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University of California-San Diego

University of California-San Diego is a public campus in La Jolla proper — federal locale codes class it as urban. The federal record identifies it as a land-grant institution. The institution reports a hospital in its federal directory record.

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What could it cost?

Start with net price after grants, then read the published costs. Each chart names its academic year and the students it covers.

Net price by family income

key chart

Average annual cost after grants for each family-income band. These group averages are not personal price quotes.

IPEDS Income brackets, 2022–23

family-income band

$7,487

family income
under $30k

$7,864

$30–48k

$10,389

$48–75k

$17,131

$75–110k

$28,113

over $110k

Average net price

$12,4702023–24Skip to data table

Average annual attendance cost after grants for the reported student group. Your own aid offer and costs may differ.

Average net price at University of California-San Diego has wandered from 2008 to 2023 — up to $15,240 at the peak — but ends near where it began, at $12,470.

Average net price — data
Year	Net price
2008	$12,848
2009	$12,238
2010	$12,718
2011	$12,918
2012	$14,421
2013	$14,136
2014	$13,816
2015	$14,775
2016	$14,628
2017	$13,318
2018	$14,232
2019	$15,240
2020	$14,895
2021	$15,069
2022	$11,750
2023	$12,470

IPEDS 16 federal reports, 2008–2023

Total cost of attendance

$38,7012024–25Skip to data table

Estimated annual attendance budget before grants, including tuition, fees, housing, food and books. Not every expense is billed by the school.

Total cost at University of California-San Diego rose from $23,433 (2009) to $38,701 (2024).

Total cost of attendance — data
Year	Cost
2009	$23,433
2010	$25,246
2011	$27,700
2012	$29,194
2013	$29,751
2014	$30,092
2015	$30,842
2016	$31,043
2017	$31,794
2018	$31,891
2019	$32,434
2020	$33,240
2021	$32,719
2022	$35,274
2023	$36,325
2024	$38,701

IPEDS Academic-year cost 2009–2024

Tuition (in-state vs out-of-state)

Skip to data table

Published tuition and fees before grants. Housing, food, books and other attendance costs are separate.

In-stateOut-of-state

Tuition — data
Year	In-state	Out-of-state
2000	$3,848	$14,462
2001	$4,355	$15,429
2002	$4,493	$16,872
2003	$6,105	$20,315
2004	$6,851	$23,807
2005	$6,685	$24,505
2006	$6,688	$25,372
2007	$7,456	$27,076
2008	$8,062	$28,673
2013	$13,271	$36,149
2014	$13,427	$36,305
2015	$13,530	$38,238
2016	$13,645	$40,327
2017	$14,018	$42,032
2018	$14,167	$43,159
2019	$14,415	$44,169
2020	$14,648	$44,402
2021	$14,700	$44,454
2022	$14,906	$44,978
2023	$15,265	$46,042

IPEDS Published price 2000–01 to 2023–24 (not adjusted for inflation)

Cost, size & completion summary

Cost, size & completion

University of California-San Diego reports published tuition by residency: $16,758 in-state versus $50,958 out-of-state — a $34,200 gap that makes state lines part of the decision. Scorecard snapshot: 2026-06-10; historical charts show their own years.

University of California-San Diego reports 34,948 undergraduates. This total does not establish class sizes for a particular subject.

86.1% of first-time, full-time bachelor's entrants completed at University of California-San Diego within six years (2026-06-10 release). This measure excludes other student groups.

Do students finish — and what comes after?

Graduation, debt and earnings cover different groups. Read each chart's entering class or fiscal period; they are not one group's journey.

Six-year graduation rate

key chart

86.1%entered Fall 2018Skip to data table

The share of first-time, full-time bachelor's entrants who completed at this institution within six years. Other students are not included.

The six-year graduation rate at University of California-San Diego has held near 86.1% from Fall 1991 to Fall 2018 entering cohorts.

A six-year rate can only describe a class that entered six or more years ago — by definition the last point on the line is that old.

Six-year graduation rate — data
Year	Graduated within 6 yrs
1991 cohort	78.8%
1992 cohort	79.8%
1993 cohort	79.1%
1994 cohort	77.9%
1995 cohort	81.9%
1996 cohort	81.2%
1997 cohort	82.9%
1998 cohort	82.7%
1999 cohort	84.6%
2000 cohort	85.9%
2001 cohort	84.3%
2002 cohort	85.2%
2003 cohort	84.4%
2004 cohort	86.1%
2005 cohort	85.3%
2006 cohort	86.3%
2007 cohort	85.8%
2008 cohort	86.2%
2009 cohort	87.3%
2010 cohort	87.2%
2011 cohort	84.5%
2012 cohort	85.9%
2013 cohort	87.4%
2014 cohort	87.1%
2015 cohort	89.3%
2016 cohort	87.7%
2017 cohort	87.6%
2018 cohort	86.1%

IPEDS Entering cohorts 1991–2018

Median debt at exit (completers vs non-completers)

Historical student groups

key chart

Skip to data table

Median federal student loan debt when students left school, shown separately for those who completed and those who did not.

