University of California-San Diego: A Parent's Guide to Admissions, Cost & Outcomes
La Jolla, California · Public · Selective · CDS 2024-2025
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University of California-San Diego is a public university in La Jolla, California that admits about 27% of applicants, making it a selective school. The average family pays about $12,470 a year after financial aid, which matters more than the published sticker price. It is best known for Cell/Cellular Biology and Anatomical Sciences, Cognitive Science and Computer Science, its largest undergraduate programs by number of graduates. About 86% of students graduate within six years. Its most recent Clery Act report shows roughly 16.5 criminal offenses per 1,000 students.
University of California-San Diego is a public institution located in La Jolla, California with a selective admissions profile. For the most recent reporting cycle, University of California-San Diego admits between a quarter and half of applicants, with an overall admission rate of 27%. The average net price after grants and scholarships is $12,470 per year, which is the figure most families actually pay rather than the published sticker price.
What parents should know about University of California-San Diego right now
UC San Diego, founded November 18, 1960, is the southernmost UC and one of the largest, with 35,442 undergraduates and 10,736 graduate students enrolled in fall 2025 across a 2,178-acre campus in La Jolla. Selectivity has risen sharply: the freshman acceptance rate fell from 32.3 percent in 2019 to 22.7 percent in 2022, and the campus drew 131,229 freshman applications in that cycle. UCSD is consistently among the top public research universities, with biological sciences ranked 7th nationally, microbiology 5th, and oceanography ranked 1st worldwide via the Scripps Institution of Oceanography. The campus reported $1.42 billion in research expenditures, placing it 7th nationally. Distinctive for parents is the eight-college residential system, where each undergraduate is assigned to a college (the newest, Seventh and Eighth, were founded in 2020 and 2021 around environmental and community themes) with its own general education sequence and advising team, giving a smaller-college feel inside a large research university. On the financial aid front, the state and institutional priority deadline for 2025-2026 was extended to April 2, 2025, and 44 percent of undergraduates have historically received Pell Grants. Families should also be aware that the federal H.R. 1 law signed July 4, 2025 caps new Parent PLUS borrowing at $20,000 per year and $65,000 total per dependent student starting July 1, 2026, which will affect financing decisions for many UC families.
What GPA does my child need for University of California-San Diego?
80% of enrolled students at University of California-San Diego had a high school GPA of 3.75 or above, and the average was 3.9, according to its 2024-2025 Common Data Set.
What does University of California-San Diego weight in admissions?
University of California-San Diego reports these factor weights in its Common Data Set (2024-2025). What the weights mean
- • Rigor of secondary school record
- • Academic GPA
- • Application essay
- • Extracurricular activities
- • Talent/ability
- • Character/personal qualities
- • State residency
- • Volunteer work
SAT and ACT scores University of California-San Diego typically admits
Many applicants to schools in this tier submit test scores, though the policy varies by year — check the latest test-optional status before deciding.
- • Test-blind: University of California-San Diego does not consider SAT or ACT scores in admission decisions, even if submitted.
- • Policy detail: Not considered
Where admitted students ranked in their high school class
Class rank distribution gives parents a clear sense of how academically dominant a typical admitted student was within their own high school cohort — often a more meaningful signal than absolute GPA.
| Top 10% of class | 100% |
| Top 25% of class | 100% |
| Top 50% of class | 100% |
| % submitting class rank | 96% |
How much does University of California-San Diego actually cost?
Published tuition is $16,758 for in-state students and $50,958 for out-of-state, before grants and scholarships. Room and board adds roughly $18,970 annually. After need-based and merit aid, the average family pays a net price of $12,470 per year — the number that actually matters for budgeting. Roughly 34% of students receive Pell Grants.
| In-state tuition | $14,934 |
| Out-of-state tuition | $52,536 |
| Room and board | $19,629 |
| Average net price (after aid) | $12,470 |
| Application fee | $80 (waivers available) |
Application deadlines and early decision data for University of California-San Diego
| Regular deadline | 11/30 |
| Notification date | 3/15 |
| Reply deadline | 5/1 |
Will my child graduate from University of California-San Diego?
