University of California-San DiegoUniversity of California-San Diego
La Jolla, CA · West
- Acceptance rate
- 26.7%
- Cost after aid
- $12,470
- Graduation rate
- 86%
What University of California-San Diego says matters
How University of California-San Diego rates each admissions factor in its Common Data Set, with the full published numbers below.
- Acceptance rate
- 27%
- 35,989 of 134,455
- Yield
- 20%
- 7,330 enrolled
- CDS year
- 2024-25
Acceptance rate by gender
- Men
- 23%13,964 of 60,225
- Women
- 30%20,282 of 67,953
Very important
- Rigor of secondary school record
- Academic GPA
- Application essay
Important
- Extracurricular activities
- Talent or ability
- Character or personal qualities
- State residency
- Volunteer work
Considered
- Class rank
- First generation
- Geographical residence
- Work experience
Not considered
- Standardized test scores
- Recommendations
- Interview
- Alumni relation
- Religious affiliation or commitment
- Level of applicant's interest
The full Common Data Set
Every figure University of California-San Diego published for 2024-25, section by section.
First-Time, First-Year Admission109
Entrance Exams
- In addition, does your institution use applicants' test scores for academic advising?
- Yes
- SAT
- X
- ACT
- X
- AP
- X
- CLEP
- X
- Institutional Exam
- X
- Does your institution make use of SAT or ACT scores in admission decisions for first-time, first-year, degree-seeking applicants?
- No
Applications
- Total first-time, first-year men who applied
- 60,225
- Total first-time, first-year women who applied
- 67,953
- Total first-time, first-year another gender who applied
- 1,682
- Total first-time, first-year unknown gender who applied
- 4,595
- Total first-time, first-year men who were admitted
- 13,964
- Total first-time, first-year women who were admitted
- 20,282
- Total first-time, first-year another gender who were admitted
- 398
- Total first-time, first-year unknown gender who were admitted
- 1,345
- Total full-time, first-time, first-year men who enrolled
- 2,972
- Total part-time, first-time, first-year men who enrolled
- 59
- Total full-time, first-time, first-year women who enrolled
- 3,870
- Total part-time, first-time, first-year women who enrolled
- 184
- Total full-time, first-time, first-year another gender who enrolled
- 56
- Total part-time, first-time, first-year another gender who enrolled
- 2
- Total full-time, first-time, first-year unknown gender who enrolled
- 181
- Total part-time, first-time, first-year unknown gender who enrolled
- 6
- Total first-time, first-year students who applied
- 134,455
- Total first-time, first-year students who were admitted
- 35,989
- Total first-time, first-year students who enrolled
- 7,330
- Total first-time, first-year who applied
- 88,418
- Total first-time, first-year who were admitted
- 22,984
- Total first-time, first-year who enrolled
- 5,629
- Total first-time, first-year who applied
- 24,216
- Total first-time, first-year who were admitted
- 8,109
- Total first-time, first-year who enrolled
- 890
- Total first-time, first-year who applied
- 21,821
- Total first-time, first-year who were admitted
- 4,896
- Total first-time, first-year who enrolled
- 811
- Total first-time, first-year who applied
- 0
- Total first-time, first-year who were admitted
- 0
- Total first-time, first-year who enrolled
- 0
Wait List
- Number of qualified applicants offered a place on waiting list:
- 27,521
- Number accepting a place on the waiting list:
- 19,156
- Number of wait-listed students admitted:
- 4,539
Admissions Requirements
- Total academic units
- 15
- English
- 4
- Mathematics
- 3
- Science
- 2
- Of these, units that must be lab
- 2
- Foreign language
- 2
- Social studies
- 0
- History
- 2
- Academic electives
- 1
- Computer Science
- 0
- Visual/Performing Arts
- 1
Basis for Selection
- Rigor of secondary school record
- Very Important
- Class rank
- Considered
- Academic GPA
- Very Important
- Standardized test scores
- Not Considered
- Application Essay
- Very Important
- Recommendation(s)
- Not Considered
- Interview
- Not Considered
- Extracurricular activities
- Important
- Talent/ability
- Important
- Character/personal qualities
- Important
- First generation
- Considered
- Alumni/ae relation
- Not Considered
- Geographical residence
- Considered
- State residency
- Important
- Religious affiliation/commitment
- Not Considered
- Volunteer work
- Important
- Work experience
- Considered
- Level of applicant’s interest
- Not Considered
First-time, first-year Profile
- SAT Evidence-Based Reading and Writing: Total
- 0
- SAT Math: Total
- 0
- SAT Composite: Total
- 0
- ACT Composite: Total
- 0
- Percent in top tenth of high school graduating class
- 100%
