It’s test-blind, not test-optional. SDSU doesn’t look at SAT or ACT scores at all, even if you send them. Grades and the difficulty of your student’s schedule carry the whole application. Enrolled freshmen averaged a 3.82 GPA, and SDSU says its admitted students average a 3.9.
Every major is impacted. Your student picks a major on Cal State Apply and competes against other applicants for that major. There’s an alternate-major option, and it’s worth using.
Where you live changes your odds. High schools in San Diego County south of State Route 56, plus all of Imperial County, get priority. Last fall SDSU admitted about 31% of California applicants but about 91% of out-of-state applicants.
The filing window is short. Cal State Apply takes applications October 1 through November 30, and SDSU doesn’t accept late applications.
🏆 Full CSU tuition covered for need-eligible California residents (Cal Grant + SUG)
Average Net Price
$14,704/year (in-state estimate)
Average paid for residents.
Automatic Merit
None (merit is invitation-only)
No separate application.
Scholarships Tracked
16 opportunities
6 competitive · 7 hidden gem · 3 honors
Typical Qualifiers
Merit Scholars: 4.30 CSU GPA, local high schools
Entry-level benchmarks for automatic merit.
Testing Policy
Test-blind (SAT/ACT not considered)
No superscore.
Key Deadlines
Priority: Jul 31 • FAFSA: Mar 2
Full-Tuition / Full-Ride
Cal Grant + State University Grant (CA residents with need)
Honors College
Honors Program Available
Financial Aid Forms
FAFSA Only
🚨 Easy-to-Miss “Gotchas” at San Diego State (Read This First)
There is no automatic merit scholarship. SDSU’s merit money is invitation-only, and there isn’t much of it. Last year only about 413 freshmen without financial need got SDSU merit aid, and the average award was about $2,390.
Your student has to commit before they can apply for most scholarships. The Aztec Scholarships portal (close to 800 awards) stays locked to incoming students until they submit the May 1 Intent to Enroll and activate their SDSU ID. You’re comparing offers before most SDSU portal money is even decided.
Out-of-state is easy to get into and expensive to attend. SDSU isn’t part of WUE. Nonresidents pay $471 per unit on top of regular tuition, plus an extra fee ($1,554 a semester for 2026-27 starters, and it goes up for each new class). That’s about $27,000 a year in tuition and fees before housing.
Non-local students must live on campus for two years. If your student’s high school is outside SDSU’s local area, plan on two years of campus housing and meal plans, roughly $21,900 a year at current rates.
For California families, March 2 is the real money deadline. File the FAFSA or California Dream Act Application and make sure the high school uploads the Cal Grant GPA by March 2, 2027. Miss it and you can lose Cal Grant, the Middle Class Scholarship, and priority for the State University Grant.
Outside scholarships can shrink the Middle Class Scholarship. That award is calculated after everything else, so a new outside scholarship often reduces it instead of adding on top.
FAQ
Is this college test-optional? Yes, for admission. San Diego State University is test-optional for admission.
What is the middle 50% ACT/SAT? ACT: Not considered; SAT: Not considered.
Average net price? About $14,704/year after aid.
Does this school use waivers/reciprocity?
No broad regional reciprocity path.
💰 Cost of Attendance at San Diego State University: 2026–2027 Rates
Figures verified against official sources in October 2026.
📅 Planning for 2027–2028? These are the 2026–2027 rates, the newest San Diego State University has published. Colleges usually release next year's costs in the spring, and we update this page when they do.
Budgeting tip: costs typically rise 2% to 5% a year. For 2027–2028, plan on roughly
$600 to $1,600 more than the in-state total below.$1,000 to $2,400 more than the out-of-state total below.
In-State: billed cost per year
$31,636
Tuition, fees, housing, and meals for two semesters
Tuition & mandatory fees
$9,780
Housing & meals (typical)
$21,856
Total billed cost
$31,636
Out-of-State: billed cost per year
$48,874
Tuition, fees, housing, and meals for two semesters
Tuition & mandatory fees
$27,018
Housing & meals (typical)
$21,856
Total billed cost
$48,874
That is $17,238 more per year than California residents pay, before any waivers or scholarships.
Average federal net price: $14,704 per year.
This is what first-time, full-time students who received grant aid paid after grants and scholarships, for in-state students only, based on the most recent federal data. It counts books and living costs, so it can run higher than the billed total above. Families who got no grants are not in this average, so many middle-income families pay more. New to Net Price & SAI? Read our guide.
Out-of-state families: this average does not include you. Run the college's own net price calculator for a number based on your situation.
Out-of-State Families: Know the Full Number
SDSU doesn’t offer WUE or a broad nonresident waiver. On SDSU’s own 2026-27 budget, a nonresident living on campus is looking at about $53,600 a year once books, transportation, and personal costs are included. That’s roughly $17,000 more than a California student pays. The only SDSU offsets for nonresidents are the invitation-only Advantage and Opportunity scholarships. Western families should compare against the
WUE schools in their own region before deciding.
