San Diego, CA · Clery Act 2023 · Public

San Diego State University

According to the U.S. Department of Education's Clery Act filings, this profile covers campus safety, crime statistics, fire-safety data, and peer comparison for this 39,241-student campus.

1.40
Incidents / 1k students
#1,769
Rank of 3,050
#211
CA rank
39,241
Enrolled students

Data updated June 2026

The verdict

San Diego State University reports 1.40 on-campus Clery incidents per 1,000 enrolled students, ranking #1,769 of 3,050 ranked U.S. campuses - with more reported incidents than 55% of ranked campuses its size.

1.40
incidents / 1,000 students
#1,769
of 3,050 ranked nationally
55%
report fewer incidents than this campus
51
on-campus incidents, 2023

Safety score = reported on-campus Clery incidents per 1,000 enrolled students (lower is safer).

Reporting-period change

What changed in 2023

-52 reported incidents

San Diego State University decreased from 103 to 51 reported on-campus incidents between the 2022 and 2023 reporting years in the U.S. Department of Education OPE Campus Safety Survey.

This is a change in reported incidents, not a measure of individual safety. Enrollment, reporting practice, and category coverage can affect the count.

See national reporting-year changes

San Diego State University is a Public institution located in San Diego, CA, enrolling approximately 39,241 students. Clery Act data spanning 2021–2023 records 245 total on-campus incidents across all reported crime categories. Within CA, it ranks #211 by safety score. Verify with the U.S. Department of Education Clery Act database →

With 39,241 enrolled students, this campus sits in the large research university bracket, which shapes how raw incident counts should be interpreted.

The most frequently reported category at San Diego State University is "Burglary" with 110 cumulative incidents across the reporting window. Compared to 5 peer institutions of similar enrollment size in CA averaging 4.23 incidents per 1,000 students, San Diego State University reports 67% fewer incidents per student.

Fire safety data covers 1 reporting year for on-campus residential facilities, logging 7 total fires. Arrests and disciplinary actions span 27 category-year records, covering liquor law violations, drug law violations, and weapons possession on-campus. No Department of Education Clery Act enforcement actions are recorded against this institution.

Safety Score

1.40 /1K students

incidents per 1,000 enrolled

National Rank

#1769

See peer comparison

State Rank (CA)

#211

within state peers

Incidents (2023)

51

across 11 crime categories

Where San Diego State University sits among ranked U.S. campuses

On-campus Clery incidents per 1,000 students, every ranked campus with 2,000+ students

1 safer than 45% of 1,807 ranked campuses

0–1: 874 ranked campuses (48%). Below this entry. 1–2: 281 ranked campuses (16%). This entry sits in this band. 2–3: 186 ranked campuses (10%). Above this entry. 3–4: 135 ranked campuses (7%). Above this entry. 4–5: 84 ranked campuses (5%). Above this entry. 5–6: 71 ranked campuses (4%). Above this entry. 6–7: 36 ranked campuses (2%). Above this entry. 7–8: 37 ranked campuses (2%). Above this entry. 8–9: 103 ranked campuses (6%). Above this entry. This campus 0 9 every ranked campus, bucketed by value

Each bar is a band; taller bars hold more ranked campuses. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.

Source U.S. Department of Education, Campus Safety & Security Survey (Clery Act) · 2023

Safety percentile vs. peers

San Diego State University percentile rank 42.0%
National median

Higher percentile = safer than more peers. Rank #1769 out of 3,050 ranked institutions (enrollment >= 500) in the OPE Campus Safety Survey.

Reporting density vs peer median

San Diego State University reports 67% fewer incidents per student than the median of 5 peer institutions.

Academic & Financial Profile

Tuition & Costs

In-State Tuition
$8,728
Out-of-State Tuition
$21,328
Avg Net Price
$15,364
Median Debt
$15,000
Pell Grant Recipients
32%
How does this cost rank in CA? →

Admissions

Acceptance Rate
36%

Outcomes

4-Year Graduation Rate
77%
Retention Rate
91%
Median Earnings (6yr)
$52,620
Median Earnings (10yr)
$64,909
Loan Repayment (3yr)
72%

Source: IPEDS & College Scorecard. Methodology.

Enrollment scale

How campus size shapes the safety figures

With 39,241 enrolled students, San Diego State University is in the largest 2% of the 5,673 institutions in this dataset with a reported enrollment. The safety score above already normalizes reported on-campus incidents per 1,000 students, so compare it with similarly sized campuses instead of treating a higher raw count as evidence that a campus is less safe. Use the annual crime table to see what was reported, then use the peer comparison to judge the rate against schools of a similar scale. A lower reported rate is not a guarantee of individual safety or a measure of reporting quality.