- Percent in top quarter of high school graduating class
- 100%
- Percent in top half of high school graduating class
- 100%
- Percent in bottom half of high school graduating class
- 0
- Percent in bottom quarter of high school graduating class
- 0
- Percent of total first-time, first-year students who submitted high school class rank:
- 96%
- Total
- 0
- Total
- 0
- Percent who had GPA of 4.0
- 27%
- Percent who had GPA between 3.75 and 3.99
- 53%
- Percent who had GPA between 3.50 and 3.74
- 17%
- Percent who had GPA between 3.25 and 3.49
- 3.0%
- Percent who had GPA between 3.00 and 3.24
- 0
- Percent who had GPA between 2.50 and 2.99
- 0
- Percent who had GPA between 2.0 and 2.49
- 0
- Percent who had GPA between 1.0 and 1.99
- 0
- Total
- 100
- Average high school GPA of all degree-seeking, first-time, first-year students who submitted GPA:
- 3.9
- Percent of total first-time, first-year students who submitted high school GPA:
- 96%
Admission Policies
- Does your institution have an application fee?
- Yes
- Amount of application fee:
- 80
- Can it be waived for applicants with financial need?
- Yes
- Same fee
- X
- Application closing date (fall)
- 11
- Priority Date
- 30
- Are first-time, first-year students accepted for terms other than the fall?
- Yes
- Date
- X
- No set Date
- 5
- Must reply by May 1st or within____weeks if notified after
- 1
- Yes, in part
- 5
- No
- 3
- Does your institution allow students to postpone enrollment after admission?
- No
- Does your institution allow high school students to enroll as full-time, first-time, first-year students one year or more before high school graduation?
- No
- Does your institution offer an early decision plan (an admission plan that permits students to apply and be notified of an admission decision well in advance of the regular notification date and that asks students to commit to attending if accepted) for first-time, first-year applicants for fall enrollment?
- No
- Do you have a nonbinding early action plan whereby students are notified of an admission decision well in advance of the regular notification date but do not have to commit to attending your college?
- No
Transfer Admission20
Application for Admission
- Fall
- X
- High school transcript
- Required of Some
- College transcript(s)
- Required of All
- Essay or personal statement
- Not Required
- Interview
- Not Required
- Standardized test scores
- Not Required
- Statement of good standing from prior institution(s)
- Not Required
- If a minimum college grade point average is required of transfer applicants, specify (on a 4.0 scale):
- 3.0
- List any other application requirements specific to transfer applicants:
- D9 List application priority, closing, notification, and candidate reply dates for transfer students. If applications are reviewed on a continuous or rolling basis, place a check mark in the “Rolling admission” column.
- Fall
- 11
- Winter
- 30
- Fall
- 4
- Winter
- 28
- Describe additional requirements for transfer admission, if applicable:
- - D12 Report the lowest grade earned for any course that may be transferred for credit: C Number Unit Type - D13 Maximum number of credits or courses that may be transferred from a two-year institution: 106 Credit(s) Number Unit Type - D14 Maximum number of credits or courses that may be transferred from a four-year institution: 129 Credit(s) - D15 Minimum number of credits that transfers must complete at your institution to earn an associate degree: - D16 Minimum number of credits that transfers must complete at your institution to earn a bachelor's degree: 68 - D17 Describe other transfer credit policies: ## D18-D22: Military Service Transfer Credit Policies - D18 Does your institution accept the following military/veteran transfer credits: Yes No Number Unit Type - D19 Maximum number of credits or courses that may be transferred based on military education evaluated by the American Council on Education (ACE): Number Unit Type - D20 Maximum number of credits or courses that may be transferred based on Department of Defense supported prior learning assessments (College Level Examination Program (CLEP) or DANTES Subject Standardized Tests (DSST)): Yes No - D21 Are the military/veteran credit transfer policies published on your website? - D22 Describe other military/veteran transfer credit policies unique to your institution: ##
Transfer Credit Policies
- Minimum number of credits that transfers must complete at your institution to earn a bachelor’s degree:
- 68
- American Council on Education (ACE)
- No
- College Level Examination Program (CLEP)
- No
- DANTES Subject Standardized Tests (DSST)
- No
- Are the military/veteran credit transfer policies published on your website?
