Newscenter.sdsu.edu |date=October 11, 2010 |access-date=August 17, 2014}}</ref> SDSU ranks among the top universities for economic and campus ethnic diversity according to ''U.S. News & World Report's'' "America's Best Colleges 2012".<ref name="newscenter.sdsu.edu" /> Nearly 45 percent of all SDSU graduates are the first in their family to receive a college degree.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://blogs.calstate.edu/graduates/?cat=29 |title=Graduation Facts &#124; 100,000 Graduates Strong |publisher=Blogs.calstate.edu |access-date=August 17, 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140629103959/http://blogs.calstate.edu/graduates/?cat=29 |archive-date=June 29, 2014}}</ref>

Internationally, SDSU offers 335 international education programs in 52 countries. Thirty-four SDSU programs now require international experience for graduation. SDSU ranks first in California among universities of its type in California and third among all universities in California for students studying abroad as part of their college experience. SDSU also ranks 22nd among universities nationwide for the number of students studying abroad (Institute of International Education). Since 2000, nearly 12,000 students have studied abroad: a 900 percent increase in that time. SDSU's undergraduate international business program ranks eleventh in the nation, according to ''U.S. News & World Report''{{'}}s "America's Best Colleges 2012". SDSU is ranked fifth in Sports Management; 23rd in the MBA/MA in Latin American Studies; and 46th in the MBA/Juris Doctor program by Eduniversal for each programs' international outreach and reputation in 2011. SDSU and Universidad Autónoma de Baja California in Mexico offered the first transnational dual degree between the United States and Mexico, in 1994, through the MEXUS/International Business program. SDSU's international business program also runs transnational dual degree programs with Brazil, Canada, Chile, and Mexico. SDSU's Language Acquisition Resource Center is one of nine sites selected by the U.S. Department of Education to serve as a National Language Resource Center.<ref name="newscenter.sdsu.edu" />

SDSU is home to the first-ever MBA program in Global Entrepreneurship.<ref>{{cite news|last=Walker|first=Peter|title=The globe-trotting MBA|date=December 4, 2006 |url=http://www.cnn.com/2006/BUSINESS/11/22/execed.global2/index.html?eref=rss_latest|publisher=CNN|access-date=June 27, 2014}}</ref> As part of the program, students study at four universities worldwide, including the United States, China, the Middle East, and India.<ref name="BizGlob">{{cite magazine |last=Di Meglio |first=Francesca |title=San Diego State's Global Perspective |date=November 21, 2006 |url=http://www.businessweek.com/stories/2006-11-21/san-diego-states-global-perspectivebusinessweek-business-news-stock-market-and-financial-advice |magazine=Bloomberg Businessweek |access-date=June 27, 2014 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20140628053424/http://www.businessweek.com/stories/2006-11-21/san-diego-states-global-perspectivebusinessweek-business-news-stock-market-and-financial-advice |archive-date=June 28, 2014 |url-status=dead}}</ref> Corporate partners include [[Qualcomm]], [[Invitrogen]], [[Intel]], [[Microsoft]], and [[KPMG]].<ref name="BizGlob" /> In 1970, SDSU founded the first [[women's studies]] program in the country.

''[[Modern Healthcare]]'' ranked SDSU second for graduate schools for physician executives in relation to their Master in Public Health program.<ref>{{cite web
|url=http://newscenter.sdsu.edu/sdsu_newscenter/news.aspx?s=72190 |title=SDSU No. 2 Grad School for Physician Execs |work=newscenter.sdsu.edu |access-date=September 12, 2010}}</ref> SDSU is ranked No. 9 in Fortune Small Business's "America's Best Colleges For Entrepreneurs".<ref>{{cite news|title=America's Best Colleges for Entrepreneurs |url=https://money.cnn.com/galleries/2007/fsb/0708/gallery.bestcolleges_undergrads.fsb/9.html|work=Fortune Small Business|access-date=April 29, 2012}}</ref>

In 2016, San Diego State University's Conrad Prebys Aztec Student Union achieved LEED Double Platinum status, joining an elite group of energy-efficient buildings. The recognition is shared by fewer than two dozen facilities around the world.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.sdsu.edu/news/2017/01/student-union-earns-leed-double-platinum-status|title=Student Union Earns LEED Double Platinum Status|website=www.sdsu.edu|date=January 27, 2017 }}</ref>

==Organization and administration==

===Schools and colleges===
SDSU comprises three [[Liberal arts education|liberal arts]] colleges:
* [[San Diego State University College of Arts & Letters|College of Arts & Letters]]
* [[San Diego State University College of Sciences|College of Sciences]]
* [[San Diego State University College of Professional Studies & Fine Arts|College of Professional Studies & Fine Arts]]
and five vocational colleges,
* [[San Diego State University Global Campus|Global Campus (and American Language Institute)]]
* [[SDSU Fowler College of Business Administration|Fowler College of Business]]
* [[San Diego State University College of Education|College of Education]]
* [[San Diego State University College of Engineering|College of Engineering]]
* College of Health & Human Services (including the [[Graduate School of Public Health, San Diego State University|Graduate School of Public Health]])
It is also home to the Weber Honors College.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://honors.sdsu.edu/ |title=Weber Honors College Homepage |publisher=honors.sdsu.edu |access-date=August 8, 2024}}</ref>
[[File:College West, San Diego, CA, USA - panoramio (33).jpg|thumb|[[SDSU Fowler College of Business|Fowler College of Business]]]]
SDSU has two named schools established in the university by permanent endowments:
* L. Robert Payne School of Hospitality and Tourism Management<ref>{{cite web |url=https://htm.sdsu.edu/about_us |title=About - L. Robert Payne School of Hospitality and Tourism Management |publisher=htm.sdsu.edu |access-date=August 8, 2024 }}</ref>
* Charles W. Lamden School of Accountancy<ref>{{cite web|author=Janie Chang |url=https://business.sdsu.edu/departments/accountancy|title=Charles W. Lamden School of Accountancy - Fowler College of Business - SDSU |publisher=business.sdsu.edu |access-date=August 8, 2024}}</ref>

