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La Jolla , CA
The University of California, San Diego (UCSD) is a public research university located in La Jolla, California. Established in 1960, UCSD has quickly gained recognition as one of the top universities in the world. It is part of the prestigious University of California system and is known for its strong emphasis on scientific research and innovation.
UCSD offers a wide range of academic programs across six undergraduate colleges, including arts and humanities, biological sciences, engineering, social sciences, and more. The university is particularly renowned for its programs in the fields of science, engineering, and health sciences. UCSD is home to several prestigious research institutions and centers, providing students with extensive opportunities to engage in cutting-edge research in areas such as neuroscience, climate change, and bioengineering.
The campus is situated on 1,200 lush acres near the Pacific Ocean, offering a beautiful and inspiring environment for learning and discovery. UCSD is known for its top-notch facilities, including state-of-the-art laboratories, libraries, and research centers. Additionally, the campus boasts a vibrant student life, with numerous student organizations, clubs, and sports teams, providing students with a well-rounded college experience. With its strong academic reputation, stunning location, and commitment to innovation, UCSD remains a top choice for students seeking a world-class education in a dynamic and intellectually stimulating environment.
Located in La Jolla, CA and set in an urban environment, University of California, San Diego is a public university. This academic institution uses a semester-based calendar. It has an acceptance rate of 26%. The freshman retention rate at University of California, San Diego is 94% and the six-year graduation rate is 86%.
For freshmen, the application deadline for this school is November 30. The transfer application deadline is November 30.
Discover more about what you can expect if you get into University of California, San Diego.
Quick Facts
34,955
Total Number of Undergraduate Students
19:1
Student to Faculty Ratio
86%
Graduation Rate
Admissions
If you discover as much as possible about the school's criteria for admission, your chances of getting accepted will significantly improve. Read on to learn some relevant info about admission at University of California, San Diego.
In 2025, the school accepted 35,989 new students. Looking at entrance difficulty level for all or most incoming freshmen, based on data self-reported by the institution this school is very difficult to get into. This prominent school with a rich history offers an unmatched learning experience to its students.
Test Scores
The latest reported average GPA of the enrolled students was 3.9. Accordingly, you'll probably need an above-average GPA in order to be granted acceptance.
Deadlines
Be sure to apply to this school by November 30. If you are applying for a transfer, the application deadline is November 30.
Retention Rate
What is the freshman retention rate? The freshman retention rate is the percentage of full-time students who entered the institution as freshmen in the previous academic year and returned for the fall term of the current academic year. Why is that metric important? Because it tells you if the majority of freshmen enjoyed their first year at a school enough to come back.
As reported in 2025, the freshman retention rate for University of California, San Diego was 94%, which is an amazing retention rate only the most prestigious institutions have.
The graduation rate is another indicator to take into account. It reflects the proportion of students who obtain their degrees within the expected timeframe. The six-year graduation rate at this school is 86%, which is considered an above-average graduation rate.
Student Body
Deciding if a school is the best fit for you is not an easy task. Knowing more about the student population can help you get a better understanding of the school's culture and life.
Main Student Body
In 2025, the school had an enrollment of 44,256 students.
That year, the institution had 10% of out-of-state students. The total number of undergraduate students enrolled at the school was 34,955, 3891 of which were foreign students. 3,757 students were accepted as transfer students.
Student Population Gender Ratio
With a coeducational student body, the school had 19,239 male and 21,661 female full-time students in 2025.
Student Population Diversity
In order to promote a sense of inclusion and belonging among its students, higher education is dedicated to increasing student diversity. A heterogeneous student body brings together individuals from diverse backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives. Learn more about all the ethnic communities you might encounter at this institution.
In 2025, out of the total number of students enrolled at the institution, the number of Asian students was 12,108, and the number of Afro-American students was 569. 9,267 undergrads at this school identified as Hispanic/Latino and 2,258 as multirace. The school also had 20 students who identified as Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander, as well as 25 American Indian or Alaska Native students. There were also 812 students whose ethnicity is unknown.
Cost
One of the most crucial things to take into consideration when applying to any college or university is the financial component. The most recent data reported regarding the expenses for attending this school are detailed below.
Tuition and Fees
Here are some numbers that can help you better understand the estimated tuition price for this university.
According to the reports from public county and municipal institutions, tuition fees were $14,934 for area residents. Tuition fees were $52,536 for students coming from out of state. If you are an international student at University of California, San Diego, you should know that the 2025 tuition amounted to $52,536, as well. Fees per academic year required of full-time students came to a total of $5,472 in 2025.
| Category | Tuition | Fees | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Out-of-State | $52,536 | $5,472 | $58,008 |
| In-State | $14,934 | $5,472 | $20,406 |
Books and Supplies
The estimated price of books and supplies for a college or university should also be taken into account as another significant financial factor. The cost of books and supplies for full-time students of this school is estimated at about $1,365.
Boarding
The cost of dorm rooms and meals in the school's cafeteria is for sure something to take into consideration. How much do room and board fees average around at colleges and universities?