FAQ: Cost of Attendance at San Diego State University
What does SDSU really cost for a California student?
Tuition and campus fees are $9,780 for 2026-27. Add on-campus housing and meals, books, transportation, and personal costs, and SDSU’s full budget comes to about $36,400 a year. The federal average net price, which is what families actually paid after grants, was about $14,700.
Why do out-of-state students pay so much more?
Three layers stack up. Everyone pays the same $9,780 base. Nonresidents add $471 per unit, about $14,130 a year at full-time. Then there’s the Out-of-State and International Student Fee, $1,554 a semester for students who started in 2026-27. That fee rises every year for each new incoming class.
Does SDSU take WUE?
No. Fifteen CSU campuses offer the WUE rate, but SDSU isn’t one of them, so WUE-state students pay full nonresident pricing here.
Does my student have to live on campus?
If they graduate from a high school outside SDSU’s local admission area, yes, for both the first and second year. With housing and meals at about $21,900 a year, that’s around $43,700 committed over two years. Local students can live at home, and SDSU’s living-with-parents budget is about $26,200 all in.
Will Cal Grant cover everything?
No. Cal Grant pays CSU systemwide tuition, and Cal Grant B adds a living allowance. It doesn’t pay campus fees, housing, or books. The State University Grant and the Middle Class Scholarship can help with the rest, depending on income.
What’s the Middle Class Scholarship, and could we qualify?
It’s a California grant for families with income and assets up to $234,000. The amount is figured after all other grants and scholarships, so it varies a lot from family to family. You apply by filing the FAFSA or CADAA by March 2.
Will tuition go up while my student is enrolled?
Plan on it. In 2024 the CSU Board of Trustees approved 6% tuition increases each year for five years. Campus fees and housing also tend to creep up, so build a few hundred to a thousand dollars of growth into each year of your budget.
Is the Imperial Valley campus cheaper?
A bit. Students at SDSU Imperial Valley pay $1,040 less in campus fees for 2026-27, and housing costs in the area are generally lower.
October 1, 2026: FAFSA and California Dream Act Application open.
December to March: Merit Scholars invitations (December and January) and Presidential Scholars invitations go out by email.
February 15, 2027: Weber Honors College priority deadline.
March 2, 2027: FAFSA or CADAA plus the verified Cal Grant GPA. This one date drives Cal Grant, the Middle Class Scholarship, and State University Grant priority.
March: Aztec Scholarships opens, and High-Achieving Scholarship invitations go out.
May 1: Intent to Enroll. Incoming students can’t apply in Aztec Scholarships until this is done.
Late July: Incoming early action date in Aztec Scholarships. Early September: the portal closes.
SDSU posts exact 2027-28 portal dates in spring 2027. For reference, the 2026 dates were July 31 and September 4.
Automatic Aid at San Diego State: It’s Need-Based, Not Merit
Here’s the honest version: SDSU has no automatic merit scholarship. There’s no grid where a certain GPA unlocks a guaranteed award. The money that does show up automatically comes from California and federal grant programs, and it’s based on income. For a lot of California families that’s actually the bigger pile. Filing the FAFSA or CADAA by March 2 is the whole application.
Find your student's tier
Enter the numbers you have. We'll highlight the automatic award your student would actually get and tuck the rest out of the way. Leave it blank to browse everything.
Residency
Based on published cutoffs for entering freshmen. Always verify with the college before finalizing plans.
Start with your state. The awards in this first group come from the state, not the college. They are decided by residency and the FAFSA, and they stack on top of whatever automatic merit award the college gives below. If you live out of state, use the toggle above and these will step aside.
State AidFull TuitionAutomatic⚠ All Undergrad Onlygeographicneed based
Cal Grant A or B
📅 Deadline: March 2 ✓ Renews
Full Tuition
state grant
✔ Stackable
⚠ California residents with financial need. Covers CSU tuition, not housing.
🏫 2.0+ GPA🎓 All UndergradCal Grant A requires a 3.0 high school GPA. Cal Grant B requires a 2.0 high school GPA.
✚
Stacking & Combining
Pairs with the State University Grant, Pell, EOP, and SDSU scholarships up to the cost of attendance. The State University Grant does not duplicate tuition that Cal Grant already covers.
💡
Strategic Detail
California state grants for residents with financial need and income and assets under state limits. At SDSU, the tuition piece pays CSU systemwide tuition. Cal Grant B adds a separate living allowance. Neither one pays campus fees, housing, or books.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
California seniors who file by March 2 and whose high school uploads a verified Cal Grant GPA on time. Every year some eligible students lose this award because the GPA upload never happened, so confirm it with the counselor.
State AidAutomatic⚠ All Undergrad Only
Middle Class Scholarship (MCS)
📅 Deadline: March 2 ✓ Renews (4 yrs)
Varies
✔ Stackable
⚠ California residents or AB 540 students; income and assets up to $234,000.
🎓 All Undergrad
✚
Stacking & Combining
MCS is calculated last. Every other grant and outside scholarship reduces it, and outside scholarships can cancel it entirely. Families should expect a new outside award to shrink the MCS rather than add on top of it.