Additionally, SDSU has 11 focused schools:
* School of Communication
* School of Public Affairs
* School of Music and Dance
* School of Art and Design
* School of Exercise and Nutritional Science
* School of Social Work
* [[Graduate School of Public Health, San Diego State University|Graduate School of Public Health]]
* School of Journalism and Media Studies
* School of Nursing
* School of Speech, Language, and Hearing Sciences
* School of Theatre, Television, and Film

===Endowment===

The [[financial endowment]] of SDSU is valued at $495.6 million as of 2021.<ref name=NACUBO/> The primary [[philanthropy|philanthropic]] arm of San Diego State University is the Campanile Foundation, controlled by the University Advancement division of the university. The [[San Diego State University Research Foundation]], an auxiliary corporation owned and controlled by the university, is the manager and administrator of all [[philanthropy|philanthropic]] funds and external funding for the university and its affiliated and auxiliary foundations and corporations.

As of June 30, 2021, permanent assets of the SDSU Campanile Foundation totaled over $520 million.<ref>{{cite web |page=3 |url=https://tcf.sdsu.edu/_resources/files/campanile2021final.pdf |title=The Campanile Foundation Financial Report |publisher=SDSU Campanile Foundation |access-date=August 8, 2024 }}</ref>

For the 2004–2005 academic year, SDSU received over US$157 million in external funding from grants and contracts, as well as an additional US$57 million in donations and charitable giving.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.calstate.edu/UA/0405externalreport/campus/san_diego.shtml |title=2004–2005 Annual Report on External Funding, California State University |publisher=Calstate.edu |access-date=January 1, 2013 }}{{Dead link|date=August 2025 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> For 2005–2006, SDSU received US$152 million in grants and contracts to support research. This is followed by US$47.7 million in donations, gifts and other charitable giving.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.calstate.edu/ua/0506externalreport/campus/san_diego.shtml |title=2005–2006 Annual Report on External Support to the CSU – San Diego State University |publisher=Calstate.edu |access-date=January 1, 2013 |archive-date=October 21, 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071021052359/http://calstate.edu/ua/0506externalreport/campus/san_diego.shtml |url-status=dead }}</ref>

==Athletics==
{{Main|San Diego State Aztecs}}

{| class="wikitable" style="float:right; clear:right; margin:0 0 1em 1em;"
|-
{{CollegePrimaryHeader|team=San Diego State Aztecs|Men's Sports|Women's Sports}}
|-
| [[San Diego State Aztecs baseball|Baseball]] || [[San Diego State Aztecs women's basketball|Basketball]]
|-
| [[San Diego State Aztecs football|Football]]|| [[San Diego State Aztecs women's cross country|Cross country]]
|-
| [[San Diego State Aztecs men's basketball|Basketball]]|| [[San Diego State Aztecs women's golf|Golf]]
|-
| [[San Diego State Aztecs men's golf|Golf]]|| [[San Diego State Aztecs women's lacrosse|Lacrosse]]
|-
| [[San Diego State Aztecs men's soccer|Soccer]] || [[San Diego State Aztecs women's soccer|Soccer]]
|-
| [[San Diego State Aztecs men's tennis|Tennis]]|| [[San Diego State Aztecs softball|Softball]]
|-
|  || [[San Diego State Aztecs women's swimming & diving|Swimming & Diving]]
|-
|  || [[San Diego State Aztecs women's tennis|Tennis]]
|-
|  || [[San Diego State Aztecs women's track & field|Track & Field]]<sup>†</sup>
|-
|  || [[San Diego State Aztecs women's volleyball|Volleyball]]
|-
|  || [[San Diego State Aztecs women's water polo|Water Polo]]
|-
| colspan="2" style="{{NCAA secondary color cell|San Diego State Aztecs}}" | {{small|† – Track and field includes both indoor and outdoor.}}
|}

SDSU's intercollegiate athletic teams are referred to as the "Aztecs". The university currently sponsors six men's and eleven women's sports programs at the varsity level.

The first major sport on campus was [[rowing (sport)|rowing]], but it initially had no coaches or tournaments.<ref name="Starr28">Starr, p. 28</ref> Other sports that developed early in the campus's history were tennis, basketball, golf, croquet, and baseball.<ref name="Starr28"/> Early on, the school's football program had such a limited selection of players that faculty had to be used to fill the roster.<ref name="Starr28"/> When the college merged with the junior college in 1921, the college became a member of the Junior College Conference. After the school won most of the conference titles in a variety of sports, the league requested that college leave out of fairness to the smaller schools. For its football program, the team outscored its opponents 249 to 52 in ten games, resulting in the first sales of season tickets in 1923.<ref name="Starr60">Starr, p. 60</ref> From 1925 to 1926, the college played as an independent. It then joined the [[Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference|Southern California Conference]] in 1926, where it did not win a football conference championship until 1936. However, in other sports including tennis and basketball, it excelled.<ref name="Starr60"/> The college remained with the conference until 1939, when it joined the [[California Collegiate Athletic Association]].<ref name="Starr1025">Starr, p. 102, 105</ref>

The basketball team reached and won multiple championship games during the 1930–1940s, including a conference title in 1931, 1934, 1937, and 1939. It reached the national championship in 1939 and 1940, losing in the final rounds. However, in 1941 the college returned and won the college's first national title.<ref name="Starr1025"/> In track, the team won conference titles in 1935, 1936, 1937, 1938, and 1939.<ref name="Starr1025"/> The football team won conference titles in 1936 and 1937, and the baseball team won three conference titles and placed second three times between 1935 and 1941.<ref name="Starr1025"/>