The cost of room and board (on campus) per academic year at University of California, San Diego was $19,629 in 2025.
| Expense Category | Amount |
|---|---|
| Tuition | $ 14,934 |
| Room and Board | $ 19,629 |
| Book and Supplies | $ 1,365 |
| Total Expense | $ 35,928 |
Financial Aid
Financial help for students comes in different forms: grants, loans, scholarships, or work-study programs. If you are interested in finding out more about need-based and non-need-based aid at University of California, San Diego, here are some recent data you should take into consideration.
The most recent records show that 3,919 freshmen received some sort of financial help.
Need-based
Financial aid that a student can receive if they are determined to have financial need and meet other eligibility requirements is known as need-based aid.
There were 16,746 students who attained need-based financial aid of any kind. Need-based college-administered scholarship and grant aid at University of California, San Diego is available to international students. The amount of federal need-based scholarships/grants awarded to the students at this institution added up to $73,726,234, and state $147,004,181. The students of University of California, San Diego received the -institutional need-based aid in the amount of $213,207,290, and external in the amount of $4,857,360.
$11,956
Average Amount of Aid Received
Non-Need Based
Any financial aid given to a student who does not meet the requirements for need-based aid is considered non-need-based aid. Most students get non-need-based financial aid as Direct Unsubsidized Stafford Loans, Graduate PLUS Loans, Parent PLUS Loans, and the TEACH Grant.
Institutional non-need-based scholarships or grants were given to 333 students overall (including freshmen) at University of California, San Diego in 2025. 81 full-time freshmen were awarded institutional non-need-based scholarship or grant aid. Federal non-need-based scholarships and grants totaled $73,726,234 for students at this institution, while state aid came to $2,688,827. The total amount of institutional scholarships and awards that were not based on financial need was $16,110,432. This includes endowment, alumni, other institutional awards, and also external funds awarded by the institution, but doesn't include athletic aid and tuition waivers. The amount the students of this school received from external sources (e.g. Kiwanis, National Merit) was $2,309,184 USD.
Majors
Faculty
19:1
Student to Faculty Ratio
Getting information about the faculty at a school can help you estimate the quality of education you will receive there.
In 2025, this ratio at University of California, San Diego was 19:1. That means that there were 19 times more students than teachers at this school. This school has recently reported to have 1,771 faculty members. Out of that number, there were 1,047 men and 724 women.
Student Population Diversity Graph
Campus Life
It is not all about learning and grades at University of California, San Diego: campus life is a crucial component of your educational experience. Check out some details about students' life at University of California, San Diego.
Its campus is 2,183 acres in size.
Student Organizations
A student organization is run by students at a university or a college institution, whose membership typically consists only of current students and/or alumni.
There are 600 student organizations and groups with open membership at this school. That includes sororities and fraternities. At this school, 14% of male students are members of social organizations, while that percentage is 14 for female students. The student organization that is most favored by students is Triton Spirit Groups (Pep and Cheer), followed by Engineers for a Sustainable World and Society of Women Engineers. Other popular organizations among the students at University of California, San Diego are Biological Sciences Student Organization and Associated Students.
Students who like music can join the University of California, San Diego band or chorus. If drama is your thing, there is a club dedicated to acting that you can join. For students looking to explore media and communication, University of California, San Diego publishes its own newspaper and has its own radio station.
Student Services
At University of California, San Diego, there are many amenities that make life on campus pleasant and safe.
There are 24-hour emergency phone and alarm devices. There are electronically operated dormitory entrances. There is a security patrol that operates 24 hours a day. The after-hours transportation/escort service is available.
There is a medical clinic with personal/psychological counseling. In addition, other services like Legal Services, Veteran's Affairs and Women's Center are available to the students of University of California, San Diego.
All in all, campus life at University of California, San Diego is rich and vibrant and provides everything most students need.
Career Services
Having career services at a college or university can mean a great deal for your career planning, so find out what you can expect at University of California, San Diego.
Career Counselling
At University of California, San Diego, there is both group career counseling for all students and individual career counseling for all students. There are a library, a job bank, and job fairs. Job interviews are also available to students through the career center. The career center offers resume preparation and resume referral to employers. There is campus employer recruitment for all the students. This school offers alumni networking opportunities, which could be excellent for your future career. Individual job placement is available to all students at this school.
FAQ
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University of California, San Diego is located in La Jolla, CA.
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University of California, San Diego offers need-based college-administered scholarship and grant aid to international students.
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The most recent reported acceptance rate for University of California, San Diego is 26%.
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The most recent reported freshman retention rate for University of California, San Diego is 94%.
Contact Information
University of California, San Diego
9500 Gilman Drive
La Jolla , CA
92093-0021
858 534-2230
Data Source: IPEDS and Peterson's Databases © 2023 Peterson's LLC All rights reserved. Portions of this content were co-written with OpenAI's GPT-3.5 model.
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Data Source: IPEDS and Peterson's Databases © 2023 Peterson's LLC All rights reserved.
Portions of this content were co-written with OpenAI's GPT-3.5 model.
