Public · City: Large

University of California San Diego

La Jolla, California

Detailed ICP profile · Partial Common Data Set research. Each figure has its own reporting year. This is a research snapshot, not a live update.

At a glance

Admission rate
28.6%
Fall 2025 · past applicant pool, not your chances
Details about admission rate ↓
Undergraduates
35,442
Fall 2025
Details about undergraduates ↓
2026–27 published cost
$47,283
In-state (California) · On campus · before aid
Details about 2026–27 published cost ↓
Avg. cost after grants
$14,794
2024–25 · federal-aid recipients, in-state
Details about avg. cost after grants ↓

Admissions

Historical admissions describe the reported applicant pool, not your chances. Early-plan applicants form different pools.

Applicants admitted

28.6%

Fall 2025

Historical first-year applicant pool; not your admission chances.

About this number: Applicants admitted

Admission offers divided by applications for the reported pool. Applicant characteristics and campus scope vary; this does not predict an individual decision.

University of California San Diego Common Data Set · Fall 2025

Who or what this describes: First-time, first-year degree-seeking students

How ICP checks and explains college data

First-year applications

136,750

Fall 2025

Historical applications in the source-defined pool and year.

About this number: First-year applications

This is an application count, not the size of the entering class. Campus/program reporting scope matters.

University of California San Diego Common Data Set · Fall 2025

Who or what this describes: First-time, first-year degree-seeking students

How ICP checks and explains college data

More admissions statistics (2)

First-year admission offers

39,054

Fall 2025

Historical offers of admission, not students who enrolled.

About this number: First-year admission offers

Admitted and enrolled populations differ. This count is separate from acceptance rate or yield.

University of California San Diego Common Data Set · Fall 2025

Who or what this describes: First-time, first-year degree-seeking students

How ICP checks and explains college data

New first-year students

7,801

Fall 2025

Historical entering class under the source definition.

About this number: New first-year students

This is neither all undergraduates nor all students who received an admission offer.

University of California San Diego Common Data Set · Fall 2025

Who or what this describes: First-time, first-year degree-seeking students

How ICP checks and explains college data

Academic profile of entering students

Scores and GPA describe past students, not current requirements. Reporting methods and populations differ.

SAT 25th percentile

Unavailable

No verified figure available. Missing does not mean zero.

ACT 25th percentile

Unavailable

No verified figure available. Missing does not mean zero.

Average reported high-school GPA

3.88

Fall 2025

Among GPA reporters. Weighting and scale may vary; not a required or verified unweighted GPA.

About this number: Average reported high-school GPA

Schools report GPA differently. This mean cannot be compared as a universal scale or used as an admission cutoff.

University of California San Diego Common Data Set · Fall 2025

Who or what this describes: first year enrollees reporting high school gpa

How ICP checks and explains college data

More academics statistics (1)

Share reporting GPA

94.0%

Fall 2025

Share of the entering group with reported GPA.

About this number: Share reporting GPA

The average reported GPA may describe only this subset; weighting and scale are source-specific.

University of California San Diego Common Data Set · Fall 2025

Who or what this describes: First-time, first-year degree-seeking students

How ICP checks and explains college data

Costs & financial aid

Compare the year and population before comparing prices. Published budgets, group averages and your actual aid offer are different.

2026–27 cost of attendance

Published by University of California San Diego
Tuition rate
Student and living situation

$47,283

Published cost of attendance · per year, before financial aid

  • 2026–27

This budget assumes

  • In-state (California)
  • On campus
  • First-year students

What the school includes

UC Systemwide Tuition and Fees
$15,588
UC San Diego Campus Fees
$2,511
UC San Diego Health Fee (may be waived if covered by equivalent private insurance)
$3,195
UC San Diego Enrollment Services Fee (assessed upon initial enrollment)
$225
Living Expenses - Housing
$13,761
Living Expenses - Food
$6,981
Books, course materials, supplies, and equipment
$1,236
Miscellaneous Personal Expenses
$2,838
Transportation Expenses
$948
Published total
$47,283

This is the school’s budget before financial aid. It is not a bill, the federal average net price, or your own aid offer.

About this budget
  • The school labels these figures 2026–27.
  • Source: Undergraduate Cost of Attendance (UC San Diego) - Undergraduate - 2026 Cohort - 2026-27 (UC San Diego Financial Aid & Scholarships). Researched October 22, 2026; independently audited October 22, 2026.

Research notes: Fall 2026 entering cohort, academic year 2026-27. Health fee $3,195 included but waivable.

Understand the five kinds of college costs
Tuition & fees
Instruction and required college fees; living costs are additional unless explicitly included.
Attendance budget
College charges plus estimated living, books, travel and other included expenses, before aid.
Average annual cost after grants & scholarships
A historical average after federal, state/local and college grant aid for a specified federal-aid population. Outside private scholarships are not automatically deducted; loans and work-study are not discounts.
Your net cost
Your entered attendance cost minus selected grants and scholarships. Loans and work-study remain funding sources.
Borrowing
Debt to repay, not a discount. Work-study is earned over time, not an upfront bill reduction.