In 1955, the Aztec Club was established and raised $20,000 a year by 1957. The club worked in increasing athletic scholarships, hiring better coaches, and developing the college's intercollegiate athletic programs. In 1956, students approved through a vote of allowing a mandatory student activity fee, with a portion going to athletics. By the end of the decade the budget had doubled to $40,000. The campus's most successful sports program during the 1950s was cross-country, when the team won eight straight conference titles and [[Amateur Athletic Union|AAU]] regional titles and placed high in national competitions. Basketball teams ranged from last in the conference to multiple conference, regional, and national appearances. The football program had its first undefeated team in 1951, but in the last part of the decade earned the worst records in the school's football program under the direction of head coach [[Paul Governali]].<ref name="Starr1445">Starr, p. 144-45</ref>

Under Governali, the campus's football program suffered due to Governali's policy of not recruiting players. To improve the program, Love hired in 1961 [[Don Coryell]], who led the program win three consecutive championships (1966–68), and 104 wins, 19 losses, and 2 ties by the time he left SDSU. Coryell was assisted by [[John Madden]], [[Joe Gibbs]], and [[Rod Dowhower]], among others. In Coryell's first year, attendance at home games averaged 8,000 people, but by 1966 it had doubled to 16,000. This later jumped to 26,000–41,000 per game with the addition of the new San Diego Stadium. At some games, attendance was larger than at [[San Diego Chargers]] games. There were several undefeated seasons and many players broke records for most catches, touchdowns, and passing yards. In 1969, San Diego State College moved into [[National Collegiate Athletic Association|NCAA]] [[Division I (NCAA)|Division I]], leaving the California Collegiate Athletic Association. In 1972, Coyrell left to pursue coaching in the NFL.<ref name="Starr15962">Starr, p. 159-62</ref>

Basketball also did well, with the 1967–68 team being ranked the number one college-level team in the nation, although it did not win a national title. The Aztecs also won the 1960 CCAA baseball title and multiple national championships throughout the 1960s in track, cross country, and swimming.<ref name="Starr15962"/>

[[Image:MarshallFaulkSDSUGameBall.jpg|thumb|right|[[Marshall Faulk]]'s game ball from the September 14, 1991, game, when he ran for an NCAA record {{convert|386|yd|m}} and scored 44 points.]]

By 1970–71, the campus had 14 NCAA sports. The 1973 men's volleyball team won the NCAA national championship which was the first NCAA national title since moving to Division I status.<ref name="Starr221">Starr, p. 221</ref>

SDSU competes in [[National Collegiate Athletic Association|NCAA]] [[Division I (NCAA)|Division I]] ([[Football Bowl Subdivision|FBS]]). Its primary conference is the [[Mountain West Conference]]; its women's rowing team competes in the [[American Athletic Conference]], its women's [[water polo]] team participates in the [[Golden Coast Conference]], and its men's [[soccer]] team is a single-sport member of the [[Pac-12 Conference]] (Pac-12). The ice hockey team competes in the [[American Collegiate Hockey Association|ACHA]] with other western region club teams (www.sdsuhockey.com). The university colors are scarlet (red) and black, SDSU's athletic teams are called the "[[Aztecs]]", and its [[mascot]] is the [[Aztec army|Aztec Warrior]], formerly referred to as "Monty Montezuma".

As of 2021, athletes from the university have won 14 medals at the [[List of American universities with Olympic medals|Olympic Games]].

===Baseball===

{{main|San Diego State Aztecs baseball}}

The baseball team plays at [[Tony Gwynn Stadium]], opened in 1997 and named after former SDSU baseball and basketball player, late baseball head coach, and [[Major League Baseball]] first ballot [[National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum|Hall of Fame]] inductee [[Tony Gwynn]], who played his entire professional career with the [[San Diego Padres]]. The playing field is officially called Charlie Smith Field, after the longtime SDSU baseball head coach [[Charles R. Smith (coach)|Charles R. Smith]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://stadiumjourney.com/stadiums/tony-gwynn-stadium-s1532|title=Tony Gwynn Stadium – San Diego State Aztecs {{!}} Stadium Journey|website=stadiumjourney.com|date=May 4, 2015|language=en-US|access-date=July 4, 2018}}</ref>

===Football===
[[File:Snapdragon_Stadium_interior-Night_panorama_view_1.jpg|thumb|[[Snapdragon Stadium]], home of [[San Diego State Aztecs football]]]]
{{main|San Diego State Aztecs football}}

The football team competes in the [[NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision|Football Bowl Subdivision]] (FBS) of the [[National Collegiate Athletic Association]] (NCAA). The team started playing at the new [[Snapdragon Stadium]] in 2022. The [[Fresno State–San Diego State football rivalry]] is between the [[Fresno State Bulldogs football|Fresno State Bulldogs]] and [[San Diego State Aztecs football|San Diego State Aztecs]]. The winner of the game receives the "Old Oil Can" trophy.

===Basketball===
[[File:20180303-073Crowd(5X8).jpg|thumb|[[Viejas Arena]], home of [[San Diego State Aztecs men's basketball|San Diego State Aztecs men's]] and [[San Diego State Aztecs men's basketball|women's]] basketball]]
{{main|San Diego State Aztecs men's basketball|San Diego State Aztecs women's basketball}}
The men's and women's basketball teams play at [[Viejas Arena]], opened in 1997, on the SDSU campus. The court is officially named Steve Fisher Court, after longtime SDSU basketball head coach [[Steve Fisher (American basketball coach)|Steve Fisher]]. Both teams practice at the Jeff Jacobs JAM Center, a basketball practice facility that opened on campus in 2015. The men's Aztecs team began play in 1921 and have been to fifteen [[NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament|NCAA Division I tournaments]] and six [[National Invitation Tournament|NIT tournaments]] since joining [[NCAA Division I]] in 1969, the best finish coming recently in the 2023 [[NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament]].

