Who Is Funding the Science That's Too Early for Venture Capital?
April 22, 2026
San Diego State University
#195 in Universities
195Institution Overview
Overall
Ranking
195
206
Rank in
Research Capabilities
167
Rank in
Entrepreneurial Readiness
199
Rank in
Market Translation
San Diego, CA
San Diego State University ranks 195th among 243 universities in the Cure Innovation Index, located in San Diego, California. Its strongest performance is in Entrepreneurial Readiness, placing 167th, with an incubator and accelerator, an entrepreneur-in-residence program, and faculty-led clinical trials reflecting an applied orientation. Research Capabilities and Market Translation are developing areas of the university's profile. Situated in San Diego's established life sciences corridor, the university contributes to regional health innovation through its commercialization and entrepreneurial infrastructure.
Ranking Metrics
Research Capabilities
San Diego State University ranked below average for Research Capabilities, a measure of the foundational infrastructure and resources that enable an institution to conduct high-quality, innovative science. Out of the factors in this category, San Diego State University fared best in Cutting Edge Science.
Learn MoreEntrepreneurial Readiness
San Diego State University ranked below average for Entrepreneurial Readiness, a measure of whether the institution has built a supportive ecosystem for entrepreneurship and whether faculty are engaged in and incentivized toward commercial activity. Out of the factors in this category, San Diego State University fared best in Faculty Engagement.
Learn MoreMarket Translation
San Diego State University ranked below average for Market Translation, a measure of how effectively a research institution moves scientific discovery out of the lab and into real-world clinical and commercial applications. Out of the factors in this category, San Diego State University fared best in Health Impact.
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Cure Innovation Index Methodology
From a pool of more than 6,000 institutions, the top 303 were ranked using two dozen indicators — from scientific foundation and lab infrastructure to patents, products, and partnerships — drawn from more than a dozen federal and commercial databases, an original audit of all institutions, and surveys of more than 3,300+ scientists, industry leaders, and biomedical experts.
Insights From the Cure Innovation Index
Explore by Category
Innovation isn't a single moment — it's an entire ecosystem. The Index evaluates institutions across two dozen indicators, grouped in three core domains that reveal the full picture of what it takes to turn groundbreaking science into real-world impact.