Crime Statistics by Year

11 categories 3 reporting years on-campus only

San Diego State University: on-campus incidents by year

Declining 44% (91 → 51 incidents)

406080100120 202120222023 91 51 ▼ -44.0%
Crime Type 202320222021
Aggravated Assault 463
Arson 131
Burglary 185042
Fondling 01613
Incest 000
Motor Vehicle Theft 161112
Murder / Non-Negligent Manslaughter 000
Negligent Manslaughter 000
Rape 111214
Robbery 156
Statutory Rape 000

Source: US Dept US Dept of Education OPE Campus Safety Survey. Figures show on-campus incidents

Fire Safety

Year Fires Inj. Deaths Cat I Cat II
2023 7 0 0 0 0

Arrests & Disciplinary Actions

27 category-year records
Disposition26%47%27%ArrestsDisciplinary referralsNo action
27 reported records
Category Year Arrests Discipline
Drugs 2023 0 0
Drugs 2023 0 0
Drugs 2023 14 269
Liquor 2023 0 0
Liquor 2023 0 0
Liquor 2023 4 774
Weapons 2023 0 0
Weapons 2023 0 0
Weapons 2023 7 0
Drugs 2022 0 0
Drugs 2022 0 0
Drugs 2022 36 148
Liquor 2022 0 0
Liquor 2022 0 0
Liquor 2022 1 749
Weapons 2022 0 0
Weapons 2022 0 0
Weapons 2022 11 10
Drugs 2021 0 0
Drugs 2021 0 0

San Diego State University vs peer institutions

Side-by-side safety scores for 3 peers of similar enrollment

Scores are incidents per 1,000 enrolled students (lower is fewer).

Selected

CA

San Diego State University

1.40 incidents / 1,000 students
National rank
#1,769
Enrollment
39,241
Data year
2023

FL

Miami Dade College

0.38 incidents / 1,000 students
National rank
#1,225
Enrollment
39,139
Data year
2023

Similar Institutions

Miami Dade College
Miami, FL · 39,139 enrolled
Safety Score 0.38
Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College
Baton Rouge, LA · 39,418 enrolled
Safety Score 5.58
George Mason University
Fairfax, VA · 39,527 enrolled
Safety Score 2.23
The University of Alabama
Tuscaloosa, AL · 39,622 enrolled
Safety Score 2.78
University of California-Davis
Davis, CA · 39,707 enrolled
Safety Score 10.17

Closest by National Rank

Institutions ranked nearest San Diego State University nationally (rank #1769), regardless of size or state.

Wayne State University
Detroit, MI
National Rank #1768
Harrisburg University of Science and Technology
Harrisburg, PA
National Rank #1770
Clark College
Vancouver, WA
National Rank #1767
Lamar Community College
Lamar, CO
National Rank #1771
Indiana Institute of Technology
Fort Wayne, IN
National Rank #1766

Frequently Asked Questions

Is San Diego State University safe?
San Diego State University has a safety score of 1.40 (total on-campus incidents per 1,000 enrolled students) and ranks #1,769 nationally out of 3,050+ ranked institutions. Compare this with peer institutions for context.
What crimes are reported at San Diego State University?
Aggravated Assault, Arson, Burglary, Fondling, Incest, and other categories, for calendar year 2023.
How does San Diego State University compare to similar schools?
See the Similar Institutions section below for peers of similar enrollment in CA.
Does San Diego State University have fire safety data?
Yes. San Diego State University reports fire safety data for on-campus residential facilities, including total fires, injuries, deaths, and fire damage categories. 7 fires were reported in the most recent year.

Understanding San Diego State University's Safety Profile

San Diego State University in San Diego, CA enrolls 39,241 students and has a safety score of 1.40 incidents per 1,000 enrolled students , ranking #1769 nationally. This relatively low score indicates fewer reported on-campus incidents relative to enrollment size.

Reported incidents cover 2021 to 2023. On-campus incidents decreased from 103 in 2022 to 51 in 2023.

Fire safety data covers on-campus residential facilities. 7 fires were reported in the most recent year.

What this means for you

San Diego State University's 1.40 reported on-campus incidents per 1,000 students is a starting point for comparison, not a verdict on any student's safety.

Figures reflect the 2023 Clery Act reporting year as filed with the U.S. Department of Education.

Data sourced from the U.S. Department of Education, OPE Campus Safety & Security Survey (Clery Act). See our methodology for details. Retrieved and formatted by PlainCampus Editorial

Every figure on PlainCampus is rendered directly from federal Clery Act source data, no number is typed in by an editor. This page draws directly on federal Clery Act source data, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.

PlainCampus is for informational purposes only and does not constitute safety, security, legal, or enrollment advice; the data describes reported on-campus activity, it is not a complete picture of safety at any campus and cannot predict any individual student's experience. See our appropriate use guidance.