===Soccer===
{{main|San Diego State Aztecs men's soccer|San Diego State Aztecs women's soccer}}
The men's and women's soccer teams both play at the [[SDSU Sports Deck]], a facility opened in 2000 that also hosts the women's track and field team. The women compete in the [[Mountain West Conference]] while the men compete in the [[Pac-12 Conference]]. In 1987, the men's team reached the [[1987 NCAA Division I men's soccer tournament|NCAA Division I Men's Championship]] final, losing to the [[Clemson Tigers]].

===Volleyball===
{{main|San Diego State Aztecs women's volleyball}}
The women's volleyball team plays at [[Peterson Gym]]nasium's Aztec Court. 
The former men's volleyball team won the [[1973 NCAA men's volleyball tournament]] (SDSU's first and only [[NCAA Division I]] national championship to date in any sport), but the program was disbanded in 2000 due to budgetary constraints and necessity to maintain compliance with [[Title IX]] regulations.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/sdut-memories-linger-of-aztecs-1973-mens-title-team-2001dec12-story.html|title=Memories linger of Aztecs' 1973 men's title team|last=Union-Tribune|first=San Diego|work=sandiegouniontribune.com|access-date=July 4, 2018|language=en-US}}</ref>

===Other sports===
[[File:Aztec Cheerleaders.jpg|thumb|Aztec Cheer Team]]
* The [[SDSU Sports Deck]] is home to both the [[San Diego State Aztecs men's soccer|men's]] and [[San Diego State Aztecs women's soccer|women's]] soccer teams as well as the [[San Diego State Aztecs women's track & field|women's track & field]] team. The facility, opened in 2000, is located atop a two-story university parking structure and includes a natural grass soccer field with a built-in automatic drainage system, surrounded by a track (often dubbed the "Aztrack").{{citation needed|date=August 2024}}
* The softball team plays at the SDSU Softball Stadium, completed in 2005 adjacent to Tony Gwynn Stadium.{{citation needed|date=August 2024}}
*The [[San Diego State Aztecs women's swimming & diving|women's swimming and diving]] and [[San Diego State Aztecs women's water polo|women's water polo]] teams are both based at the on-campus aquatic sports complex, known as the [[Aztec Aquaplex]]. The facility was opened in 2007 and includes an [[Olympic-size swimming pool]] with a moveable bulkhead, a separate recreational pool, and a hydrotherapy spa. It also serves as the recreational pool for SDSU students and community members.
*Both the [[San Diego State Aztecs men's tennis|men's]] and [[San Diego State Aztecs women's tennis|women's]] tennis teams play at the Aztec Tennis Center, a 12-court facility opened in 2005 on the western edge of the main campus
*A non-varsity club program, [[San Diego State Aztecs rugby|Aztecs rugby]] was founded in 1958. The rugby club fields both men's and women's teams; the men compete in [[Division 1-A Rugby|Division 1-A]] in the California conference and the women play in the Pacific Desert conference of Division II. The Aztec men's team won the US National [[College rugby|Collegiate Rugby]] Championship in [[National Collegiate Rugby Championship results#1987|1987]].
*Other non-varsity aquatic sports are based out of the Mission Bay Aquatic Center (MBAC) in [[Mission Bay, California|Mission Bay]], just a few miles west of the main campus. The Associated Students organization of San Diego State University, in conjunction with the [[University of California, San Diego]] recreation, owns and operates the MBAC. The facility provides opportunities for many outdoor activities and water sports for SDSU students.

==Student life==

===Media, newspapers, and magazines===
Students began publishing ''The White and Gold'' in 1902, which was a literary magazine and newspaper.<ref name="Starr27">Starr, p. 27</ref> In 1913, a new newspaper was established entitled ''Normal News Weekly''.<ref name="Starr39">Starr, p. 39</ref> The school newspaper ''Paper Lantern'' (''Normal News Weekly'' was renamed after the addition of the junior college) became ''The Aztec'' in September 1925.<ref name="Starr53">Starr, p. 53</ref> It was later expanded to its current name, ''The Daily Aztec'' in fall 1959. The school's annual yearbook was named ''Del Sudoeste'' (Spanish for "of the southwest") in the early 1920s. ''The Koala'', a comedy newspaper that is widely known around the San Diego State University area, is also distributed monthly on campus but is not directly connected to the school at the moment.<ref name="Starr53" />

;SDSU media and publications
*[[San Diego State University Press]]
* [[KCR (SDSU)]] College Radio
* KPBS Public Broadcasting [[KPBS (TV)|TV]]/[[KPBS-FM|FM]]
* ''360 Magazine''
*Montezuma Publishing

;SDSU campus newspapers

*''[[The Daily Aztec]]'', the largest daily collegiate newspaper in California, publishing daily since 1960
*''[[The Koala]]'', an independent satirical collegiate newspaper distributed on campus

===Clubs===
Initial clubs that were first started on campus including the Debating Club, the Associated Student Body, [[YWCA USA|YWCA]], and in 1906, An Alumni Association.<ref name="Starr27"/> The oldest club on campus was the Rowing Association.<ref name="Starr59">Starr, p. 59</ref>

====Formula SAE====
''Aztec Racing'' is SDSU's [[Society of Automotive Engineers]] (SAE) student chapter. Every year, SDSU engineering students design and construct an open wheel, open cockpit race car to [[Formula SAE]] specifications. Aztec Racing then competes against other universities' Formula SAE teams in an annual competition event, where the cars are raced against each other and judged on design. Attendance at Formula SAE competition is international, with several hundreds of schools competing each year. Students from other majors participate as well, frequently in the areas of management, promotion and other aspects of the project.