Average annual cost after grants & scholarships · in-state

$14,794

2024–25

Includes applicable federal, state/local and college grants and scholarships. First-time, full-time in-state students receiving federal financial aid form the reporting population. The attendance budget includes estimated living expenses. Your actual cost may differ.

About this number: Average annual cost after grants & scholarships · in-state

Federal average net price subtracts qualifying federal, state/local and institutional grants and scholarships from the source-defined attendance budget. Federal aid defines the reporting population, not the only aid deducted; some included students receive federal loans or work-study but no grants. This is a historical average, not a personalized award. Outside private scholarships are not automatically deducted. The public-college population pays in-state tuition. It is not a personal offer; loans and work-study are not discounts.

U.S. Department of Education · 2024–25

Who or what this describes: First-time, full-time in-state students receiving federal financial aid at public institutions

How ICP checks and explains college data

In-state tuition

$14,202

2026–2027

Historical published tuition for the stated residency; other expenses may be additional.

About this number: In-state tuition

Residency eligibility and student population are institution-specific. Confirm current rates and rules.

University of California San Diego Common Data Set · 2026–2027

Who or what this describes: First-year, full-time undergraduates

How ICP checks and explains college data

Out-of-state tuition

$53,472

2026–2027

Historical tuition; fees, housing and other costs may be additional.

About this number: Out-of-state tuition

A published residency rate is not an individual aid offer or current-price guarantee.

University of California San Diego Common Data Set · 2026–2027

Who or what this describes: First-year, full-time undergraduates

How ICP checks and explains college data

More costs statistics (8)

Required fees

$3,789

2026–2027

Separate source-defined fees; do not add to an amount already including fees.

About this number: Required fees

Review the same-year tuition definition before adding separate fees.

University of California San Diego Common Data Set · 2026–2027

Who or what this describes: First-year, full-time undergraduates

How ICP checks and explains college data

Housing & food

$20,443

2026–2027

Source-defined living arrangement and year; not necessarily your college bill.

About this number: Housing & food

Living expenses vary by housing arrangement. Do not mix these with a total budget that already includes them.

University of California San Diego Common Data Set · 2026–2027

Who or what this describes: First-year, full-time undergraduates

How ICP checks and explains college data

Tuition & fees · in-state

$17,337

2025–26

Historical federal amount, before aid and living expenses.

About this number: Tuition & fees · in-state

Tuition and required fees are combined here. Do not add the institution’s separate fees again or confuse this with total attendance cost.

U.S. Department of Education · 2025–26

Who or what this describes: In-state tuition and fees

How ICP checks and explains college data

Tuition & fees · out-of-state

$54,939

2025–26

Historical federal amount, before aid and living expenses.

About this number: Tuition & fees · out-of-state

This combines tuition and fees for the reported residency. It is separate from a differently dated institutional tuition figure.

U.S. Department of Education · 2025–26

Who or what this describes: Out-of-state tuition and fees

How ICP checks and explains college data

Undergraduates receiving Pell Grants

38.1%

2024–25

Source-defined undergraduate recipients; not an eligibility prediction.

About this number: Undergraduates receiving Pell Grants

This describes reported recipients, not whether your family qualifies.

U.S. Department of Education · 2024–25

Who or what this describes: Percentage of undergraduates who receive a Pell Grant

How ICP checks and explains college data

Undergraduates receiving federal loans

23.8%

2024–25

Borrowing participation; loans are debt, not grants.

About this number: Undergraduates receiving federal loans

A loan must generally be repaid and does not reduce net price. This is not a measure of the amount each student borrows.

U.S. Department of Education · 2024–25

Who or what this describes: Percent of all undergraduate students receiving a federal student loan

How ICP checks and explains college data

Average need-based grant for recipients

$28,634

2025–2026

Source-defined first-year aid recipients, not all students.

About this number: Average need-based grant for recipients

An average grant is not an average net price or a promise of aid. Eligibility, institutional need definitions and award amounts vary.

University of California San Diego Common Data Set · 2025–2026

Who or what this describes: First-time, full-time first-year students

How ICP checks and explains college data

Average financial need met

83.5%

2025–2026

Institution-defined need among the reported aid population.

About this number: Average financial need met

The college’s definition of need may differ from a family budget or federal Student Aid Index. This percentage does not predict your award.

University of California San Diego Common Data Set · 2025–2026

Who or what this describes: First-time, full-time first-year students

How ICP checks and explains college data

Campus & student outcomes

Enrollment, return rates and completion rates describe different source populations. They are not a measure of every student’s experience.

