UC San Diego
public · Founded 1960 · San Diego, CA
Acceptance Rate
24.50%
Enrollment
42,376
Tuition & Fees
$18,696
Graduation Rate
88.00%
Retention Rate
94.00%
Off-Campus Needed
17,798
UCSD Report Card
Letter grades compare this school against national university benchmarks.
Academics
Selectivity, test scores, retention, and faculty access.
Value
Cost, aid, grants, and post-graduation earnings.
Diversity
Economic access, geographic mix, and gender balance.
Location
Safety, walkability, transit, and student nightlife.
Campus
Housing capacity, student body scale, and campus setting.
Outcomes
Graduation, retention, employment, and earnings.
Grades are benchmarked against national profile data. View methodology
Can You Get Into UCSD?
UCSD admitted just 32,062 of 130,771 applicants — a 24.50% acceptance rate
Admissions Snapshot
36% below state avg
23% below state avg
Coming to UCSD from out of state?
21% of freshmen aren't from California. If you're moving for UCSD, start your housing search early — only 58.00% of students can live on campus.
Browse Housing Near UCSDWhat Will UCSD Cost You?
Most students don't pay sticker price — 57.00% receive financial aid
Sticker Price
76% below national avg
Financial Aid & Grants
Your estimated net price
What Can You Study at UCSD?
Most Popular Undergraduate Majors
Cognitive Science, General.
660 graduates · 52.27% women
Anatomy.
546 graduates · 65.93% women
Computer Science.
516 graduates · 20.74% women
International/Globalization Studies.
465 graduates · 51.18% women
Psychology, General.
320 graduates · 75% women
Econometrics and Quantitative Economics.
318 graduates · 31.13% women
Biology/Biological Sciences, General.
315 graduates · 68.89% women
Mathematics and Computer Science.
288 graduates · 24.31% women
Political Science and Government, General.
280 graduates · 51.07% women
Communication, General.
211 graduates · 71.09% women
Your major at this school
Grad students need housing too
With 8,584 graduate students and only 19,711 total dorm beds, most grad students live off campus.
See Apartments Popular with Grad StudentsWhat's It Like at UCSD?
San Diego, CA — city
Student Body
Where Freshmen Come From
From your state to this school
Student Demographics
UCSD Photos
Campus images from the university profile
Neighborhoods near UCSD
Where students live around UC San Diego — vibe, walkability, and commute at a glance.
How Does UCSD Compare?
Institutional resources and student-faculty ratios
Student-Faculty Ratio
19:1
Peer Institutions
Schools that UCSD reports as peers for academic and admissions benchmarking.
Will You Succeed at UCSD?
94.00% of freshmen return for sophomore year — 88.00% graduate within 6 years
Graduation Rates
4% above state avg
8% above state avg
6-Year Graduation by Group
UCSD Reviews
Student perspectives on academics, campus life, and housing fit
Be the first student to review this university.
17,798 UCSD Students Need Off-Campus Housing
With 42,376 students and only 19,711 dorm beds, 42% of UCSD students live off campus.
33,792
Undergraduates
8,584
Graduate Students
17,798
Need Off-Campus Housing
Data Sources: U.S. Department of Education IPEDS, National Center for Education Statistics. University Apartments is not affiliated with UC San Diego.