===Greek life===
{{Main|List of fraternities and sororities at San Diego State University}}
Fraternities and sororities have been a part of the San Diego State University campus community for over a century. Today SDSU is home to many recognized Greek-letter organizations, most of which belonging to one of four university-sponsored governing councils.

The Interfraternity Council (IFC) currently consists of 15 active social fraternities. The College Panhellenic Association (CPA) is made up of 8 active social sororities.<ref name="San Diego State CPA sororities">{{cite web|url=https://www.sdsuphc.com/sdsu-chapters.html|title=San Diego State CPA sororities|publisher=San Diego State University College Panhellenic Association|access-date=May 28, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180530035121/http://www.sdsuphc.com/sdsu-chapters.html|archive-date=May 30, 2018|url-status=dead}}</ref>

=== LGBT-friendly campus ===
San Diego State University was recognized in 2016 among the best universities in the nation for supporting LGBT students. The Campus Pride Index recently ranked SDSU on its 2016 "Best of the Best" Top 30 list of LGBTQ-friendly colleges and universities. SDSU has been included in this ranking for the past seven years along with institutions like Princeton University and Cornell University.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.sdsu.edu/news/2016/09/sdsu-named-top-school-for-lgbt-students|title=SDSU Named Top School For LGBT Students|website=www.sdsu.edu|date=September 1, 2016 }}</ref>

SDSU was recognized in 2014 as one of 20 of the most Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender-friendly campuses in all of the U.S.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.washingtonblade.com/2014/08/15/top-50-lgbt-friendly-colleges/|title=Top 50 LGBT-friendly colleges|date=August 13, 2014|publisher=Washingtonblade.com|access-date=August 17, 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.utsandiego.com/news/2010/Jul/27/sdsu-campus-among-20-most-lgbt-friendly/|title=SDSU campus among 20 most LGBT-friendly|last=Flynn|first=Pat|date=July 27, 2010|newspaper=[[U-T San Diego]]|access-date=June 27, 2014|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://archive.today/20140628060523/http://www.utsandiego.com/news/2010/Jul/27/sdsu-campus-among-20-most-lgbt-friendly/|archive-date=June 28, 2014}}</ref> The university attains this recognition through its welcome week LGBT reception, Safe Zone ally training, Big Gay BBQs, participating in Aids Walk San Diego and Pride San Diego, hosting an LGBT college fair, and holding a Lavender Graduation ceremony and several lecture series. The university is one of the few campuses in California that is home to the gay social fraternity, [[Delta Lambda Phi]]. Additionally, SDSU was the first university in California to offer a major in LGBT studies, while also offering a minor and graduate degree in the discipline.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.utsandiego.com/news/2013/Dec/13/sdsu-certficate-graduate-studies-LGBT/|title=SDSU offers certificate in LGBT studies|last=Kucher|first=Karen|date=December 13, 2013|newspaper=[[U-T San Diego]]|access-date=June 27, 2014|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131214180953/http://www.utsandiego.com/news/2013/dec/13/sdsu-certficate-graduate-studies-LGBT/|archive-date=December 14, 2013}}</ref> In 2014, SDSU opened a first-ever Pride Center at the former Student Organization Annex, with the mission to provide resources and help meet the needs and challenges of LGBT students.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.thedailyaztec.com/42065/news/sdsu-pride-resource-center-lgbt/|title=SDSU approves Pride Resource Center|last=Chang|first=Denise|date=October 7, 2013|newspaper=[[The Daily Aztec]]|access-date=June 27, 2014}}</ref>

===S Mountain===
On February 27, 1931, President Hardy permitted 500 students to paint rocks to form a {{convert|400|ft|m|adj=on}} white S on [[Cowles Mountain]]. The idea of "S Mountain" was created by the Council of Twelve and initially supported by Hardy. The giant S was lit at night for the opening football game of a season (performed by the freshman to build school spirit) along with pep rallies, and was repainted throughout its history.<ref name="Starr78"/><ref name="Starr126">Starr, p. 126</ref> At the time, it was the largest collegiate symbol in the world.<ref name="Starr79">Starr, p. 79</ref> During World War II, the S was camouflaged to prevent it becoming a reference point for enemy bombing aircraft.<ref name="Starr112">Starr, p. 112</ref> It was returned to its normal state in April 1944.<ref name="Starr121">Starr, p. 121</ref> In the 1970s students stopped painting it and brush obstructed the symbol. After a 1988 brush fire it was exposed, and students repainted it. In fall 1997, a group of 100 volunteers climbed Cowles Mountain after dusk to commemorate the one hundredth anniversary of the school by using flashlights to once again outline the S on the side of the mountain. In 1990, a high school prank defaced the S to read as "91" in honor of their graduating class.<ref name="Starr213">Starr, p. 213</ref>

===School colors and history of the Aztec mascot===
The initial [[school colors|colors of the school]] were white and gold. When the junior college was added to the campus in 1921, its colors of blue and gold were merged, resulting in a blue, gold, and white color scheme. New colors were later chosen as gold and purple, until being replaced by scarlet and black on January 28, 1928.<ref name="Starr50">Starr, p. 50</ref>

