For anyone still looking for a ray of hope, SDSU Admissions Instagram just posted that decisions are continuing to be released.
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Rejections and acceptances started again.
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A post was merged into an existing topic: SDSU Freshman Class of 2028 Waitlist and Appeals Discussion
Does anyone have real life affordability insight regarding cost of living at SDSU? It appears room and board prices are the highest of anywhere D24 has been accepted. (By quite a bit). I am reading a lot on Reddit about how, despite the already high R&B prices, food prices at markets, etc. are also inflated adding more to the cost. I am also curious about the variances from freshman to sophomore year. D24 was accepted into Weber, so would be in Zura.
We really like SDSU and actually think the oos state tuition itself isnât exorbitant compared to other places. However, looking at extra fees, tuition increases, opportunity fees and housing costs we are thinking it may have to come off the list. COA is quite a bit more than when we gave it a first look early in high school. The AO was pretty flip when we asked what support resources they have for oos students to develop/maintain a realistic financial plan. Other schools have been more helpful.
Her most affordable public acceptances are CSUN (WUE) at less than half the cost of SDSU, then CSULB. So comparisons or pros for those are also appreciated. (We are waiting on an aid package from Chapman and another financial safety is U of Arizona). Just looking at all angles before we remove this one.
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Cost of living is definitely high in San Diego. Gas has been hovering around 5$/gallon for a while. I will have to say itâs worth it though, such a beautiful place to live and I appreciate it everyday! Your daughter will love the university and everything that San Diego has to offer!
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Sam Diego is a very desirable place to live and yes, cost of living is high. But you will get the beautiful weather, surroundings and so cal lifestyle. Beaches are amazing.
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Housing: Freshman and Sophomores (non-local) are required to live on campus. Regular sophomore housing (not including food) can be less than Frosh housing, especially if your student ends up in dorm or suite style rather than apartment. Soph housing rates for 2024/25.
Jr/Sr year housing is up to the student to find off campus. Depending on distance from campus and room-share choices, rates are currently running ~$1000-$1600+ per month. And that is a 12-month lease. It is a hot market, so expect those averages to increase by the time your student is a Junior.
Food: Freshman are required to buy the Meal Plan, which is inflated by administrative costs. Many feel that the daily amount is not enough for their student and have to spend even more. (Hint is to buy the cheapest plan if you plan to supplement and eat out on weekends anyway.) The additional food is more likely the case for students who need more daily calories, such as male students and athletes (eta1: or if they have a $6/day Starbucks habit 
.) I know some petite females who have stretched the cheapest plan to almost 7 days.
eta2: Strong recommendation is to NOT buy the Meal Plan sophomore year, to avoid the administrative costs.
Other options:
CSUN and CSULB are more commuter-based, so a different social experience. Some call SDSU commuter, but with ~8000 Frosh/Soph living on campus, it doesnât feel like that the first 2 years when itâs important to meet people and establish social circles.
When you look at Chapman finaid package, be sure to consider the Grants that wonât keep up with large (4%?) increases in tuition/housing each year.
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Thanks for the great insider advice! This is our first child, so these are helpful things to know.
I saw that her Chapman acceptance is to Dodge, which is huge! Good luck on the financials.
Thank you! Itâs been a long haul. Praying every day for the dream.
SDSU campus was Tour Group central today. No students, just tour groups after tour groups. Beautiful day though!
sdsu expensive for housing and meal plan
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I understand that freshman and sophmore students can commute if we live within a certain area around SDSU. We live in Oceanside so not within the âcommuterâ zone. Can we just rent an apartment nearby and move our student in? This way he could walk or bus to campus but also have his car to use to get around while not at school.
Outside of the local zone (High School south of Hwy 56), you have to sign a Housing contract and pay for it. You also have to pay for a Meal Plan for Freshman year.
If you also pay for an apartment or room nearby, that is up to your budget.
You can file a Housing exemption but it is up to SDSU if they will approve it.
Exemptions
SDSU recognizes that exemptions to the university residency requirement may be appropriate in certain circumstances and may be requested by incoming first-year students by completing the Exemption Request Form.
To ensure timely consideration, exemption requests must be submitted to the Office of Housing Administration via email at oha@sdsu.edu no later than the Intent to Enroll deadline of May 15. For students admitted after the Intent to Enroll deadline, the exemption request must be submitted prior to occupancy or first day of enrollment, whichever date comes first. Students are required to provide supporting documentation for each exemption criteria that applies.
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Thanks. Itâs my understanding that SDSU is fairly strict on these exemptions, but one can certainly apply for one.
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Just adding to the on-campus residency discussion in case anyone else is wondering. There is a strong possibility that my daughter could receive almost 30 credit hours from test scores and DE credits, which would make her a junior after one year at 15 credits/semester. We wondered if this would mean she could potentially move off campus after one year. SDSU confirmed that she would still be required to pay to live on-campus for year 2.
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How difficult is it to change majors at SDSU? My daughter is already questioning her major.
Not that difficult but it depends upon which major she wants to change into.
The latest thinking is Civil Engineering. Her long term goal is to become an architect.