These predict outcomes at University of California-San Diego better than its acceptance rate does. How to read retention and graduation rates
Most popular majors at University of California-San Diego
The most popular undergraduate programs at University of California-San Diego, measured by the number of students who actually graduate each year, are Cell/Cellular Biology and Anatomical Sciences, Cognitive Science and Computer Science. Across all programs, University of California-San Diego confers roughly 4,143 bachelor's degrees a year. Graduates of its Cognitive Science program report a median income of about $85,159 five years after entering college. What these figures mean
| Major | Graduates / year | Median earnings (5 yrs out) |
|---|---|---|
| Cell/Cellular Biology and Anatomical Sciences | 769 | — |
| Cognitive Science | 759 | $85,159 |
| Computer Science | 591 | $160,463 |
| International/Globalization Studies | 537 | $73,765 |
| Economics | 430 | $84,118 |
| Political Science and Government | 366 | $69,947 |
| Chemistry | 346 | $83,272 |
| Public Health | 345 | $67,103 |
Is University of California-San Diego safe? Campus crime & safety
In its most recent Clery Act report (2024), University of California-San Diego disclosed 576 total criminal offenses across its campus and surrounding public property, about 16.5 per 1,000 students. That figure includes 28 violent offenses and 60 reported sexual assaults or VAWA offenses. Why per-1,000 rates, not counts
What is campus life like at University of California-San Diego?
About 48% of undergraduates at University of California-San Diego live in campus housing, so a meaningful share of students commute or live off campus. In Greek life, 10% of men join a fraternity and 10% of women join a sorority. Residential rate and Greek participation shape day-to-day social life and are worth weighing alongside academics and cost.
Other colleges in California parents ask about
- University of California-Santa Barbara33% acceptance
- University of California-Santa Cruz66% acceptance
- University of California-Riverside76% acceptance
- University of California-Merced91% acceptance
- California Institute of Technology3% acceptance
- San Diego State University36% acceptance
- San Jose State University85% acceptance
- San Francisco State University96% acceptance
Next steps for University of California-San Diego
Common questions parents ask about University of California-San Diego
What GPA do I need for University of California-San Diego?
80% of enrolled students at University of California-San Diego had a high school GPA of 3.75 or above, and the average was 3.9, according to its 2024-2025 Common Data Set.
What SAT or ACT score does University of California-San Diego typically admit?
University of California-San Diego is test-blind: SAT and ACT scores are not considered in admission decisions, even if you submit them. There is no score range because scores are not read.
How much does University of California-San Diego actually cost after financial aid?
The average net price at University of California-San Diego after grants and scholarships is $12,470 per year, against a published in-state tuition of $16,758 and $50,958 out of state. Budget against the net figure.
Is University of California-San Diego realistic for my child?
University of California-San Diego admits 27% of applicants, so the transcript and course rigour carry the decision, with no published score band to place against. Then check the $12,470 average net price against what your family can carry.
What is the acceptance rate at University of California-San Diego?
University of California-San Diego accepts about 27% of applicants out of roughly 134,455 who apply each year. That makes it a selective school.
Is University of California-San Diego test-optional?
University of California-San Diego is test-blind: it does not consider SAT or ACT scores in admission decisions, even if you submit them.
What is the graduation rate at University of California-San Diego?
About 86% of students at University of California-San Diego graduate within six years, and 74% finish in four years. 94% of freshmen return for sophomore year. Graduation rate predicts real outcomes better than acceptance rate.
What does University of California-San Diego look for in applicants?
University of California-San Diego rates course rigor, GPA and the application essay as "very important" in its Common Data Set. These are the factors the admissions committee weighs most heavily when reviewing an application.
Is University of California-San Diego a public or private school, and where is it located?
University of California-San Diego is a public institution located in La Jolla, California.
What are the most popular majors at University of California-San Diego?
The largest undergraduate majors at University of California-San Diego by annual graduates are Cell/Cellular Biology and Anatomical Sciences, Cognitive Science and Computer Science. The school awards about 4,143 bachelor's degrees a year in total. These figures come from federal IPEDS completion data.
Is University of California-San Diego safe? What is its campus crime rate?
University of California-San Diego reported 576 total criminal offenses in its most recent Clery Act disclosure (2024), roughly 16.5 per 1,000 students. Compare the per-1,000 rate rather than the raw total, since larger schools report more incidents.
What is campus life like at University of California-San Diego?
At University of California-San Diego, 48% of undergraduates live on campus, 10% of men are in fraternities, 10% of women are in sororities, according to its most recent Common Data Set.
Sources: the 2024-2025 Common Data Set submitted by University of California-San Diego, the College Scorecard and IPEDS, and Clery Act disclosures. What each source covers