La Jolla, CA
UC San Diego is a public research institution located in La Jolla, California, within a large city setting. The university serves 34,948 undergraduates with a student-to-faculty ratio of 19:1 and maintains an 86.8% graduation rate.
UC San Diego admits 26.8% of applicants from 130,771 applications, indicating selective admissions in which academic GPA is a very important factor.
Not reported reliably. University of California-San Diego files 100% in all three class-rank bands, which describes no distribution of the class, so the profile is not shown.
| Applied | Admitted | Rate | Enrolled | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Men | 61,536 | 12,837 | 20.9% | 2,941 |
| Women | 69,235 | 19,225 | 27.8% | 4,064 |
University of California-San Diego admits 26.7% of applicants — a typical similar college admits 83%.
Each bar is the median of that group, with the number of schools in brackets. “Similar colleges” means the same control and the same predominant degree awarded. Groups of fewer than 15 schools are not shown.
UC San Diego's cost of attendance is $42,902, while the average net price is $12,470. Students with greater financial need pay considerably less than the sticker price.
Graduates who borrowed carry a median monthly repayment of about $164.
After aid, University of California-San Diego costs $12,470 a year — about 15% less than a typical similar college.
Each bar is the median of that group, with the number of schools in brackets. “Similar colleges” means the same control and the same predominant degree awarded. Groups of fewer than 15 schools are not shown.
UC San Diego reports an 86.8% graduation rate. Median earnings are $65,669 at six years after entry and $84,943 at ten years after entry.
| Major | Graduates |
|---|---|
| Cognitive Science, General | 689 |
| Anatomy | 600 |
| Computer Science | 415 |
| Management Sciences and Quantitative... | 396 |
| International/Globalization Studies | 384 |
| Biology/Biological Sciences, General | 351 |
| Psychology, General | 351 |
| Mathematics and Computer Science | 338 |
| Political Science and Government, General | 268 |
| Information Technology | 234 |
Median earnings eight years after entering University of California-San Diego are $77,893, and 73% of former students earn more than $25,000 six years after entry.
Six years after entry, former University of California-San Diego students earn $65,669 — 43% more than at a typical similar college.
Each bar is the median of that group, with the number of schools in brackets. “Similar colleges” means the same control and the same predominant degree awarded. Groups of fewer than 15 schools are not shown.
UC San Diego is a large public institution located in La Jolla, California, with 34,948 undergraduates. The student body includes 54.8% women, 39.6% first-generation students, and 34.2% Pell grant recipients.
Average head coach salary by program gender.
552 of 32,852 undergraduates, counting each athlete once regardless of how many sports they play.
203 of 33,792 undergraduates study entirely at a distance, against 107 of 8,584 graduate students.
University of California-San Diego is accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges Senior Colleges and University Commission and operates its own medical school and teaching hospital.
Each bar is the median of that group, with the number of schools in brackets. “Similar colleges” means the same control and the same predominant degree awarded. Groups of fewer than 15 schools are not shown.
University of California-San Diego is in San Diego, CA, in what IPEDS classifies as a large city setting. The campus sits about 7.4 miles from the center of San Diego. There are 11 other colleges within 25 miles, and San Diego, CA is 7.4 miles away.
San Diego County scores 11.8 out of 20 on the EPA National Walkability Index — above average walkable. The index is a county-wide average of block groups, so it describes the surrounding area rather than the campus itself.
Undergraduates make up about 8.1% of San Diego's residents.
Every college that receives federal financial aid must publish its crime statistics each year under the Clery Act. These are the figures University of California-San Diego reported for 2024.
Read these numbers carefully. A Clery figure counts reports, not incidents. A university with active reporting channels, a large campus police force and a teaching hospital will record more offenses than one where the same events go unreported — so a higher count is not evidence of a more dangerous campus, and a low count is not evidence of a safe one. In 2024, 833 campuses with more than 1,000 students reported no offenses at all. Use these figures to ask a college questions, not to rank one against another.
Separately, University of California-San Diego reported 69 arrests and 381 disciplinary referrals for weapons, drug and liquor law violations on campus. Referrals for alcohol violations are usually the largest category at residential colleges and reflect how a school handles student conduct internally.
Common questions about University of California-San Diego admissions, costs, and outcomes.
UC San Diego's acceptance rate is 26.8%. The university received 130,771 applications and admitted 32,062 students, with 7,005 students enrolling.
Admitted students at UC San Diego have an average high school GPA of 3.90. Academic GPA is a very important admission factor, and 52.5% of enrolled students earned a GPA between 3.75 and 3.99.
The total cost of attendance at UC San Diego is $42,902, with tuition and fees at $50,958. However, the average net price students actually pay is $12,470 after financial aid.
UC San Diego serves 34.2% Pell grant recipients and 39.6% first-generation students. The average net price is $12,470, significantly lower than the sticker price of $42,902.
The median federal debt at graduation is $15,500. Only 21.4% of students borrow federal loans, and the three-year loan repayment rate is 82.1%.
UC San Diego has a graduation rate of 86.8%, indicating strong student completion and retention.
Median earnings are $65,669 six years after entry and $84,943 ten years after entry, showing substantial career earnings growth for graduates.
UC San Diego has 34,948 undergraduate students. The student-to-faculty ratio is 19:1, and the campus is located in La Jolla in a large city setting.
Women make up 54.8% of the student body at UC San Diego, representing a majority of the undergraduate population.
Yes, UC San Diego offered 27,521 students a waitlist place and admitted 4,539 students from that waitlist during the admissions cycle.