- Yes
- If yes, please provide the URL where the policy can be located:
- https://admissions.ucsd.edu/military-connected/index.html
Academic Offerings and Policies27
Special Study Options
- Accelerated program
- X
- Comprehensive transition and postsecondary program for students with intellectual disabilities
- X
- Cross-registration
- X
- Distance learning
- X
- Double major
- X
- Dual enrollment
- X
- English as a Second Language (ESL)
- X
- Exchange student program (domestic)
- X
- Honors Program
- X
- Independent study
- X
- Internships
- X
- Liberal arts/career combination
- X
- Student-designed major
- X
- Study abroad
- X
- Teacher certification program
- X
- Undergraduate Research
- X
Required Course Work
- Arts/fine arts
- X
- English (including composition)
- X
- Foreign languages
- X
- History
- X
- Physical Education
- X
- Humanities
- X
- Intensive writing
- X
- Mathematics
- X
- Philosophy
- X
- Sciences (biological or physical)
- X
- Social science
- X
Student Life45
Percent Participating
- Percent who are from out of state (exclude international/nonresidents from the numerator and denominator)
- 12%
- Percent of men who join fraternities
- 10%
- Percent of women who join sororities
- 10%
- Percent who live in college-owned, -operated, or -affiliated housing
- 77%
- Percent who live off campus or commute
- 23%
- Percent of students age 25 and older
- 0
- Percent who are from out of state (exclude international/nonresidents from the numerator and denominator)
- 10%
- Percent of men who join fraternities
- 14%
- Percent of women who join sororities
- 14%
- Percent who live in college-owned, -operated, or -affiliated housing
- 48%
- Percent who live off campus or commute
- 52%
- Percent of students age 25 and older
- 5.0%
Average Age
- Average age of full-time students
- 19
- Average age of all students (full- and part-time)
- 19
- Average age of full-time students
- 21
- Average age of all students (full- and part-time)
- 21
Activities Offered
- Campus Ministries
- X
- Choral groups
- X
- Concert band
- X
- Dance
- X
- Drama/theater
- X
- International Student Organization
- X
- Jazz band
- X
- Literary magazine
- X
- Marching band
- X
- Model UN
- X
- Music ensembles
- X
- Musical theater
- X
- Opera
- X
- Pep band
- X
- Radio station
- X
- Student government
- X
- Student newspaper
- X
- Student-run film society
- X
- Symphony orchestra
- X
- Television station
- X
Housing
- Coed dorms
- X
- Apartments for married students
- X
- Apartments for single students
- X
- Special housing for disabled students
- X
- Special housing for international students
- X
- Cooperative housing
- X
- Theme housing
- X
- Wellness housing
- X
- Living Learning Communities
- X
Annual Expenses17
Information
- Please provide the URL of your institution’s net price calculator:
- https://fas.ucsd.edu/forms-and-resources/financial-aid-estimator/index.html
Public Tuition
- Tuition: In-district
- 14934
- Tuition: In-state (out-of-district):
- 52536
- Tuition: Non-resident
- 52536
All Institutions Expenses
- Required Fees:
- 5472
- Food and housing (on-campus):
- 19629
Credits per Term
- Minimum
- 22
Estimated Expenses
- Books and supplies:
- 1365
- Transportation:
- 1047
- Other expenses:
- 2364
- Books and supplies:
- 1365
- Transportation
- 3000
- Other expenses:
- 2688
- Books and supplies:
- 1365
- Food and housing total*
- 19527
- Transportation:
- 2181
- Other expenses:
- 2511
Financial Aid5
Need-based Aid Awarded
- Scholarships/grants from external sources (e.g. Kiwanis, National Merit) not awarded by the college
- 0
- State and other (e.g., institutional) work-study/employment (Note: Excludes Federal Work-Study captured above.)