💡
Strategic Detail
California grant for undergraduates with family income and assets up to $234,000. The award is calculated from the cost of attendance minus other gift aid, minus a student contribution of $8,412, minus part of the parent contribution for families above $100,000. Amounts vary widely and depend on the state budget each year.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Most winners: Middle-income California families who earn too much for Pell or Cal Grant but file the FAFSA anyway. This is the award many families never realize they qualified for.
State AidAutomatic⚠ All Undergrad Only
State University Grant (SUG)
📅 Deadline: March 2 ✓ Renews
Varies
✔ Stackable
⚠ California residents only.
🎓 All Undergrad
✚
Stacking & Combining
Coordinates with Cal Grant. If Cal Grant already covers tuition, SUG usually does not duplicate it. Combines with Pell, EOP, and scholarships up to the cost of attendance.
💡
Strategic Detail
The CSU's own grant for California residents with financial need. It pays toward basic tuition and fees and cannot exceed that cost when combined with Cal Grant or other tuition aid. Funding is limited, so not every eligible student receives it. Undergraduates can receive it until they complete 150 total units.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Most winners: California residents who file early and show need but whose tuition is not already covered by Cal Grant. Families above the Pell range can still qualify, which is why every California family should file.
This institution does not offer designated Automatic Merit scholarships at this time.
Note: Cal Grant, the State University Grant, and the Middle Class Scholarship are for California residents (and eligible Dream Act students). Out-of-state families should look at the invitation-only Advantage and Opportunity scholarships in the next section.
Automatic Aid: FAQs (San Diego State University)
Does SDSU give automatic merit scholarships for GPA?
No. SDSU’s merit awards are all by invitation or through the Aztec Scholarships application. No GPA guarantees money on its own.
Is Cal Grant automatic?
It’s automatic once you’ve done two things by March 2: filed the FAFSA or CADAA, and had the high school send a verified Cal Grant GPA. Cal Grant A needs a 3.0 and Cal Grant B needs a 2.0. Every year some students miss out only because the GPA upload never happened, so ask the counselor.
Who gets the State University Grant?
California residents with financial need whose tuition isn’t already covered by Cal Grant. SDSU reviews every eligible FAFSA automatically, but funds run out, so filing early matters.
We make too much for Pell. Is it still worth filing?
Yes. The Middle Class Scholarship goes up to $234,000 in family income and assets, and the State University Grant can reach families above the Pell range. If you don’t file, you can’t be considered for either one.
What is the EOP Grant?
It goes with SDSU’s Educational Opportunity Program, which supports first-generation, lower-income California students. Your student applies to EOP through Cal State Apply at the same time they apply to SDSU.
Do these grants renew?
They can, but you have to refile the FAFSA or CADAA every year, and eligibility is recalculated each time. The State University Grant ends once a student reaches 150 units.
SDSU’s top awards all come by invitation. Your student can’t apply on their own; Admissions picks who gets invited, based mostly on the grades and coursework reported on Cal State Apply. Where your student lives also matters: Merit Scholars is for local high schools only, Presidential Scholars and High-Achieving are for California residents only, and Advantage and Opportunity are for nonresidents only. There is no full-tuition or full-ride merit award at SDSU.
These combine with Cal Grant and the State University Grant up to the cost of attendance.
Cal Grant + State University Grant
Coordinated
Both aim at tuition. If Cal Grant already covers tuition, SUG won’t pay it a second time.
Middle Class Scholarship
Shrinks
It’s figured after every other award. New scholarships usually reduce it and can cancel it.
Aztec Scholarships (donor awards)
Usually
Most layer on top. A few donors restrict pairing with other named awards, so read the terms.
Advantage + Opportunity (nonresidents)
Yes
Both can be offered together. Advantage lasts four years; Opportunity is one year only.
Put plainly: if your student is local with a 4.30 or higher CSU GPA, Merit Scholars is the prize to watch for. If they’re a California resident with leadership and service on their record, watch for Presidential Scholars. If you’re out of state, the Advantage Scholarship is the only multi-year award, and SDSU doesn’t publish the amounts, so you’ll only know once it shows up in the offer.
App Required
SDSU Merit Scholars
📅 Deadline: Mid-February (February 13 in the 2026 cycle; exact date in invitation) · 📢 Results: Early March ✓ Renews
$7,500–$10,000/yr
✔ Stackable
⚠ Local admission area high schools only; invitation only.
🏫 4.3+ GPA
✚
Stacking & Combining
Combines with Cal Grant, the State University Grant, and other aid up to the cost of attendance. Automatic Weber Honors admission also opens the honors-only scholarship pool.
📄
How to Apply
SDSU emails eligible admitted students in December and January with a private application link. Submit by the date in the email. Decisions arrive in early March.