The school's prior nicknames for its [[mascot]] included "[[Normal school|Normalites]]", "[[Professor]]s", and "[[Wampus Cat]]s". The origin of the Aztec mascot is disputed among historians of the university but the first reported manifestation of the moniker concerned a student, Frederick Osenberg (Class of 1926), who came up with the idea of the San Diego State Aztecs while walking by the California Tower in Balboa Park, and became inspired by various murals of indigenous people from Latin America.”<ref>{{Cite book|last=Mallios|first=Seth|title=Hail Montezuma! The Hidden Treasures of San Diego State|publisher=Montezuma Publishing|year=2012|isbn=978-0744251067|location=San Diego|pages=85}}</ref> In 1925, the student body voted to adopt the Aztec moniker. The decision to choose the Aztec as a moniker was in conjunction with preliminary plans to move to a new campus and was done in unison with changing the name of the school newspaper to ‘The Aztec’ and featuring a yearbook with prominent Aztec symbols.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|title=Decisions on Aztec Identity {{!}} History of the Aztec Identity|url=https://president.sdsu.edu/priorities/aztec-identity/history|access-date=August 8, 2024|website=president.sdsu.edu|language=en}}</ref> The mascot transition was first mentioned in the January 21, 1925, edition of the school's newspaper at the time, ''The Paper Lantern (1921–1925).'' In the article, ''State Adopts New Moniker For Athletes,'' opens with an improvised fight song, "Rah for the Aztecs! What a name! What a name! Did you say Ash cans? Say I thought those cannibals were all dead! Whaddaya think this is? An Indian reservation? I'll bet Hopis are responsible for this”.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web|title=The Paper Lantern: Wednesday 01/21/1925 – SDSU Library Digital Collections|url=https://digital.sdsu.edu/view-item?i=156245&WINID=1608173483887|access-date=December 17, 2020|website=digital.sdsu.edu}}</ref> The reasoning behind the choice of mascot is also mentioned directly: <blockquote>"We have been called Aztecs and will be called Aztecs in the future. The 'name has' been used to denote a nation of semi-civilized inhabitants of central Mexico. What it will mean in the future remains for us to say. If we build an institution famous for its scholars, for its athletes, for its faculty; if we build a reputation for broadmindedness, for honesty, and for sportsmanship, these attributes will be incorporated into the same Aztecs. On the other hand – but there is no other hand in this picture. We are going to make the Aztecs mean all these finer things. Tradition will know Aztecs as something more than a tribe of semi-civilized inhabitants of Central Mexico...A name should stand for something more than a combination of letters. It should bear traditions, should call up thoughts of courage and fighting spirit. Such a tribe were the Aztecs. Noted for their fleetness, strength and bravery, they were seldom downed in physical encounters. The Aztecs are gone but their spirit and name remains, waiting all these years for State College to assume its burden. Vive la Aztec!”<ref name=":1" /></blockquote>
[[File:Pageant and Dedication Ceremony SDSU 1937.png|thumb|The dedication ceremony for a Donal Hord's sculpture, "Aztec" feature in the 1937 Yearbook, Del Sudoeste.<ref name=":2">“Del Sudoeste”1937, Yearbook Collection, Digital Collections, San Diego State University Library and Information Access, Special Collections and University Archives.</ref>]]
In 1937, the artist, [[Donal Hord]], completed "Aztec" for San Diego State College as an artistic representation of the Aztec mascot. The Depression-era [[Works Progress Administration|Works Project Administration]] (WPA) partially funded the sculpture, created from a single 2.5-ton block of black diorite. The stone base was presented as a gift to the school by the class of 1937. In 2002, the sculpture was moved to the Prospective Student Center and in 2009, the SDSU Alumni Association installed a large concrete replica in the rotunda of the Parma Payne Goodall Alumni Center.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Campus Landmarks|url=https://president.sdsu.edu/priorities/aztec-identity/landmarks|access-date=August 8, 2024|website=president.sdsu.edu|language=en}}</ref> The dedication ceremony included an elaborate dance circle with students, bare-chested, dressed in Plains Indian costumes.<ref name=":2" /><ref name=":3">Monge, Ozzie, 2016. 'Fail Montezuma!: The last vestiges of an obscured yet stubbornly persistent culture of racism at San Diego State University', Masters thesis, San Diego State University, San Diego.</ref> This style of performance was seen at the school throughout the mid-century.

The mascot continued to evolve and in 1941, for the first time, a student portrayed an Aztec in a football game skit. The character became known as Monty Montezuma. "The first student to dress up as Monty was Art Munzig, who played the role during the opening football game of the 1941 season.&nbsp; He and four scantily clad cheerleaders in Plains Indian costumes secretly hid in a makeshift teepee on the sidelines and emerged at halftime with Montezuma chasing the maidens down the track in front of the stands."<ref>{{Cite book|last=Mallios, Seth, 1971–|title=Hail Montezuma! : the hidden treasures of San Diego State|date=2012|publisher=Montezuma Publishing, Aztec Shops, Ltd., San Diego State University|isbn=978-0-7442-5106-7|location=San Diego, Calif.|pages=86|oclc=809372395}}</ref>
[[File:San DIego State Logos from 1961-now.png|thumb|History of SDSU logos]]
In 2000, the SDSU Associated Students’ University Council passed a resolution, backed by the Native American Student Alliance, that called for retiring the Aztec moniker and Montezuma mascot due to racism and culturally insensitivity and President Stephen Weber appoints a task force to make recommendations on the Aztec moniker and Montezuma mascot. This task force recommended updating logos and symbols to be culturally appropriate and historically accurate; defining Montezuma as an ambassador but not as a mascot; educating the university community on Aztec history and culture; and strengthening programs and events that support indigenous communities.<ref name=":0" /> The Monty Montezuma mascot was renamed the Ambassador Montezuma in 2002. Ambassador Montezuma debuts to speak on Aztec history and culture at events, but he is poorly received. To keep the tradition of the Montezuma mascot, Alumni form the [http://www.aztecwarriorfoundation.org/home.php Aztec Warrior Foundation] and unveil an unofficial, more historically accurate Aztec Warrior representation. The school officially retired Ambassador Montezuma shortly after in 2003.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Warth|first=Gary|title=Move to retire SDSU Aztec mascot takes opponents, supporters by surprise|url=https://www.baltimoresun.com/sd-me-sdsu-mascot-20171108-story.html|access-date=December 17, 2020|website=baltimoresun.com}}</ref> During the same year, the Aztec Warrior becomes official through a referendum vote of students and alumni.<ref name=":0" />

In 2010, SDSU briefly debuts Zuma, a jaguar mascot, at football games.<ref>{{Cite web|title=San Diego State "supplemental mascot" Zuma meets its demise after two years – Page 2 – ESPN|url=http://www.espn.com/espn/page2/index/_/id/7756588|access-date=December 17, 2020|website=ESPN.com}}</ref> The jaguar was retired in 2012.