- 0
Non-need-based Aid Awarded
- Scholarships/grants from external sources (e.g. Kiwanis, National Merit) not awarded by the college
- 0
- State and other (e.g., institutional) work-study/employment (Note: Excludes Federal Work-Study captured above.)
- 0
Institutional Aid
- If your institution has recently implemented any major financial aid policy, program, or initiative to make your institution more affordable to incoming students such as replacing loans with grants, or waiving costs for families below a certain income level please provide details:
- CDS-H Page 23 Common Data Set 2024-2025
Disciplinary Areas of Degrees Conferred27
Diploma/Certificates
- TOTAL (should = 100%)
- 0
Associate
- TOTAL (should = 100%)
- 0
Bachelors
- Natural resources and conservation
- 0.9
- Architecture
- 1.2
- Area, ethnic, and gender studies
- 0.3
- Communication/journalism
- 2.4
- Computer and information sciences
- 7
- Education
- 0.6
- Engineering
- 11.6
- Foreign languages, literatures, and linguistics
- 0.6
- Family and consumer sciences
- 0.6
- English
- 0.8
- Liberal arts/general studies
- 0.1
- Biological/life sciences
- 20.8
- Mathematics and statistics
- 3.8
- Military science and military technologies
- 28
- Interdisciplinary studies
- 15.4
- Philosophy and religious studies
- 0.2
- Physical sciences
- 3
- Psychology
- 8.7
- Homeland Security, law enforcement, firefighting, and protective services
- 8.7
- Social sciences
- 9.2
- Visual and performing arts
- 3.3
- Health professions and related programs
- 3.5
- Business/marketing
- 5.2
- History
- 0.8
- TOTAL (should = 100%)
- 100%
Enrollment And Persistence129
Institutional Enrollment
- Degree-seeking, first-time first-year students: men
- 2,972
- Degree-seeking, first-time first-year students: women
- 1,752
- Degree-seeking, first-time first-year students: another gender
- 10,066
- Degree-seeking, first-time first-year students: unknown
- 56
- Other first-year, degree-seeking: women
- 14,790
- Other first-year, degree-seeking: unknown
- 50
- All other degree-seeking: unknown
- 228
- Total degree-seeking: unknown
- 334
- Total undergraduate Full-Time Students: unknown
- 334
- Degree-seeking, first-time first-year students: women
- 3,870
- Degree-seeking, first-time first-year students: another gender
- 1,812
- Degree-seeking, first-time first-year students: unknown
- 12,375
- Other first-year, degree-seeking: another gender
- 18,057
- Other first-year, degree-seeking: unknown
- 3
- All other degree-seeking: unknown
- 6
- Total degree-seeking: unknown
- 11
- Total undergraduate Part-Time Students: unknown
- 11
- Total undergraduate students: another gender
- 56
- Total undergraduate students: unknown
- 345
- Degree-seeking, first-time: unknown
- 41
- All other degree-seeking: unknown
- 52
- Degree-seeking, first-time: unknown
- 1
- All other degree-seeking: unknown
- 34,955
- All other graduates enrolled in credit courses: men
- 9,301
- All other graduates enrolled in credit courses: women
- 44,256
- Total graduate Part-Time Students: unknown
- 8
- Total Graduate Students: unknown
- 101
- Total All Students: unknown
- 446
All
- Total graduate Full-Time Students: unknown
- 93
Enrollment by Racial/Ethnic Category
- Nonresidents
- 807
- Hispanic/Latino
- 2,114
- Black or African American, non-Hispanic
- 93
- White, non-Hispanic
- 1,021
- American Indian or Alaska Native, non-Hispanic
- 4
- Asian, non-Hispanic
- 2,592
- Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander, non-Hispanic
- 1
- Two or more races, non-Hispanic
- 496
- Race and/or ethnicity unknown
- 202
- TOTAL
- 7,330
- Nonresidents
- 3,891
- Hispanic/Latino
- 9,267
- Black or African American, non-Hispanic
- 569
- White, non-Hispanic
- 6,005
- American Indian or Alaska Native, non-Hispanic
- 25
- Asian, non-Hispanic
- 12,108
- Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander, non-Hispanic
- 20
- Two or more races, non-Hispanic
- 2,258
- Race and/or ethnicity unknown
- 812
- TOTAL
- 34,955