✎ Essays
💡
Strategic Detail
SDSU's most selective scholarship. It is limited to admitted first-years from SDSU's local admission area (San Diego County high schools south of State Route 56 and all of Imperial County) with at least a 4.30 CSU-calculated GPA. Invitation only. Recipients are admitted automatically to the Weber Honors College. Renewal terms come with the award.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Local seniors with top grades and a demanding schedule. A 4.30 is the floor, not a guarantee of an invitation, and students outside the local admission area cannot receive it no matter their grades.
App Required
Presidential Scholars Program
📅 Deadline: Invitation window December through March · 📢 Results: December through March ✓ Renews (4 yrs)
$30,000
✔ Stackable
⚠ California residents; invitation only.
Holistic / Status Based
✚
Stacking & Combining
Combines with Cal Grant, the State University Grant, and most other aid up to the cost of attendance.
📄
How to Apply
There is no self-nomination. SDSU notifies eligible admitted California first-years between December and March. Complete the program application within the window in the invitation.
✎ Essays
💡
Strategic Detail
California residents only, invitation only. Selected scholars receive a scholarship worth up to $30,000 over four years plus guaranteed Weber Honors admission, guaranteed on-campus housing, personal advising, and a seminar course with other Presidential Scholars. Applying does not commit the student to SDSU.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
High-achieving California students who also show leadership and community service. Unlike Merit Scholars, there is no local-area restriction.
App Required
SDSU High-Achieving Scholarship
📅 Deadline: Invitation in March; deadline in invitation email · 📢 Results: March ✓ Renews
$1,000–$9,000/yr
✔ Stackable
⚠ California residents; invitation only.
Holistic / Status Based
✚
Stacking & Combining
Combines with Cal Grant, the State University Grant, and other aid up to the cost of attendance.
📄
How to Apply
Watch the email tied to the Cal State Apply account in March and complete the invited application by the date in the email.
✎ Essays
💡
Strategic Detail
A limited number of awards for high-achieving admitted first-year California students. Values usually range from $1,000 to $9,000 or more per year. Invitation only.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Most winners: California admits with strong grades who were not selected for Merit Scholars or Presidential Scholars. It is the broadest of SDSU's recruitment awards.
App Required
SDSU Advantage Scholarship Program
📅 Deadline: By invitation from Admissions; apply in Aztec Scholarships · 📢 Results: Spring (typically by end of March) ✓ Renews (4 yrs)
Varies
✔ Stackable
⚠ Nonresidents only; invitation only.
Holistic / Status Based
✚
Stacking & Combining
Combines with other SDSU and outside aid up to the cost of attendance. It offsets nonresident charges but does not erase them.
📄
How to Apply
There is no self-nomination. If selected, Admissions emails instructions to apply through Aztec Scholarships.
✎ Essays
💡
Strategic Detail
Competitive merit scholarship SDSU uses to recruit highly qualified nonresident first-years. Awarded for four years based on academic performance. SDSU does not publish award amounts.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Most winners: Out-of-state and international admits with the strongest academic records in the nonresident pool.
App Required
Opportunity Scholarship
📅 Deadline: Notification by end of March; apply in Aztec Scholarships · 📢 Results: End of March Non-Renewable
Varies
✔ Stackable
⚠ Nonresidents only; invitation only.
Holistic / Status Based
✚
Stacking & Combining
One year only. Combines with the Advantage Scholarship if both are offered, plus other aid up to the cost of attendance.
📄
How to Apply
Watch email through March. If notified, complete the Aztec Scholarships application by the deadline in the email.
✎ Essays
💡
Strategic Detail
One-time merit award for a select group of nonresident admits. Selected students are notified by email by the end of March and must then complete an application in Aztec Scholarships. Amounts are not published.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Most winners: Strong nonresident admits who were not packaged into a four-year Advantage award.
Automatic
SDSU International First-Year Advantage Scholarship
📅 Deadline: No application; Admissions notifies recipients · 📢 Results: Notified directly by Office of Admissions ✓ Renews
Varies
✔ Stackable
⚠ International students only.
Holistic / Status Based
✚
Stacking & Combining
Combines with other SDSU and outside aid up to the cost of attendance. It does not remove nonresident tuition or the Out-of-State and International Student Fee.
💡
Strategic Detail
A limited number of awards for international first-years with strong academic records and involvement outside the classroom. Admissions selects and notifies recipients. Amounts are not published.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Most winners: International applicants whose records pair strong grades with clubs, service, leadership, or athletics.
Data last verified Oct 5, 2026.* GPA/test bands are estimates based on official selectivity and prior cohort profiles. "Who Actually Wins" insights are pulled from external peer-sourced data where students and parents have reported real-world award results. Because colleges can change funding thresholds and deadlines at any time, always verify these details with the institution before finalizing your application strategy.
❓ Flagship / Competitive Scholarship FAQs
How do students get invited to apply for SDSU Merit Scholars?
SDSU reviews admitted students from its local admission area who have at least a 4.30 CSU-calculated GPA, then emails a private link in December or January. The 2026 deadline was February 13, and decisions came in early March. Awards usually run $7,500 to $10,000 a year.
What counts as SDSU’s local admission area?