CompletedLeft without degree

Each point combines two years. Neighboring points share one year, so changes should be read with that overlap in mind.

These two-year windows closed before today's students borrowed — they describe past cohorts, not the current price of a degree.

Median debt at exit — data
Year	Completed	Left without degree
Left school in fiscal years 2005 and 2006 (FY2005/06)	$13,625	$10,822
Left school in fiscal years 2006 and 2007 (FY2006/07)	$13,625	$7,980
Left school in fiscal years 2007 and 2008 (FY2007/08)	$13,873	$7,125
Left school in fiscal years 2008 and 2009 (FY2008/09)	$14,457	$8,120
Left school in fiscal years 2009 and 2010 (FY2009/10)	$15,332	$10,013
Left school in fiscal years 2010 and 2011 (FY2010/11)	$16,453	$9,842
Left school in fiscal years 2011 and 2012 (FY2011/12)	$17,261	$10,699
Left school in fiscal years 2012 and 2013 (FY2012/13)	$18,227	$11,566
Left school in fiscal years 2013 and 2014 (FY2013/14)	$18,815	$10,592
Left school in fiscal years 2014 and 2015 (FY2014/15)	$18,910	$9,500
Left school in fiscal years 2015 and 2016 (FY2015/16)	$18,500	$11,000
Left school in fiscal years 2016 and 2017 (FY2016/17)	$17,500	$11,880
Left school in fiscal years 2017 and 2018 (FY2017/18)	$16,808	$9,168
Left school in fiscal years 2018 and 2019 (FY2018/19)	$16,500	$9,314
Left school in fiscal years 2019 and 2020 (FY2019/20)	$16,500	$10,977
Left school in fiscal years 2020 and 2021 (FY2020/21)	$15,500	$10,924

NSLDS GRAD_DEBT_MDN / WDRAW_DEBT_MDN, merged FY periods · via College Scorecard

Earnings after entry

Historical student groups

Median annual earnings after entering college, for federally aided students who were working and not enrolled when measured.

Entered: academic years 2013–14 or 2014–15

$65,669

6 years after entry

Entered: academic years 2011–12 or 2012–13

$77,893

8 years after entry

Entered: academic years 2009–10 or 2010–11

$84,943

10 years after entry

Each figure covers a different group of students who entered college in the stated years. Earnings were measured in the same two years; these are not one group followed over time.

Measured in 2020–21, adjusted for inflation to 2022 dollars. Each figure pools two entering academic years.

Treasury Pooled entering cohorts · Scorecard 2020–21 historical file

What does the admissions record show?

Rates and score ranges describe a past admissions cycle. Submitted scores are not cutoffs or a prediction of admission.

Admissions snapshot & test policies

University of California-San Diego admitted 35,917 of 134,450 applicants in Fall 2024. The 26.7% rate describes that application pool.

26.7%

acceptance rate · Fall 2024 admissions cycle

rate trend $15,265 in-state tuition · 2023–24 34,948 undergraduates · Fall 2024

Tests not considered · Fall 2024

Not sure where you stand? Estimate your GPA →

Admissions

University of California-San Diego did not consider scores in the Fall 2024 admissions cycle. No score range is displayed for University of California-San Diego under that historical policy.

Check current requirements with admissions.

In the Fall 2024 cycle, University of California-San Diego received 134,450 applications and admitted 35,917 (26.7%), with 7,330 enrolling.

Acceptance rate

26.7%Fall 2024Skip to data table

The share of applicants offered a spot — lower means more selective; read it alongside the score ranges below.

The share admitted at University of California-San Diego declined from 43.2% to 26.7%; this does not establish why. This describes Fall 2001 to Fall 2024.

Acceptance rate — data
Year	Acceptance rate
Fall 2001	43.2%
Fall 2002	42.4%
Fall 2003	41.3%
Fall 2004	37.2%
Fall 2005	39.3%
Fall 2006	42.6%
Fall 2007	45.6%
Fall 2008	42.2%
Fall 2009	39.9%
Fall 2010	36.2%
Fall 2011	37.9%
Fall 2012	35.4%
Fall 2013	37.5%
Fall 2014	33.3%
Fall 2015	33.7%
Fall 2016	35.7%
Fall 2017	34%
Fall 2018	30.1%
Fall 2019	31.5%
Fall 2020	36.6%
Fall 2021	34.2%
Fall 2022	23.7%
Fall 2023	24.5%
Fall 2024	26.7%

IPEDS Fall cycles 2001–2024

SAT range (section sums, 25th–75th)

1270–1480Fall 2020 · submittersSkip to data table

Sums of the reading/writing and math percentiles among enrolled submitters — not percentiles of total SAT scores or admission cutoffs.

