SDSU College of Sciences

What SDSU College of Sciences does

SDSU College of Sciences is an academic college within San Diego State University, a public institution in the California State University system, offering bachelor's, master's, and doctoral degrees across eight STEM departments: Astronomy, Biology, Chemistry and Biochemistry, Computer Science, Earth and Environmental Sciences, Mathematics and Statistics, Physics, and Psychology. The college serves nearly 7,000 undergraduate and graduate students, supported by a Student Success Center, Aztec Network mentorship platform, and the Aztec Mentor Program. The unit is led by Dean Jeff Roberts and staffed by a small central administrative team (62 listed employees), with teaching and research delivered primarily through tenured and tenure-track faculty across the eight departments.

The college operates an extensive research infrastructure that includes Mount Laguna Observatory, the Coastal Marine Institute, and biological science research stations spanning thousands of acres, with a new Life Sciences Building under construction ahead of a 2027-28 opening. Faculty research output is substantial: SDSU researchers secured $141 million in funding in 2020-21 across 723 awards from 289 sponsors, and the college has earned Top 25 U.S. News rankings for graduate programs in Public Health and Clinical Psychology. Notable faculty recognitions include AAAS Fellows (Carl Carrano, Stanley Maloy), a Chilean Academy of Sciences Honorary Foreign Member (Mark Phillips), and CSU-Wide CREATE and Mathematical Association of America award recipients.

The college's resource model combines CSU-system tuition revenue, federal and private research grants (NSF, NIH, NOAA, and foundations), and philanthropic donations. Reported revenue lines include tuition and fees, research grants and funding, and donations supporting scholarships, endowed positions, and facilities. Pricing is governed by CSU system policy, with per-semester tuition differentiated by degree level and residency status. GTM is a traditional higher-education enrollment motion, recruiting prospective students through SDSU admissions, campus visits, and recruitment events, while engaging the San Diego community through the Biodiversity Museum, planetarium shows, and science festivals.

Name

SDSU College of Sciences

Legal name

San Diego State University

Website

https://sciences.sdsu.edu

Company type

Public

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

SDSU College of Sciences is the STEM academic college within San Diego State University, serving nearly 7,000 undergraduate and graduate students across eight departments (Astronomy, Biology, Chemistry, Computer Science, Earth and Environmental Sciences, Mathematics, Physics, Psychology). It funds operations through CSU tuition, federal and private research grants, and philanthropic donations.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Higher Education (STEM)

NAICS

Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (61131), Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (611310)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Polytechnic & Applied Sciences Universities (EDAHAEAB)

akta.pro secondary industry

Online Technology & Computer Science Universities (EDAHALAH)

Keywords

• STEM higher education
• Degree programs
• Scientific research
• Graduate education
• Academic instruction

Headquarters

HQ city

San Diego

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Tuition and Fees: Revenue from undergraduate and graduate student tuition and fees for degree programs in science disciplines
2. Research Grants and Funding: Federal and private research grants from agencies including NSF, NIH, and foundations supporting faculty research and student researchers
3. Donations and Philanthropy: Gifts from donors supporting scholarships, research opportunities, faculty positions, and facilities including the new Life Sciences Building

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

SDSU College of Sciences delivers higher education and research services, offering bachelor's, master's, and doctoral degrees across eight STEM departments: Astronomy, Biology, Chemistry and Biochemistry, Computer Science, Earth & Environmental Sciences, Mathematics & Statistics, Physics, and Psychology. Coursework is complemented by hands-on learning at cutting-edge research centers, off-campus research facilities (Mount Laguna Observatory, Coastal Marine Institute, and biological research stations), and student support services including the Student Success Center and Aztec Network mentorship platform.

Product overview

SDSU College of Sciences is an academic college within San Diego State University offering a comprehensive portfolio of educational and research services. The college provides undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral degree programs across eight academic departments (Astronomy, Biology, Chemistry and Biochemistry, Computer Science, Earth & Environmental Sciences, Mathematics & Statistics, Physics, and Psychology). Student support is delivered through the College of Sciences Student Success Center, Aztec Network platform, Aztec Mentor Program, and Aztec Scholarships Portal. Research capabilities are supported by extensive facilities including Mount Laguna Observatory, Coastal Marine Institute, thousands of acres of biological research stations, and the upcoming Life Sciences Building. The college engages with the broader community through the Biodiversity Museum, planetarium shows, and the annual SDSU Student Research Symposium where over 650 students present research annually.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Academic Degree Programs Bachelor's, master's, and doctoral degree programs across eight STEM departments: Astronomy, Biology, Chemistry and Biochemistry, Computer Science, Earth & Environmental Sciences, Mathematics & Statistics, Physics, and Psychology. Designed for students pursuing careers in healthcare, biotech, academia, and research.
• Research Labs, Centers, and Facilities Cutting-edge research facilities supporting faculty and student research, including Mount Laguna Observatory, the Coastal Marine Institute, and thousands of acres of biological science research stations. Used by faculty, graduate students, and undergraduate researchers.
• SDSU Student Research Symposium (S3) Annual public forum where SDSU graduate and undergraduate students present their research, scholarship, and creative activities to the university community. Over 650 students presented at the 2024 symposium.
• Aztec Network SDSU's digital networking platform designed to help connect the community, present opportunities for student and alumni mentorship, and allow Aztecs to expand their professional networks and find jobs. Open to staff, faculty, alumni, students, and donors.
• Aztec Mentor Program Mentorship program housed within the Aztec Network in which mentors invest 8 hours over a semester to help students become career-ready.
• Aztec Scholarships Portal Proactive matching system that matches SDSU students with prospective scholarship opportunities for which they qualify.
• College of Sciences Student Success Center Dedicated center providing academic support, advising, and student success resources for College of Sciences students.
• Biodiversity Museum Museum showcasing hundreds of thousands of specimens that contribute to the research and teaching missions of the university, celebrating 125 years of collecting. Open to the public and the university community.
• Planetarium Shows Public planetarium shows hosted by the Department of Astronomy at Mount Laguna Observatory.
• Life Sciences Building New Life Sciences Building under construction at SDSU, with construction 'topping out' ahead of a grand opening planned for the 2027-28 academic year. Provides new research and teaching infrastructure for the College of Sciences.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 650 students presented research at 2024 Student Symposium
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