- Nonresidents
- 3,891
- Hispanic/Latino
- 9,267
- Black or African American, non-Hispanic
- 569
- White, non-Hispanic
- 6,005
- American Indian or Alaska Native, non-Hispanic
- 25
- Asian, non-Hispanic
- 12,108
- Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander, non-Hispanic
- 20
- Two or more races, non-Hispanic
- 2,258
- Race and/or ethnicity unknown
- 812
- TOTAL
- 34,955
Persistence
- Bachelor's degrees
- 8,784
- Master's degrees
- 2,425
- Doctoral degrees – research/scholarship
- 646
- Doctoral degrees – professional practice
- 209
Graduation Rates
- Recipients of a Federal Pell Grant
- 2,303
- Recipients of a Subsidized Stafford Loan who did not receive a Pell Grant
- 699
- Students who did not receive either a Pell Grant or a subsidized Stafford Loan
- 3,706
- Total
- 6,708
- Recipients of a Federal Pell Grant
- 0
- Recipients of a Subsidized Stafford Loan who did not receive a Pell Grant
- 0
- Students who did not receive either a Pell Grant or a subsidized Stafford Loan
- 0
- Total
- 0
- Recipients of a Federal Pell Grant
- 2,303
- Recipients of a Subsidized Stafford Loan who did not receive a Pell Grant
- 699
- Students who did not receive either a Pell Grant or a subsidized Stafford Loan
- 3,706
- Total
- 6,708
- Recipients of a Federal Pell Grant
- 1,576
- Recipients of a Subsidized Stafford Loan who did not receive a Pell Grant
- 514
- Students who did not receive either a Pell Grant or a subsidized Stafford Loan
- 2,848
- Total
- 4,938
- Recipients of a Federal Pell Grant
- 234
- Recipients of a Subsidized Stafford Loan who did not receive a Pell Grant
- 74
- Students who did not receive either a Pell Grant or a subsidized Stafford Loan
- 347
- Total
- 655
- Recipients of a Federal Pell Grant
- 85
- Recipients of a Subsidized Stafford Loan who did not receive a Pell Grant
- 20
- Students who did not receive either a Pell Grant or a subsidized Stafford Loan
- 77
- Total
- 182
- Recipients of a Federal Pell Grant
- 1,895
- Recipients of a Subsidized Stafford Loan who did not receive a Pell Grant
- 608
- Students who did not receive either a Pell Grant or a subsidized Stafford Loan
- 3,272
- Total
- 5,775
- Recipients of a Federal Pell Grant
- 0.82
- Recipients of a Subsidized Stafford Loan who did not receive a Pell Grant
- 0.87
- Students who did not receive either a Pell Grant or a subsidized Stafford Loan
- 0.88
- Total
- 0.86
- Recipients of a Federal Pell Grant
- 2,052
- Recipients of a Subsidized Stafford Loan who did not receive a Pell Grant
- 665
- Students who did not receive either a Pell Grant or a subsidized Stafford Loan
- 2,973
- Total
- 5,690
- Recipients of a Federal Pell Grant
- 0
- Recipients of a Subsidized Stafford Loan who did not receive a Pell Grant
- 0
- Students who did not receive either a Pell Grant or a subsidized Stafford Loan
- 0
- Total
- 0
- Recipients of a Federal Pell Grant
- 2,052
- Recipients of a Subsidized Stafford Loan who did not receive a Pell Grant
- 665
- Students who did not receive either a Pell Grant or a subsidized Stafford Loan
- 2,973
- Total
- 5,690
- Recipients of a Federal Pell Grant
- 1,392
- Recipients of a Subsidized Stafford Loan who did not receive a Pell Grant
- 510
- Students who did not receive either a Pell Grant or a subsidized Stafford Loan
- 2,361
- Total
- 4,263
- Recipients of a Federal Pell Grant
- 257
- Recipients of a Subsidized Stafford Loan who did not receive a Pell Grant
- 71
- Students who did not receive either a Pell Grant or a subsidized Stafford Loan
- 289
- Total
- 617
- Recipients of a Federal Pell Grant
- 49
- Recipients of a Subsidized Stafford Loan who did not receive a Pell Grant
- 13
- Students who did not receive either a Pell Grant or a subsidized Stafford Loan
- 44
- Total
- 106
- Recipients of a Federal Pell Grant
- 1,698
- Recipients of a Subsidized Stafford Loan who did not receive a Pell Grant
- 594
- Students who did not receive either a Pell Grant or a subsidized Stafford Loan
- 2,694
- Total
- 4,986