SAT range (section sums) — data
Year	25th	75th
Fall 2001	1170	1370
Fall 2002	1170	1370
Fall 2003	1150	1370
Fall 2004	1150	1370
Fall 2005	1150	1370
Fall 2006	1150	1370
Fall 2007	1140	1360
Fall 2008	1130	1360
Fall 2009	1140	1370
Fall 2010	1150	1380
Fall 2011	1150	1390
Fall 2012	1110	1360
Fall 2013	1170	1390
Fall 2014	1190	1430
Fall 2015	1220	1450
Fall 2016	1170	1450
Fall 2017	1210	1410
Fall 2018	1260	1470
Fall 2019	1250	1490
Fall 2020	1270	1480

IPEDS Fall 2001–2020, submitters only

ACT middle 50%

28–34Fall 2020 · submittersSkip to data table

The middle half of enrolled ACT submitters, using published composite-score percentiles — not admission cutoffs.

ACT middle 50% — data
Year	25th	75th
Fall 2002	26	31
Fall 2004	23	29
Fall 2005	23	29
Fall 2006	23	29
Fall 2007	23	29
Fall 2008	23	29
Fall 2009	24	30
Fall 2010	24	30
Fall 2011	25	31
Fall 2012	23	30
Fall 2013	25	31
Fall 2014	27	32
Fall 2015	28	33
Fall 2016	27	33
Fall 2017	27	33
Fall 2018	27	33
Fall 2019	26	34
Fall 2020	28	34

IPEDS Fall 2002–2020, submitters only

What is the campus like?

Enrollment counts a campus population; retention follows first-years returning. Their dates and populations are shown separately.

Undergraduate enrollment

34,948Fall 2024Skip to data table

Reported undergraduate enrollment. This count does not measure class size or teaching access.

Undergraduate enrollment at University of California-San Diego rose from 19,059 (Fall 2002) to 34,948 (Fall 2024).

Undergraduate enrollment — data
Year	Undergraduates
Fall 2002	19,059
Fall 2003	19,837
Fall 2004	20,316
Fall 2005	20,652
Fall 2006	21,346
Fall 2007	22,020
Fall 2008	22,486
Fall 2009	23,121
Fall 2010	23,641
Fall 2011	23,022
Fall 2012	22,650
Fall 2013	23,792
Fall 2014	24,801
Fall 2015	26,584
Fall 2016	28,121
Fall 2017	28,577
Fall 2018	30,279
Fall 2019	30,789
Fall 2020	31,827
Fall 2021	33,339
Fall 2022	33,092
Fall 2023	33,787
Fall 2024	34,948

IPEDS Fall headcounts 2002–2024

First-year retention (full-time)

94%Fall 2023 cohortSkip to data table

The share of the reported first-time student group who returned the following year. This rate does not explain why others left.

First-year retention at University of California-San Diego has held near 94% from Fall 2003 to Fall 2023.

First-year retention — data
Year	Retention
Fall 2003 cohort	93%
Fall 2004 cohort	95%
Fall 2005 cohort	94%
Fall 2006 cohort	95%
Fall 2007 cohort	94%
Fall 2008 cohort	95%
Fall 2009 cohort	96%
Fall 2010 cohort	96%
Fall 2011 cohort	94%
Fall 2012 cohort	94%
Fall 2013 cohort	95%
Fall 2014 cohort	95%
Fall 2015 cohort	95%
Fall 2016 cohort	94%
Fall 2017 cohort	94%
Fall 2018 cohort	93%
Fall 2019 cohort	94%
Fall 2020 cohort	95%
Fall 2021 cohort	93%
Fall 2022 cohort	94%
Fall 2023 cohort	94%

IPEDS Full-time cohorts 2003–2023

More about University of California-San Diego

Faculty pay at University of California-San Diego averages $229,404 a year, annualized from reported monthly pay. Carnegie classes University of California-San Diego as a primarily residential campus of 34,948 undergraduates — and 94% of the reported first-time, full-time student group returned for a second year.

University of California-San Diego reported not considering test scores in Fall 2024, when its admission rate was 26.7%. Review University of California-San Diego's current requirements before applying; use the GPA calculator for your semester numbers.

Why some charts are marked “key chart”

key chart

Start with three useful questions: what costs were reported for families in your income band, how many first-time full-time students finished, and what federal debt borrowers held when leaving.

How University of California-San Diego compares

State and national medians cover active bachelor-primary institutions, mixing public and private schools. Tuition uses in-state rates at public schools. These are broad reference points, not a ranking of similar schools or your likely bill.

Scorecard dates identify the release snapshot, not a shared measurement year. Earnings describe federally aided students who were working and not enrolled ten years after entry; cohorts and populations differ from the admissions and tuition figures.

