SDSU 2024 Year In Review

Following a groundbreaking year of historic funding, a surge in athletic triumphs, and bold expansions, San Diego State University entered 2024 with a renewed commitment to driving innovation, promoting inclusivity, and amplifying community impact.

Unprecedented Research Funding Fuels Innovation and Promoting Civic Engagement

SDSU researchers achieved an unprecedented $229.8 million in funding in 2023-24, a 20% year-over-year increase, this is the largest funding leap in a decade and a 60% increase over just three years ago. This growth fueled initiatives like the TIDE project, a pioneering collaboration with the San Diego Supercomputer Center at UC San Diego and three CSU campuses that provides faculty and students access to advanced computational resources. By leveraging cutting-edge computational technology, TIDE accelerates AI and machine learning research, enabling breakthroughs in fields like climate science and health care.

Read: SDSU-led TIDE project wins CENIC’s equity award

SDSU's Academic Success and Growth Initiatives

SDSU’s five-year strategic plan progressed with record-high graduation rates, with 57.9% of first-time freshmen graduating within four years and nearly 80% within six years. “Our students are graduating at rates that are far above the national average,” said Stefan Hyman, associate vice president for Enrollment Management.

Read: SDSU's top 10 degrees among 2024 graduates

In support of students, SDSU Imperial Valley and the Imperial Valley College entered into an agreement for a joint student housing partnership to build 40 single- or double-occupancy rooms at SDSU Imperial Valley, Calexico. The project is set to break ground in early 2025. The student housing is planned to be available to students enrolled at both institutions.

Aztec Athletics: A Year of Triumph and Global Recognition

SDSU’s growth extends beyond academics and infrastructure, as the university also excelled in athletics in 2024.

The Aztecs captured six Mountain West Conference championships in 2023-24, including women’s soccer, swimming & diving, and men’s golf. The men’s basketball team, fresh off its 2023 March Madness National Championship run, powered into the Sweet 16 behind All-American Jaedon LeDee, who earned SDSU’s first-ever Karl Malone Award for the nation’s best power forward. 

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Success for the Aztecs also extended to the classroom, with 98% of athletes who exhausted their eligibility at SDSU earning degrees. 

SDSU capped its transformative year in athletics with an invitation to join the Pac-12 Conference, marking a historic step for the university. “The move to the Pac-12 is a transformative moment for our entire university," said de la Torre, citing the expanded national exposure and partnership and recruitment opportunities it provides.

Regional Impact: SDSU’s Contributions to Community and Sustainability

In 2024, SDSU strengthened its regional impact through sustainability-focused community projects and cutting-edge academic infrastructure.

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Read: SDSU makes list of Money’s ‘Best Colleges in America’

In October, both the park and SDSU’s adjoining Snapdragon Stadium were sites for the American Cancer Society’s Making Strides Against Breast Cancer walk.

Farther southeast, the nearly completed Sciences and Engineering Laboratories on SDSU Imperial Valley, Brawley is set to open in fall 2025. This state-of-the-art facility will house academic programs tied to lithium extraction and sustainable energy, addressing workforce demands while serving growing student enrollment, including the inaugural cohort of a new public health bachelor’s degree program.

Special Section: Lithium Valley and SDSU’s Commitment to a Brighter Future

Global Engagement and Education Diplomacy: SDSU's International Impact

Building on its strong foundation of innovation, SDSU President Adela de la Torre introduced the Presidential Global Democracy Fund to support meaningful and inclusive discussions on democracy, inclusion, and free speech. Aligned with the One SDSU Community program, the fund offers microgrants of up to $5,000 to support programming that brings together diverse perspectives through events, discussions, and creative activities.

SDSU’s international programs continued to shape global education and workforce development in 2024, earning the AIEA stands for Association of International Education Administrators (AIEA) Award for Presidential Leadership in Internationalization and the International Impact Award for Global Engagement from the Association of Public and Land Grant Universities (APLU). “These awards reflect the hard work and commitment among our faculty, students, and staff to extend the university’s positive impact beyond our region and borders,” said de la Torre.

The Center for Mesoamerican Studies in Oaxaca promoted transborder diplomacy and collaboration, while SDSU Georgia has now awarded STEM degrees to over 520 graduates, addressing workforce shortages in Eastern Europe and Western Asia. In Palau, SDSU programs have graduated over 250 students, many of whom now lead education and workforce initiatives in the island nation. 

Read: SDSU’s Global Health Internship in Oaxaca delivers clinical skill, cultural lessons and empathy

Honoring Legacy, Impact, and the SDSU Community

With the May 2024 graduating class, SDSU reached a remarkable milestone: more than 500,000 living alumni. "As we celebrate this milestone, we honor a legacy of excellence, innovation, and impact,” said Stephanie Dathe, SDSU Alumni executive director.

The class of 2024 joined generations of Aztecs and notable alumni who have become pioneers in their fields, including: first Latina astronaut Ellen Ochoa (‘80), who received the Presidential Medal of Freedom this month; radio and television personality Art Linkletter (‘34); baseball Hall of Famer Tony Gwynn, Sr. (‘81); and Costco cofounder James D. Sinegal (‘59).

Reflecting on its alumni legacy, the SDSU community honored the life of Carl Weathers, the Emmy-nominated actor and former Aztec linebacker, whose iconic roles included the “Rocky” movie franchise, "Happy Gilmore" and most recently “The Mandalorian.” 

Read: The enduring SDSU legacy of Frederick W. Pierce, IV

Commitment to Equity and Inclusion: SDSU's Living Land Acknowledgment

Led by the Native Resource Center and SDSU Story Lab, the university unveiled the Living Land Acknowledgment, a series of Kumeyaay-inspired sculptures that integrate immersive lessons on Indigenous culture and stewardship. The Land Acknowledgment was introduced in 2019 in recognition of SDSU’s respect for the Indigenous people who originally inhabited the land the university now occupies. 

SDSU's Continued Commitment to Global Engagement and Diversity

SDSU continued to advance its mission of global engagement and diversity through significant achievements and contributions.

Over $1 million in grant funding will support the expansion of evidence-based practices to serve diverse student populations through campus resource centers, benefiting campus resource centers like the APIDA Center, Black Student Success initiatives, Behner Stiefel Center for Brazilian Studies and other campus resource centers.

Further underscoring this commitment, SDSU was named a Fulbright Hispanic-Serving Institution Leader for the fourth consecutive year. U.S. Secretary of State Anthony Blinken commended the university’s efforts in a letter to President de la Torre, stating, “Fulbrighters make the world a better place in classrooms and countries worldwide.”

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Looking Ahead: SDSU’s Path to Continued Innovation and Impact

As SDSU continues to innovate, engage globally, and foster inclusion, 2024 was another year of growth and achievement, further solidifying the university’s role as a leader in education, research, and community impact. The university will move into the second phase of its strategic plan, is preparing to open the Sciences and Engineering Laboratories at SDSU Imperial Valley, will welcome the San Diego Football Club for its first season at Snapdragon Stadium – and more. The university will also continue to advance sustainable energy programs in Brawley, strengthening its position as a leader in international education and remain committed to shaping a brighter future for its students, faculty, and the communities it serves.

Jeff Ristine and the SDSU News Team contributed to this report.