A freshman student is a student entering SDSU for the first time. Usually, the student is enrolling directly out of high school/secondary school with no previous university experience. Freshmen student admission is based in part on the quality of the applicant's secondary school academic record and the number of places available. The International Admissions Office understands that secondary/high school graduation ages vary by country. However, students must be at least 17 years old at the time of the program start date to be eligible for admission.
- Applicants should have an above-average academic record at least equivalent to a "B-" average (2.60 out of 4.00) or be in the top 60% of their class with suitable academic preparation for the intended major.
- The SAT (Scholastic Aptitude Test), while not required, is encouraged and strongly recommended for freshman applicants. Students who graduated from U.S. high schools must submit an SAT score.
- Academic Transcripts need to be originals or official certified true copies. If your transcripts are not in English, certified true translations must be attached. All upper secondary school-level work needs to be demonstrated through your transcripts. It is common for applicants to submit transcripts prior to the completion of their final year of secondary school. If you must submit transcripts prior to completion, please indicate your expected graduation date.
English Proficiency
All applicants who are not native speakers of English must demonstrate proficiency in English with one of the following exams and the indicated minimum score.
- Internet-based TOEFL Test (iBT): 61 *MyBest Score is now accepted
- Paper-based TOEFL Test (PBT): 500
- Academic IELTS: 5.5
- Online E3PT Exam: 62
- Online iTEP Exam: 3.6
- Duolingo: 90
TOEFL or IELTS scores must be submitted within two years of the examination date. An official TOEFL score must be sent from the testing agency. Certified true copies may be submitted for initial review.
- Note: The Institution code for SDSU is 6653 for TOEFL.
Please understand that these required minimum scores are for admission purposes only. Students will be placed into various English Composition courses depending on an assessment of their English language skills that will be administered upon their arrival.