High schools in San Diego County south of State Route 56 and east to the county line, plus all of Imperial County. Students from other parts of California, or from out of state, can’t receive Merit Scholars.
What do Presidential Scholars get?
A scholarship worth up to $30,000 over four years, plus guaranteed Weber Honors admission, guaranteed campus housing, personal advising, and a seminar with other scholars. It’s for California residents only, with invitations going out from December through March.
Is there any merit money for out-of-state students?
Yes, by invitation. The Advantage Scholarship lasts four years, and the Opportunity Scholarship is one-time, with notification by the end of March. Neither one wipes out nonresident tuition.
Does SDSU offer National Merit or full-ride scholarships?
No. SDSU doesn’t sponsor a National Merit package, and none of its merit awards cover full tuition or a full ride.
Do SAT or ACT scores help with scholarships?
No. SDSU is test-blind for admission, and its recruitment awards are based on grades and coursework.
SDSU has close to 800 donor scholarships in its
Aztec Scholarships portal, but incoming students can’t get in until they’ve committed. Here’s the order:
Submit the Intent to Enroll by May 1 and activate the SDSU ID.
Log into Aztec Scholarships (it opens in March) and finish the general application.
Answer every supplemental question for the awards the portal recommends.
Aim to be done by the late July incoming early action date; that gets your student into every review round.
Parent translation: you’ll be deciding on SDSU before most of this money is awarded. Budget as if it’s a bonus, then go after it hard once your student commits.
💎 Hidden Gem Scholarships
These are the awards most families never hear about. Several are locked to a particular high school, hometown, or community college, which means the competition is small if your student fits. The rest come through the Aztec Scholarships portal.
App Required⚠ All Undergrad Only
Aztec Scholarships: College and Major Awards
📅 Deadline: Late July for incoming students; mid-April for current students (July 31 and April 10 in 2026) ✓ Renews
Varies
✔ Stackable
🎓 All Undergrad
✚
Stacking & Combining
Most donor awards combine with state grants and recruitment scholarships up to the cost of attendance. Some donors limit pairing with other named awards, so read each award's terms.
📄
How to Apply
Submit the Intent to Enroll by May 1 and activate the SDSU ID. Log into Aztec Scholarships when it opens in March, finish the general application by the incoming early action date in late July, then complete every recommended supplemental question.
✎ Essays
💡
Strategic Detail
SDSU's Aztec Scholarships portal holds close to 800 donor-funded scholarships. One general application matches students to the college, department, and campus awards they qualify for. Incoming students cannot log in until they submit the May 1 Intent to Enroll. Most awards are decided after the September deadline.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Students who finish the general application early and answer every supplemental question for the awards the portal recommends. Many applicants stop after the general application and never finish the awards they matched.
App Required
President's Diversity Scholarship
📅 Deadline: Late July incoming early action (July 31 in 2026) ✓ Renews (4 yrs)
Varies
✔ Stackable
⚠ SDSU service area high schools; financial need preferred.
🏫 3.0+ GPA👥 ~Up to 10 winners/yr
✚
Stacking & Combining
Combines with Cal Grant, the State University Grant, and other aid up to the cost of attendance.
📄
How to Apply
Submit the Intent to Enroll, activate the SDSU ID, and complete the Aztec Scholarships general application. The portal matches eligible students. Reapply each year to renew.
✎ Essays
💡
Strategic Detail
Up to 10 awards for lower-income, high-achieving first-time freshmen who graduate from a high school in SDSU's service area (San Diego County south of State Route 56 plus Imperial County). Requires a 3.00 high school GPA and a FAFSA or CADAA, with preference for students with financial need. The committee sets the amount. Renewal requires reapplying each year, for up to three more years.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Local students from lower-income families with solid grades who complete the Aztec Scholarships general application and file aid forms on time. With only 10 awards and a narrow eligible pool, finishing the application is half the battle.
Automatic
Economics Scholarship
📅 Deadline: Reviewed with admission; no separate deadline published ✓ Renews
Varies
✔ Stackable
⚠ California residents majoring in Economics.
Holistic / Status Based
✚
Stacking & Combining
Combines with Cal Grant, the State University Grant, and other aid up to the cost of attendance.
💡
Strategic Detail
For admitted high-achieving California students with a major in Economics. Awards are typically $5,000 or more per year.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Most winners: California admits with strong records who list Economics as their major on Cal State Apply. Every SDSU major is impacted, so the major choice also matters for admission.
App Required
de Llamas Opportunity Scholarship
📅 Deadline: Spring (date in invitation) · 📢 Results: Spring of admission year Non-Renewable
$6,000
✔ Stackable
⚠ Mar Vista and San Ysidro High School graduates only.
Holistic / Status Based
✚
Stacking & Combining
Combines with Cal Grant, the State University Grant, and other aid up to the cost of attendance.
📄
How to Apply
Watch for the spring invitation email after admission and apply by the date given.
✎ Essays
💡
Strategic Detail
For high-achieving graduates of Mar Vista High School or San Ysidro High School. Admitted first-years are invited to apply each spring. Awards are up to $6,000. SDSU does not publish renewal terms.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Most winners: High achievers from Mar Vista or San Ysidro High School. The pool is tiny, so an invited student who applies has real odds.
