Regarding SDSU and doctoral programs, and the confusion regarding the SDSU/UCSD program – When California created the California Master Plan for Higher Education in 1960, they instituted some strong boundaries for the UC & CSU systems. Originally, only the UCs could award doctoral degrees, but a CSU could create a PhD program in conjunction with a UC or qualified private university. The two universities would then offer a joint degree for that particular program. This was only for PhD programs. CSUs could create their own Master’s degree programs, but the PhD programs had to be with a UC/private university. In the past ten or so years, as the demand for/prestige of some of the CSUs increased, the powers-that-be have allowed CSUs to offer a few PhD programs on their own.
SDSU currently has 20+ doctoral programs (both exclusively and with UCSD/other universities.) Four CSUs now offer PhD programs - SDSU, Fresno, SFSU, and Fullerton. SDSU has had these programs for many, many years, which is why they have been ranked as a US News & Report “National” university. In the last year or so, Fresno, Fullerton, and SFSU have been moved up to “National” universities in the same survey due to the addition of their doctoral programs. The rest of the CSUs are considered Regional Universities (West) by US News & Report.