Top Public · La Jolla, California
University of California, San Diego
Selective. 26.7% acceptance rate.
Calculate your UC San Diego oddsHow hard is it to get into UC San Diego?
UC San Diego is selective, with a 26.7% acceptance rate. The application is read holistically, so essays, recommendations, activities, and demographic context all factor into the decision alongside test scores and GPA.
Quick Facts
| Acceptance rate | 26.7% |
| Cost of attendance | $38,701 |
| Average net price (after aid) | $12,470 |
| Undergraduate enrollment | 34,948 |
| 6-year graduation rate | 86.1% |
| Median earnings (10 yrs after entry) | $84,943 |
| Type | Public · Top Public |
| Setting | Large urban |
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Last verified May 2026.
Getting In
UC San Diego's 26.7% acceptance rate puts it in the selective tier. Scores in that range don't guarantee admission. Scores outside it don't rule it out. The application is read holistically.
That number doesn't tell you your odds. A 1550 SAT and a 4.0 GPA put you in the academic conversation. They don't put you in the admit pile. Your actual probability depends on your full profile: coursework rigor, activities, recommendations, demographic context, and what your essays accomplish. The pool average is a starting point, not a forecast.
Personalized estimate
What are your actual odds at UC San Diego?
Enter your SAT/ACT, GPA, activities, and target schools. Get a probability calibrated to real admit data, not a headline acceptance rate.
Run the calculatorBeyond the Numbers
UC San Diego is best known for its seven undergraduate colleges, Scripps oceanography, and its biomedical research ecosystem. Admissions readers are looking for applicants whose specific interests and ways of working would actually thrive in that environment. Not generic “passion.” Concrete curiosity that already shows up in what you do.
Class Profile
The undergraduate population at UC San Diego breaks down as follows according to federal IPEDS data:
Race & ethnicity
These percentages reflect the enrolled student body, not the applicant pool. Admit rates by demographic differ from the headline rate, and the school's composition is the result of its full holistic review process.
Cost & Financial Aid
The published cost of attendance at UC San Diego is $38,701 per year before aid. After grants and scholarships, the average student pays $12,470per year. The sticker price isn't the number that matters for most families.
Net price by family income
What the average student actually pays per year, after grants:
| Family income $0–30K | $7,525 |
| Family income $30K–48K | $8,155 |
| Family income $48K–75K | $9,942 |
| Family income $75K–110K | $15,199 |
| Family income $110K+ | $28,785 |
Highly selective private universities tend to meet 100% of demonstrated financial need, often without loans, for families below specific income thresholds. The number that matters for your family is your net price, which can be estimated using the school's own net price calculator before applying.
Outcomes
Federal data on what happens after enrollment at UC San Diego:
Graduation rate
86.1%
6-year (federal IPEDS)
Median earnings
$84,943
10 yrs after entry
Median debt
$15,500
Among completers
34.2% of students receive a Pell Grant (federal need-based aid), and 21.4%take federal loans. These rates are useful proxies for the school's socioeconomic mix and how much most families end up borrowing.
UC San Diego essay tools
Score, brainstorm, or revise UC San Diego essays with tools tuned to UC San Diego's prompts.
UC San Diego vs. Peer Schools
Side-by-side comparison with similar Top Public schools applicants typically consider.
| School | Accept | SAT mid-50 | Net price |
|---|---|---|---|
| UC San Diego This page | 26.7% | — | $12,470 |
| UC Berkeley | 11.0% | — | $13,481 |
| UCLA | 9.0% | — | $12,548 |
| Michigan | 15.6% | 1360–1530 | $13,138 |
| UNC | 15.3% | 1390–1530 | $11,655 |
| UVA | 16.8% | 1410–1540 | $21,565 |
FAQ
How hard is it to get into UC San Diego?
UC San Diego is selective. The most recently published acceptance rate is 26.7%. Test scores are necessary but not sufficient. Holistic review weighs essays, activities, recommendations, and demographic context.
How much does UC San Diego cost?
The published cost of attendance at UC San Diego is $38,701 per year before financial aid. The average net price after grants and scholarships is $12,470. Most highly selective schools meet 100% of demonstrated need for families below specific income thresholds.
What is the graduation rate at UC San Diego?
86.1% of students at UC San Diego graduate within 6 years (the standard federal graduation rate metric).
Sources
All numerical data on this page is sourced from official, primary sources. Admissions stats reflect the most recent publicly published cycle. Verify current figures with UC San Diego's admissions office before applying.
- U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard — federally maintained dataset on admissions, cost, demographics, and post-graduation outcomes (IPEDS-derived).
- IPEDS (Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System) — the underlying federal data collection that all U.S. accredited institutions report into annually.
- University of California, San Diego official admissions site — for the most current published figures and application requirements.
- UC San Diego Common Data Set — the standardized annual data document published by the school.
Last verified May 2026. Stats reflect UC San Diego's most recent publicly published admit cycle.