15 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• NSF Institute for Learning-enabled Optimization at ScalecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 2 July 2024$2.8 million NSF grant collaboration to expand AI education and research opportunities for students, with focus on diversity within the AI research community.
• TechstarsminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 28 October 2023Techstar's San Diego accelerator powered by SDSU provides funding, mentorship and programming for early-stage startups in the innovation ecosystem.
• Various Western Region OrganizationscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 13 April 2023Federally funded Center for Community Energy and Environmental Justice based at SDSU Mission Valley works with partner organizations across the western United States.
• Haiku Inc.minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 21 November 2022Partnership provides students with hands-on cybersecurity training opportunities through the cybersecurity game World of Haiku and live cyber range Haiku Pro, expanding practical security education.
• Multiple Universities and Research InstitutionscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 20 October 2022SDSU part of joint $6.7M NSF grant for cyberinfrastructure to fund staffing, training, and expand network of shared computing resources for growing research activity.
• San Diego County SchoolscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 22 September 2022$1.2M NSF-funded science teacher pipeline focusing on urban schools in four districts for science teacher preparation.
• National Science Foundation (Urban Schools Initiative)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 28 April 2020$3 million NSF grant to bolster math and science teaching in San Diego County schools through urban school partnerships.
• San Diego Zoo Wildlife AllianceminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerResearch collaboration for wildlife conservation, including rattlesnake tracking using acceleration technology and machine learning tools.
• Woods Hole Oceanographic InstitutioncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration to model impact of warming oceans on large migratory fish populations.
• NOAAcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint research with NOAA on ocean and climate science, modeling impact of warming oceans on marine ecosystems.
• InterOcean SystemsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration with alumni and researchers to develop sensors using ultraviolet light to detect oil spills on ocean surface.
• Harvard UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerResearch collaboration with Harvard and UCLA on understanding how distantly related viruses self-organize to improve disease-fighting tactics.
• UCLAcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint research with Harvard and SDSU on virus self-organization mechanisms for improved disease treatment strategies.
• Rutgers UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborative sediment coring expedition to the southeast Pacific led by SDSU and Rutgers researchers in 2019.
• National Alliance to Bolster Latinx STEM InclusioncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerProfessor Felisha Herrera Villarreal serves as co-principal investigator for NSF-funded national effort to increase Latinx representation in STEM.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Stanford University School of Humanities and Sciences: Stanford's School of Humanities and Sciences is a broad incumbent peer — a top-tier private research unit with elite programs in physics, biology, chemistry, mathematics, earth sciences, and psychology, representing the upper bound of research prestige among California universities.
• USC Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences: USC Dornsife is a broad incumbent peer — a larger private research university offering STEM degrees in overlapping natural-science disciplines plus humanities, with significantly greater research funding and prestige.

Direct peers

• UC Irvine School of Physical Sciences: UC Irvine's School of Physical Sciences is a direct peer — a UC public research unit offering undergraduate and graduate STEM degrees in mathematics, physics, chemistry, earth system science, and astronomy.
• UC San Diego Division of Physical Sciences: UC San Diego's Division of Physical Sciences is a direct peer — a major California research university division offering STEM degrees and conducting funded research in overlapping disciplines (physics, chemistry, mathematics, earth sciences) in the same San Diego market.
• UC Santa Barbara College of Letters and Science: UCSB's College of Letters and Science is a direct peer — a UC public research college with strong programs in physics, chemistry, earth sciences, biological sciences, and mathematics, all areas overlapping with SDSU College of Sciences.
• UC Berkeley College of Letters and Science: UC Berkeley's College of Letters and Science is a direct peer — a major public research university college offering STEM undergraduate and graduate programs across overlapping natural and physical sciences disciplines.
• Cal Poly San Luis Obispo College of Science and Mathematics: Cal Poly SLO's College of Science and Mathematics is a direct peer — another CSU STEM college offering bachelor's and master's degrees in biology, chemistry, physics, math, and earth sciences with a hands-on teaching focus.
• San Jose State University College of Science: SJSU's College of Science is a direct peer — another CSU STEM college with overlapping departments (biology, chemistry, physics, math, geology, computer science) and a comparable urban California public-university student profile.
• UCLA Division of Physical Sciences: UCLA's Division of Physical Sciences is a direct peer — a large public research university unit offering undergraduate and graduate STEM degrees in astronomy, physics, math, earth/space sciences, and atmospheric sciences within California.
• UC Davis College of Letters and Science: UC Davis's College of Letters and Science is a direct peer — a large public UC college delivering STEM degrees and conducting significant externally funded research across comparable natural-science disciplines.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@SDSUSciences
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/school/sdsu-sciences
• Instagraminstagram.com/sdsusciences

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Subsidiaries12 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about SDSU College of Sciences