App Required
Spencer Masonic Endowed Scholarship
📅 Deadline: Spring and summer of senior year (watch for invitation or portal match) ✓ Renews
Varies
✔ Stackable
⚠ First-year students from Chula Vista only.
Holistic / Status Based
✚
Stacking & Combining
Combines with Cal Grant, the State University Grant, and other aid up to the cost of attendance.
📄
How to Apply
After submitting the Intent to Enroll, complete the Aztec Scholarships general application and confirm Chula Vista appears on the profile. Respond to any invitation from Admissions.
💡
Strategic Detail
For new first-year students from Chula Vista, California. Awards are $1,000 or more per year.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Most winners: Incoming first-years from Chula Vista who complete the Aztec Scholarships general application with their hometown listed correctly.
App Required⚠ Transfer Only
Beatty Endowed Scholarship
📅 Deadline: Late July incoming early action (July 31 in 2026) Non-Renewable
$500–$1,000
✔ Stackable
⚠ Imperial Valley College transfers in teaching, engineering, or business.
🎓 Transfer
✚
Stacking & Combining
Combines with Cal Grant, the State University Grant, and other aid up to the cost of attendance.
📄
How to Apply
After admission and the Intent to Enroll, complete the Aztec Scholarships general application with the transfer school and intended major listed accurately.
💡
Strategic Detail
For new transfer students from Imperial Valley College who plan to earn a teaching credential or major in a College of Engineering or Fowler College of Business program. Awards are $500 to $1,000.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Most winners: Imperial Valley College transfers headed into teaching, engineering, or business. The eligible pool is small.
App Required⚠ All Undergrad Only
CSU Trustees' Award for Outstanding Achievement
📅 Deadline: Spring (nomination window announced by the SDSU Scholarship Office) Non-Renewable
$7,000–$20,000
✔ Stackable
⚠ Current students; nomination required.
🏫 3.0+ GPA👥 ~22 awards across the CSU; SDSU forwards one nominee winners/yr🎓 All Undergrad
✚
Stacking & Combining
Combines with state grants and SDSU scholarships up to the cost of attendance.
📄
How to Apply
Students must first be nominated. Contact the SDSU Scholarship Office in spring about the nomination process. The office selects one finalist and a runner-up to send to the CSU Foundation.
💡
Strategic Detail
A CSU systemwide award for enrolled students with financial need, at least a 3.0 GPA, strong community service, and a record of overcoming adversity. Twenty-two awards are made across the CSU each year. Most are $7,000, and the top scorer receives $20,000. Each campus forwards only one nominee.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Current SDSU students with financial need, strong grades, and a compelling personal story backed by real service. The hard part is getting nominated, so building relationships with faculty and staff matters.
Data last verified Oct 5, 2026.* GPA/test bands are estimates based on official selectivity and prior cohort profiles. "Who Actually Wins" insights are pulled from external peer-sourced data where students and parents have reported real-world award results. Because colleges can change funding thresholds and deadlines at any time, always verify these details with the institution before finalizing your application strategy.
Money the college does not control. Federal programs, city promise funds, foundations, and employers. The college may help you apply, but someone else writes the check, and these almost always stack with the college's own awards.
Outside MoneyAutomatic⚠ All Undergrad Only
Pell Grant & EOP Grant
📅 Deadline: March 2 ✓ Renews
Varies
✔ Stackable
⚠ EOP Grant is for California students admitted to EOP.
🎓 All Undergrad
✚
Stacking & Combining
Pell, the EOP Grant, Cal Grant, and the State University Grant can all combine up to the cost of attendance.
💡
Strategic Detail
Pell is the federal grant for students with the highest financial need and requires the FAFSA plus U.S. citizenship or eligible noncitizen status. The EOP Grant is a California program for first-generation, lower-income students admitted to SDSU's Educational Opportunity Program, which has its own application through Cal State Apply.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Pell goes to families with the highest need on the FAFSA. The EOP Grant goes to students admitted into EOP, which starts with completing the EOP portion of Cal State Apply.
Data last verified Oct 5, 2026.* GPA/test bands are estimates based on official selectivity and prior cohort profiles. "Who Actually Wins" insights are pulled from external peer-sourced data where students and parents have reported real-world award results. Because colleges can change funding thresholds and deadlines at any time, always verify these details with the institution before finalizing your application strategy.
❓ Hidden Gems FAQ
Why can’t my student apply for Aztec Scholarships right after being admitted?
SDSU requires incoming students to submit the Intent to Enroll and activate their SDSU ID first. Without the Intent to Enroll, your student won’t be matched to any portal scholarships.
What is the President’s Diversity Scholarship?
It’s up to 10 awards for lower-income, high-achieving freshmen from SDSU’s service area (San Diego County south of State Route 56 plus Imperial County). It needs a 3.00 GPA and a FAFSA or CADAA, and students reapply each year to keep it for up to four years.