Throughout the 2010s, the Aztec mascot has continued to be a point of controversy for the school. The last known vote regarding the mascot occurred in 2018. SDSU President Sally Roush appointed a 17-member Aztec Identity Task Force composed of students, faculty, staff, alumni and members at large and reports to the University Senate her decisions to continue the use of the Aztec identity. She also established a governing authority, chaired by the president, to ensure recognition of and reverence for the Aztec civilization become part of daily life at SDSU.<ref name=":0" /> President Roush made the decision to discontinue using the Aztec Warrior as a mascot, while retaining it as a "Spirit Leader."<ref>{{cite news|author=Kirk Kenney|date=January 19, 2018|title=SDSU president assembling task force to review Aztec mascot, moniker|newspaper=The San Diego Union-Tribune|url=http://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/sports/aztecs/sd-sp-aztecs-mascot-nickname-task-force-0120-story.html|access-date=January 20, 2018}}</ref><ref name="may2018changes">{{cite news|date=May 17, 2018|title=SDSU to keep Aztec name following racially and politically charged debate|url=http://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/news/education/sd-me-sdsu-aztecname-20180516-story.html|access-date=August 4, 2018}}</ref>

====Mascot controversy====
{{see also|NCAA Native American mascot decision}}

Like other mascots referencing historical tribes and cultures, the Aztec mascot has periodically been the topic of question. It was not cited as "hostile and abusive" by the NCAA in 2005. NCAA spokesman Erik Christianson said the organization "accepted the findings from SDSU that it could not find any organized tribe or group related to Aztecs."<ref>{{Cite web|date=August 6, 2005|title=NCAA to Crack Down on 'Hostile' Nicknames|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2005-aug-06-sp-ncaa6-story.html|access-date=December 17, 2020|website=Los Angeles Times|language=en-US}}</ref> Then President Weber explained his findings in a letter written on April 27, 2005, to the NCAA's vice president for education services, Ron Stratten. "As I mentioned in my letter on January 3, 2003, the Aztecs are not a Native American or American Indian culture," Weber wrote. "However, the Aztecs are central to the cultural heritage of Mexico."<ref name=":4">{{Cite web|last=Myers|first=Allyson|date=February 27, 2017|title=Native American Student Alliance proposes removal of Aztec mascot|url=http://thedailyaztec.com/81677/news/native-american-student-alliance-proposes-removal-of-aztec-mascot/|access-date=December 17, 2020|website=The Daily Aztec}}</ref> However, the [[San Diego State Aztecs|Aztec Warrior]] has drawn criticism.

Directly following the [[NCAA Native American mascot decision]], the Native American Student Alliance (NASA) posted an official statement about the university mascot on their Facebook page. The statement said the mascot "embodies the existence of [[Institutional racism|institutionalized racism]]."<ref name=":4" /> A student group leader at the time was quoted voicing concern about the impact of utilizing stereotypical Native clothes, breathing fire and using sacred objects to whip up the crowd.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Ban Monty Montezuma, The Racist Mascot That Won't Die|url=https://indiancountrytoday.com/archive/ban-monty-montezuma-the-racist-mascot-that-won-t-die-XHbHjIW3FUOqFFSFHvcXsw|access-date=December 17, 2020|website=IndianCountryToday.com|language=en}}</ref> These concerns were also vocalized by NASA in their official statement, where they voiced concern about the impact of the mascot on campus life after a 2009 party hosted by the fraternity [[Sigma Alpha Epsilon]], with the theme “Cowboys and Nava-hoes." Although the school placed the fraternity on probation, President Hirshman's statement about [[cultural appropriation]] drew attention to "all of the performances of racialized stereotypes by faculty and students, baton twirlers in feathered headdresses, students dressed as imagined Indians, faux ceremonies, chants, songs, the names of the dorms, the names of the rooms of the new student union, t-shirts and banners proclaiming 'We Are Aztecs'."<ref name=":3" /><ref>ElliotHirshman, "Many Identities –One SDSU Community,"last modified April 3, 2015, https://sdsupresident.wordpress.com/2015/04/03/many-identities-one-sdsu-community/ .</ref>

Other points of contention have included worry that the mascot teaches the mistaken idea that Aztecs were a local tribe rather than living in Mexico 1,000 miles away.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/news/education/sd-me-sdsu-mascot-20161020-story.html |title=SDSU professor revives fight to change Aztec mascot |first=Gary |last=Warth |newspaper=San Diego Union-Tribune}}</ref>