Undergraduate students

35,442

Fall 2025

Source-defined undergraduate headcount, not just first-year students.

About this number: Undergraduate students

Institutional reporting scope can include multiple schools or campuses. Federal and institutional counts can use different populations or dates.

University of California San Diego Common Data Set · Fall 2025

Who or what this describes: All undergraduates in the report

How ICP checks and explains college data

Students per faculty member · federal

19

Fall 2024

A reporting ratio, not average class size.

About this number: Students per faculty member · federal

This federal measure uses its own student and instructional-staff definitions. It is separate from class size.

U.S. Department of Education · Fall 2024

Who or what this describes: Student-to-faculty ratio

How ICP checks and explains college data

More campus and outcome statistics (6)

Undergraduate students · federal

34,955

Fall 2024

Fall 2024 undergraduate headcount, including full-time and part-time students.

About this number: Undergraduate students · federal

This is the source-defined institutional reporting unit, not a count of majors, degrees awarded or all graduate and undergraduate students.

U.S. Department of Education · Fall 2024

Who or what this describes: Grand total

How ICP checks and explains college data

Reported academic calendar

Quarter

2025–26

Reported population and year apply; missing is not zero.

About this number: Reported academic calendar

Read the source-defined population and conditions before comparing this figure with another institution.

U.S. Department of Education · 2025–26

Who or what this describes: Institution-level service or characteristic, rather than a student cohort

How ICP checks and explains college data

Undergraduate research in federal reporting

Yes

2025–26

Historical service reporting; an unmarked option is not proof that research is unavailable.

About this number: Undergraduate research in federal reporting

The source describes a reported co-curricular option, not the full current research opportunities available to students. Verify current offerings directly.

U.S. Department of Education · 2025–26

Who or what this describes: Institution-level service or characteristic, rather than a student cohort

How ICP checks and explains college data

Study abroad reported

Yes

2025–26

Reported population and year apply; missing is not zero.

About this number: Study abroad reported

Read the source-defined population and conditions before comparing this figure with another institution.

U.S. Department of Education · 2025–26

Who or what this describes: Institution-level service or characteristic, rather than a student cohort

How ICP checks and explains college data

Academic & career counseling reported

Yes

2025–26

Reported population and year apply; missing is not zero.

About this number: Academic & career counseling reported

Read the source-defined population and conditions before comparing this figure with another institution.

U.S. Department of Education · 2025–26

Who or what this describes: Institution-level service or characteristic, rather than a student cohort

How ICP checks and explains college data

AP credit reported

Yes

2025–26

Reported population and year apply; missing is not zero.

About this number: AP credit reported

Read the source-defined population and conditions before comparing this figure with another institution.

U.S. Department of Education · 2025–26

Who or what this describes: Institution-level service or characteristic, rather than a student cohort

How ICP checks and explains college data

What could you study?

These examples come from historical bachelor’s degrees awarded, not a verified current-major catalog. Confirm current programs, campus and entry conditions with the college.

Historical degree records & sources

Reported first-major bachelor’s credentials, not necessarily distinct graduates. Examples with the largest reported counts, including ties; no campus or classification totals are added together.

  • Cognitive Science, General

    833 degrees awarded · 2024-25

  • Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods, Other

    601 degrees awarded · 2024-25

  • Anatomy

    585 degrees awarded · 2024-25

  • Mathematics and Computer Science

    454 degrees awarded · 2024-25

  • Computer Science

    429 degrees awarded · 2024-25

  • International/Globalization Studies

    369 degrees awarded · 2024-25

  • Psychology, General

    365 degrees awarded · 2024-25

  • Biology/Biological Sciences, General

    343 degrees awarded · 2024-25

  • Political Science and Government, General

    322 degrees awarded · 2024-25

  • Information Technology

    250 degrees awarded · 2024-25

Plan your application

Check current official instructions for testing, essays, recommendations and dates. Historical admissions outcomes are not application requirements. Early Decision can be binding; review the institution’s conditions before choosing it.

University of California San Diego — SAT/ACT policy

Test-free / test-blind

SAT and ACT scores are not considered for the covered admission review. Other testing requirements may be separate.

Fall 2027 · first-year domestic applicant research. Confirm your program and circumstances.

Conditions to check

  • UC-wide policy; campus-level supplements may apply.
Read University of California San Diego’s official testing guidance ↗ (opens in a new tab)

Official source checked 2026-10-16. Policies can change.

Different applicant situation?

SAT/ACT and English proficiency are different requirements. Program, recruitment and scholarship rules may need separate confirmation.

Sources & research

Institutional Common Data Sets and federal statistics have different reporting periods and populations. Research snapshot: October 16–19, 2026. Missing values can reflect nonreporting, conflict, ambiguity or incomplete review; they are never zero. Institution earnings remain withheld under the research restrictions.

How ICP selects and explains data →