Are there awards tied to specific high schools or towns?
Yes. The de Llamas Opportunity Scholarship (up to $6,000) is for Mar Vista and San Ysidro High School graduates. The Spencer Masonic Endowed Scholarship is for first-years from Chula Vista. The Beatty Endowed Scholarship is for Imperial Valley College transfers going into teaching, engineering, or business.
Does picking Economics as a major really bring money?
For California admits with strong records, it can. SDSU lists Economics scholarships that are typically $5,000 or more a year. Since every SDSU major is impacted, choose the major your student actually wants, but know this option is there.
What is the CSU Trustees’ Award?
It’s a CSU-wide award for current students with financial need, at least a 3.0 GPA, and real service and personal accomplishments. Most awards are $7,000, and the top one is $20,000. SDSU forwards only one nominee, so it’s a long shot, but an important one for upperclassmen to know about.
When are portal awards decided?
In several rounds. Most are awarded after the early September final deadline, and funds typically arrive in October. Study abroad awards are reviewed starting in early November.
The Weber Honors College gives students a small-college experience inside a big research university: discussion-based classes, closer contact with professors, and plenty of support for study abroad. About 300 first-years join each year. Getting in takes a separate application, and your student can apply before hearing back from SDSU.
Minimum to apply: 3.70 weighted high school GPA (3.20 college GPA for transfers and current students)
Priority deadline: February 15, 2027 (decisions in late March)
Final deadline: March 28, 2027 for high school seniors, space permitting (decisions in mid-April)
Automatic admission: SDSU Merit Scholars and Presidential Scholars are admitted to Weber Honors automatically
Honors College Scholarships & Fellowships
App Required⚠ All Undergrad Only
Weber Honors College Awards
📅 Deadline: Late July incoming early action (July 31 in 2026) · 📢 Results: Awards distributed October ✓ Renews (4 yrs)
$1,000–$7,500/yr
✔ Stackable
👥 ~About 20 for incoming first-years winners/yr🎓 All Undergrad
✚
Stacking & Combining
Combines with Cal Grant, the State University Grant, Merit Scholars, Presidential Scholars, and most department awards up to the cost of attendance.
📄
How to Apply
Apply to Weber Honors by February 15, 2027 for priority. Once admitted, submit the Intent to Enroll by May 1, activate the SDSU ID, and complete the Aztec Scholarships general application when it opens in March, ideally by the late July incoming early action date.
✎ Essays
💡
Strategic Detail
Weber Honors awards a limited number of scholarships each year, about 20 for incoming first-years, typically $1,000 to $7,500 per year. Students must be admitted to SDSU and the Weber Honors College, submit the Intent to Enroll, and activate their SDSU ID before they can apply through Aztec Scholarships. Some honors awards carry GPA rules, and community college courses taken before SDSU count toward that GPA. Named awards include the SDSU BRIDGES Susan K. Weber Scholarship for current first-year honors students and the Neva and Ralph Smith Scholarship for future educators.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Most winners: Honors admits who get into the portal early and treat the honors supplemental questions like a real application.
App Required
Prebys Honors Endowed Scholarship
📅 Deadline: Late July incoming early action (July 31 in 2026) ✓ Renews (3.2 GPA, 4 yrs)
Varies
✔ Stackable
⚠ New Weber Honors College students.
🏫 3.0+ GPA
✚
Stacking & Combining
Combines with other honors awards, state grants, and recruitment scholarships up to the cost of attendance.
📄
How to Apply
After honors admission and the Intent to Enroll, complete the Aztec Scholarships general application. The portal matches eligible honors students.
💡
Strategic Detail
Recruitment scholarship for incoming freshmen and new transfers in the Weber Honors College, open to all majors. Initial recipients need a 3.00 GPA. The award renews automatically for up to three more years with a 3.20 cumulative GPA and good progress on honors requirements. The committee sets the amount.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
New Weber Honors students who complete the Aztec Scholarships general application. The automatic renewal at a 3.20 makes this one of the more dependable honors awards.
App Required⚠ All Undergrad Only
Honors Study Abroad Support
📅 Deadline: Aztec Scholarships deadline (September 4 in the 2026 cycle); reviewed starting early November · 📢 Results: Reviewed starting November 2 (study abroad cycle) Non-Renewable
Varies
✔ Stackable
⚠ Weber Honors College students only.
🎓 All Undergrad
✚
Stacking & Combining
Combines with general study abroad scholarships, state and federal aid, and outside awards.
📄
How to Apply
Complete the Aztec Scholarships general application and any honors study abroad questions by the September deadline. Check SDSU Global Education for additional study abroad scholarships.
✎ Essays
💡
Strategic Detail
Scholarships exclusive to Weber Honors students that help offset study abroad costs, applied for through Aztec Scholarships. Study abroad awards are reviewed starting in early November, after the September application deadline.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Honors students with a specific plan (country, program, dates) and an essay that ties the experience to their major or career goals.