Acceptance rate

Fall 2024 admissions cycle · IPEDS

University of California-San Diego26.7%

California median74.4%

National median76.8%

Tuition (in-state)

Scorecard 2026-06-10 snapshot · published tuition before aid

University of California-San Diego$16,758

California median$23,000

National median$19,591

Median earnings (10 yr)

Ten years after entry · Scorecard 2026-06-10 snapshot

University of California-San Diego's snapshot: calendar years and dollar basis unverified.

University of California-San Diego$84,943

California median$64,778

National median$53,781

View comparison data & dates

University of California-San Diego, California and national reference values
Metric & basis	University of California-San Diego	California median	National median
Acceptance rateFall 2024 admissions cycle · IPEDS	26.7%	74.4%	76.8%
Tuition (in-state)Scorecard 2026-06-10 snapshot · published tuition before aid	$16,758	$23,000	$19,591
Median earnings (10 yr)Ten years after entry · Scorecard 2026-06-10 snapshot	$84,943	$64,778	$53,781

Published earnings by bachelor's field of study

For University of California-San Diego, these are federal subject groups (CIP), not departments. Median is the middle annual income.

University of California-San Diego federal-aid recipients · graduated 2017–18 or 2018–19 · income measured 2022 or 2023 · inflation-adjusted to 2024 dollars. Definitions and limits.

View 47 fields & earnings

Bachelor's field of study (CIP category)	Median earnings, 4 yrs after completion
Computer Science	$159,487
Computer Engineering	$149,139
Mathematics and Computer Science	$137,218
Biomathematics, Bioinformatics, and Computational Biology	$123,320
Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering	$118,150
Biological/Biosystems Engineering	$111,677
Mechanical Engineering	$104,229
Aerospace, Aeronautical, and Astronautical/Space Engineering	$100,173
Biomedical/Medical Engineering	$98,687
Chemical Engineering	$96,798
Statistics	$96,746
Physics	$95,018
Civil Engineering	$91,745
Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods	$89,451
Engineering, Other	$88,159
Economics	$87,307
Applied Mathematics	$85,233
International/Globalization Studies	$81,174
Cognitive Science	$81,160
Mathematics	$79,015
Chemistry	$77,249
Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology	$72,491
Urban Studies/Affairs	$71,380
Natural Resources Conservation and Research	$69,061
Political Science and Government	$67,713
Communication and Media Studies	$67,302
Public Health	$66,110
Visual and Performing Arts, Other	$64,822
Biology, General	$64,437
Microbiological Sciences and Immunology	$64,428
Research and Experimental Psychology	$63,130
Neurobiology and Neurosciences	$61,799
History	$61,745
Human Development, Family Studies, and Related Services	$61,262
Music	$58,071
English Language and Literature/Letters, Other	$57,900
Anthropology	$56,982
English Language and Literature, General	$56,097
Clinical, Counseling and Applied Psychology	$56,000
Linguistic, Comparative, and Related Language Studies and Services	$55,776
Sociology	$55,534
Ethnic, Cultural Minority, Gender, and Group Studies	$53,319
Ecology, Evolution, Systematics, and Population Biology	$52,701
Psychology, General	$51,679
Fine and Studio Arts	$48,506
Visual and Performing Arts, General	$45,915
Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft	$41,389

These 47 fields listed for University of California-San Diego measure earnings after completion. The $84,943 institution-level snapshot above measures earnings after entry; it is not the same cohort or a total for these fields. 25 additional University of California-San Diego fields have earnings withheld under federal privacy rules.

Frequently asked questions

What test-score data does University of California-San Diego report?

University of California-San Diego did not consider scores in Fall 2024: 26.7% admitted. Check current requirements.

What is University of California-San Diego's acceptance rate?

26.7% in the Fall 2024 cycle — 35,917 admitted from 134,450 applicants.

How much does University of California-San Diego cost?

In-state tuition is $16,758; out-of-state students pay $50,958. Fees, housing and aid move the real total in both directions.

What earnings data does University of California-San Diego report?

Median earnings ten years after entry: $84,943. Major figures measure four years after completion. Source and date limits.

Similar colleges in California

University of California-Santa Barbara — 33% admitted
University of California-Irvine — 28.6% admitted
California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo — 31.3% admitted
California Institute of the Arts — 32.3% admitted

Run your own numbers

Data: IPEDS ADM2024 (Fall 2024 admissions, provisional) · IPEDS HD2024/IC2024 directory · College Scorecard 2026-06-10 release (institution and field-of-study files; earnings from Treasury records). Retrieved 2026-09-01. Chart dates follow this institution's available observations; the release date is not an academic year or an earnings year. Some records end earlier than others. Field-of-study cohort dates are shown with the table. Read the date and population definitions.