- Recipients of a Federal Pell Grant
- 0.83
- Recipients of a Subsidized Stafford Loan who did not receive a Pell Grant
- 0.89
- Students who did not receive either a Pell Grant or a subsidized Stafford Loan
- 0.91
- Total
- 0.88
- 2021 Cohort
- 0
- 2020 Cohort
- 0
Instructional Faculty And Class Size31
Instructional Faculty
- A. Total number of instructional faculty
- 1,515
- B. Total number who are members of minority groups
- 457
- C. Total number who are women
- 617
- D. Total number who are men
- 898
- E. Total number who are nonresidents (international)
- 104
- F. Total number with doctorate, or other terminal degree
- 1,489
- G. Total number whose highest degree is a master’s but not a terminal master’s
- 19
- H. Total number whose highest degree is a bachelor’s
- 8
- I. Total number whose highest degree is unknown or other (Note: Items f, g, h, and i must sum up to item a.)
- 0
- J. Total number in stand-alone graduate/professional programs in which faculty teach virtually only graduate-level students
- 0
- A. Total number of instructional faculty
- 256
- B. Total number who are members of minority groups
- 82
- C. Total number who are women
- 107
- D. Total number who are men
- 149
- E. Total number who are nonresidents (international)
- 9
- F. Total number with doctorate, or other terminal degree
- 250
- G. Total number whose highest degree is a master’s but not a terminal master’s
- 5
- H. Total number whose highest degree is a bachelor’s
- 0
- I. Total number whose highest degree is unknown or other (Note: Items f, g, h, and i must sum up to item a.)
- 0
- J. Total number in stand-alone graduate/professional programs in which faculty teach virtually only graduate-level students
- 0
- A. Total number of instructional faculty
- 1,771
- B. Total number who are members of minority groups
- 539
- C. Total number who are women
- 724
- D. Total number who are men
- 1,047
- E. Total number who are nonresidents (international)
- 113
- F. Total number with doctorate, or other terminal degree
- 1,739
- G. Total number whose highest degree is a master’s but not a terminal master’s
- 24
- H. Total number whose highest degree is a bachelor’s
- 8
- I. Total number whose highest degree is unknown or other (Note: Items f, g, h, and i must sum up to item a.)
- 0
- J. Total number in stand-alone graduate/professional programs in which faculty teach virtually only graduate-level students
- 0
Undergraduate Class Size
- Total
- 0
About University of California-San Diego
University of California-San Diego is a large public university in La Jolla, CA, in a city setting.
What University of California-San Diego looks for
With an acceptance rate around 27%, the application readers spend less time per file than they do at the most selective schools, but they still read. A solid GPA, strong letters, and an essay that sounds like you wrote it yourself go a long way here. The biggest unforced error: a generic supplement essay. Even moderately selective schools notice when you have not bothered to learn anything about them.
Frequently asked
What is the acceptance rate at University of California-San Diego?
University of California-San Diego admits roughly 27% of applicants. Selective, but stats inside the middle 50% put you in real contention.
What does University of California-San Diego actually cost after financial aid?
Average net cost (after institutional aid) is about $12,470 per year. Net cost varies enormously by family income; run the school's net price calculator for an estimate that reflects your situation.
Is University of California-San Diego a reach, match, or safety for me?
Compare your stats to the middle 50% above. If you are at or below the 25th percentile, treat University of California-San Diego as a reach. If you are in the middle 50%, it is a match. Above the 75th percentile and the school accepts above 25% overall, it is closer to a safety. Selectivity below 20% should be treated as a reach for everyone, period.
