Is Tulane University harder to get into than San Diego State University?

Yes. Tulane University is harder to get into overall than San Diego State University, and most students should treat Tulane as the more selective, less predictable admission result. Tulane gets a very large national applicant pool, uses a highly selective private-university review process, and is especially known for being difficult in regular decision because of how heavily it manages enrollment. San Diego State is also selective and not a safety for many applicants, but it is typically less difficult to access than Tulane.

For a student comparing odds in a practical way, Tulane belongs in the reach category for far more applicants. It draws many students from across the country, pays close attention to academic strength, and often rewards applicants who show real interest through the way they apply and engage with the school. That combination can make outcomes feel tougher to predict.

San Diego State fits a different applicant profile. It is a popular public university with strong demand, especially from California students and for certain majors, but its admissions process is more numbers-driven and usually easier to estimate from grades, course rigor, and major choice. For many students building a balanced list, SDSU is still selective, just not usually on the same level of difficulty as Tulane overall.

One important nuance is that your major and residency can matter more at SDSU than they do at Tulane. A very competitive major at SDSU may feel tougher than a less competitive path at Tulane for a specific applicant, but if you are asking the broad question of overall selectivity, Tulane is the harder admit.