Data last verified Oct 5, 2026.* GPA/test bands are estimates based on official selectivity and prior cohort profiles. "Who Actually Wins" insights are pulled from external peer-sourced data where students and parents have reported real-world award results. Because colleges can change funding thresholds and deadlines at any time, always verify these details with the institution before finalizing your application strategy.
Award amounts reflect SDSU’s published ranges. Committees set individual amounts each year based on funding and the applicant pool.
Deadline Note: Honors scholarships don’t come with honors admission. They’re applied for later, in Aztec Scholarships, and only after your student submits the May 1 Intent to Enroll and activates the SDSU ID. Weber Honors awards about 20 scholarships to incoming first-years each year, so applying early in the portal (by the late July date) really matters.
What Honors Changes Day to Day
Housing: Non-local first-year honors students live in the Honors Residential Learning Community in Zura Hall. Local honors students can live at home, or claim a guaranteed Zura spot by the Intent to Enroll deadline.
Courses: First-years take HONOR 100 (1 unit) and HONOR 113 (3 units) in their first fall.
Credit: AP, IB, and dual-enrollment credit can count toward general education, but not toward honors requirements.
Staying in: Students need a 3.20 GPA to graduate from Weber Honors, and the same 3.20 renews the Prebys Honors scholarship.
Weber Honors College: FAQs (San Diego State University)
Is honors admission automatic for high GPAs?
No. Students need a separate Weber Honors application, and meeting the 3.70 minimum doesn’t guarantee a spot. The only automatic paths are Merit Scholars and Presidential Scholars.
Does honors come with a scholarship?
Not automatically. Honors students get access to an honors-only scholarship pool (typically $1,000 to $7,500 a year), but they still have to apply for it through Aztec Scholarships.
Do honors students get priority registration?
No. Weber Honors says plainly that it doesn’t offer priority registration. The benefits are smaller classes, honors housing, advising, and study abroad support.
Can out-of-state students join?
Yes. The 3.70 weighted GPA minimum applies to applicants from the U.S. or overseas. Non-local honors students live in Zura Hall their first year and fall under SDSU’s two-year on-campus housing rule.
What happens if my student applies after February 15?
They can apply until March 28, 2027, but late applications are reviewed only if space remains. If your student is serious about honors, treat February 15 as the real deadline.
San Diego State is the region’s big public university, and lately it’s been punching above its weight. In 2025 it earned R1 status, the top research classification, and it’s the only CSU campus to get there. For families, that means a school with CSU pricing and access to labs, grants, and faculty research you’d usually expect at a UC.
Nationally Known Program: International Business, run jointly by the Fowler College of Business and the College of Arts and Letters, ranks #8 among public universities for undergraduate international business in U.S. News for 2026. Students pair business courses with advanced language study and a semester abroad. Business overall is SDSU’s biggest field, accounting for about a quarter of all bachelor’s degrees.
Nursing: SDSU offers a direct-entry BSN, and admission is highly competitive. Applicants need a B or better in high school algebra, biology, and chemistry with lab.
Engineering and Computer Science: These are popular, impacted majors where strong math and science grades get preference. SDSU also runs joint engineering doctoral programs with UC San Diego.
Public Health and the Health Sciences: These are anchored in the College of Health and Human Services, with plenty of local field and research connections in the San Diego region.
Psychology and the Social Sciences: Psychology is one of SDSU’s largest majors, and the social sciences together award about one in thirteen degrees.
Global Opportunity: SDSU has produced about 100 Fulbright Scholars since 2005, and study abroad is built into several majors.
🔗 Official San Diego State University Links
Use San Diego State’s official pages below to check admissions details, scholarship rules, costs, and campus data. Always rely on these pages for final deadlines and award terms.
San Diego State is two very different deals depending on where you live. For a California family, especially a local one, it’s one of the best values on the West Coast: CSU tuition, R1 research, a nationally ranked international business program, and state grants that can cover tuition outright if your income qualifies. Most of that money hangs on getting the FAFSA or CADAA in by March 2, so treat that date like it’s carved in stone.
For an out-of-state family, SDSU says yes easily and then sends a bill north of $50,000 a year, with no WUE discount and a required two years in campus housing. The Advantage Scholarship can help, but you won’t know how much until the offer arrives. Run the net price calculator and compare it against your in-state options before you fall in love with the beach.
Wherever you’re coming from, remember SDSU’s quiet rule: much of the scholarship money only opens up after your student commits. Get the honors application in by February 15, watch the inbox from December through March for invitations, and the moment the Intent to Enroll is submitted, sit down together and work through Aztec Scholarships all the way to the end.
Your kid did everything right. That does not mean the money follows.
Most families build a college list first and think about scholarships second, which is backwards. This free four-part series shows you where the money actually comes from, and how to build a list around it.
After the series, about once a month, sometimes twice during application season. No drip funnels, no affiliate pitches, and we never sell your information. Unsubscribe anytime.
Leo Dimilo
Leo is the founder of CollegeReadyParent. He went through the college money maze with his own daughter and built this site to give middle-income and first-generation families plain-English answers, with no paywall and no lead forms.
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