The SDSU Native American Student Alliance (NASA) continues to support removal of the mascot in an official statements made to the Committee on Diversity, Equity and Outreach.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.thedailyaztec.com/81677/news/native-american-student-alliance-proposes-removal-of-aztec-mascot/ |title=Native American Student Alliance proposes removal of Aztec mascot |author=Allyson Myers |date=February 27, 2017 |work=The Daily Aztec}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://drive.google.com/file/d/0BwEYVqMcYGJOOF8xb0FxVFFwR0NqQldPN1BzbVR0aTRyZ1Fz/view |title=NASA 2016–2017 Mascot Statement |access-date=February 28, 2017}}</ref> Although that resolution was rejected by the SDSU Associated Students, the University Senate, which represents the administration, faculty, staff and students, had voted to phase out the human depiction of the Aztec Warrior.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://timesofsandiego.com/sports/2017/11/08/no-more-aztec-warrior-sdsu-university-senate-votes-to-retire-mascot/|title=No More Aztec Warrior? SDSU University Senate Votes to Retire Mascot |author=Alexander Nguyen |date=November 8, 2017 |newspaper=Times of San Diego}}</ref>

In May 2021, the senate of the university opted a vote for commission to replace the human depiction of the Aztec Warrior for at least two animals of the Kumeyaay heritage. The commission would be working alongside local tribe leaders for the decisions leading up to a final replacement mascot.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Page |first=Eric S.|title=SDSU Mulls New Mascot|date=May 5, 2021 |url=https://www.nbcsandiego.com/news/local/sdsu-mulls-new-mascot/2596449/|access-date=December 15, 2021|publisher=NBC 7 San Diego|language=en-US}}</ref>

==Incidents==
===1996 campus shooting===
{{Main|1996 San Diego State University shooting}}
A shooting occurred on campus on August 15, 1996. A 36-year-old graduate engineering student, while apparently defending his thesis, shot and killed his three professors, Constantinos Lyrintzis, Cheng Liang, and D. Preston Lowrey III, at San Diego State University. The shooter, who was suffering from certain mental problems, was convicted on July 19, 1997, and was sentenced to life in prison. As a memorial, tables with a plaque with information about each victim have been placed adjacent to the College of Engineering building.

===2008 student drug arrests===
{{Main|Operation Sudden Fall}}
On May 6, 2008, the [[Drug Enforcement Administration]] (DEA) announced the arrests of 96 individuals, of whom 33 were San Diego State University students, on a variety of drug charges in a year-long narcotics [[sting operation]] dubbed [[Operation Sudden Fall]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cbs8.com/misc/SDSU_mug_shots.pdf|title=Mug Shots from Operation Sudden Fall|publisher=CBS News 8 |access-date=May 6, 2008|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080530031254/http://www.cbs8.com/misc/SDSU_mug_shots.pdf |archive-date = May 30, 2008}}</ref> It was originally reported that 75 of the arrested were students, but the inflated number included students who had been arrested months earlier, in some cases for simple possession.<ref>{{cite news |last=Kucher |first=Karen |date=May 8, 2008 |url=http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/metro/20080508-1041-bn08arrests.html |title=Officials differ on number of SDSU students snared in sting |newspaper=[[U-T San Diego|San Diego Union Tribune]] |access-date=June 27, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160105155518/http://legacy.utsandiego.com/news/metro/20080508-1041-bn08arrests.html |archive-date=January 5, 2016 |url-status=dead }}</ref> The bust, which was the largest in the history of [[San Diego County]], drew a mixed reaction from the community.<ref>{{cite news |last=Saavedra |first=Sherry |author2=Kristina Davis |date=May 8, 2008 |url=http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/metro/20080508-9999-1n8sdsu.html |title=SDSU drug sting draws scorn, praise |newspaper=[[U-T San Diego|San Diego Union Tribune]] |access-date=June 27, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121014142802/http://legacy.utsandiego.com/news/metro/20080508-9999-1n8sdsu.html |archive-date=October 14, 2012 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

===2014 sexual assault allegation===
In late 2014, SDSU began an "It's on Us" campaign to combat an alarming pattern of sexual violence.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.utsandiego.com/news/2014/dec/13/the-sexual-assault-crisis-at-san-diego-state/|title=What to do about SDSU sex-assault crisis - UTSanDiego.com|work=U-T San Diego|date=December 14, 2014}}</ref> In the fall 2014 semester, there were 14 sexual assault allegations reported on or around the [[College Area, San Diego|College Area]]. In early 2015, SDSU was found to have wrongfully accused a male foreign exchange student of sexual assault during the fall 2014 semester and allegedly failing to afford him due process. The student's name was released in a campus-wide email immediately upon his arrest and he was quickly expelled from the university. Alexa Romano, the female student who made the accusation, later admitted to not being truthful about the alleged incident.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.cmjornal.pt/exclusivos/detalhe/acusado_por_falsos_abusos_exige_perdao|title=Acusado por falsos abusos exige perdão|date=September 3, 2015 }}</ref> The male student later successfully sued the university.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.utsandiego.com/news/2015/apr/14/suspended-student-sues-sdsu-to-see-evidence/|title=Suspended SDSU student sues to see evidence against him - UTSanDiego.com|author=Gary Warth|work=U-T San Diego|date=April 14, 2015}}</ref>

==Notable alumni and faculty==
{{Main|List of San Diego State University people}}

San Diego State University has over 400,000 alumni worldwide. The university is one of the top producers of U.S. Student [[Fulbright Scholars]] in the nation.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://chronicle.com/article/Top-Producers-of-US/129452/ |title=Top Producers of U.S. Fulbright Students by Type of Institution, 2011–12 – International – The Chronicle of Higher Education |publisher=Chronicle.com |date=October 23, 2011 |access-date=August 17, 2014}}</ref>

== Notes ==
{{notelist}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==Bibliography==
* {{cite book|last=Starr|first=Raymond|author2=Harry Polkinhorn |title=San Diego State University: A History in Word and Image|publisher=San Diego State University Press|year=1995|isbn=1-879691-30-2}}

== External links ==
{{Commons|San Diego State University}}
* {{Official website|https://www.sdsu.edu}}
* [https://goaztecs.com/ SDSU Athletics website]

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