University of California-San Diego
A good fit for competitive applicants and families looking for lower cost. no major red flags in the data. solid earnings of $69,600 within 10 years; strong 86% graduation rate.
About This School
University of California-San Diego is a public institution located in La Jolla, California with approximately 34,948 undergraduate students enrolled. The school is moderately selective, accepting approximately 27% of applicants. The average net price after financial aid is $12,470 per year. The graduation rate is 86%, and the typical graduate earns $69,600 within 10 years of enrollment.
The University of California, San Diego is a public land-grant research university in the La Jolla neighborhood of San Diego, California, United States. Established in 1960, it is the southernmost of the ten campuses of the University of California. It occupies 2,178 acres (881 ha) near the Pacific coast.
This is a strong option for students who want a rigorous research university experience at a reasonable cost — median debt of just $15,500 at graduation is well below the national average, and a 94% freshman retention rate signals that students who get in tend to stay and thrive. With median earnings of $69,600 a decade out, the return on investment holds up, particularly in STEM and health sciences where UCSD has serious depth. The 25% acceptance rate makes it selective but not out of reach, though the large undergraduate population (nearly 34,000) means you'll need to be proactive about building connections — this campus rewards self-starters more than those who expect the experience to come to them.
Popular Programs
Percentage of degrees awarded. Source: College Scorecard.
Notable Alumni
Source: Wikidata. Used for context only.
Admissions
SAT Scores
ACT Scores
What This School Looks For
From the school's most recent Common Data Set (2020-21). What the admissions office actually weighs:
Cost & Financial Aid
Net Price by Family Income
Average annual cost after grants/scholarships, by household income. Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.
Financial Aid
Full Cost
After Graduation
Earnings 6 Years After Enrollment, by Gender
Gap: 18% less for female graduates. National avg ~16%.
Will This School Pay Off?
Strong return. Graduates earn well above their debt load.
Earnings data from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. These are means across all graduates, not specific to any major.
Student Body
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (34,948 undergraduates).
In the Classroom & On Campus
Class size distribution
Source: University of California-San Diego Common Data Set (2020-21).
Contact & Location
Official Links
Other Schools in California
California State University-Fullerton
Fullerton, CA · Public
California State University-Long Beach
Long Beach, CA · Public
San Diego State University
San Diego, CA · Public
University of California-Los Angeles
Los Angeles, CA · Public
University of California-Berkeley
Berkeley, CA · Public
California State University-Northridge
Northridge, CA · Public
Sources & Methodology
Primary data source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Accessed via automated sync. Latest values may come from different reporting years depending on the metric.
School overview from Wikipedia. Used for context only, not as a primary data source for admissions, cost, or outcomes claims.
- Earnings figures are institution-level averages, not major-specific.
- Some metrics are based on Title IV financial aid recipients only.
- Some values may be privacy-suppressed or rolled up by the Department of Education.
- Contact the school directly for current admissions requirements and costs.
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