About University of California-San Diego

Founded in 1960, University of California-San Diego. is a Public college. Located in California, which is a city setting in California, the campus itself is Urban. The campus is home to 28,127 full time undergraduate students, and 6,852 full time graduate students.

The University of California-San Diego Academic calendar runs on a Quarter basis. In the school year the student to faculty ratio was 19:1. There are 1253 full time instructional teachers. Degrees awarded at University of California-San Diego include: Bachelor's Degree, Masters Degree, Post-master's certificate, Doctor's degree.

Quick Facts

Acceptance Rate35%
Application Deadline
Application Fee70
SAT Range1170-1450
ACT Range27-33

Admissions at UCSD are considered More Selective, with ,68% of all applicants being admitted.

In the school year, of the students who applied to the school, only 7 of those who were admitted eventually ended up enrolling.

100% of incoming freshmen are in the top half of their high school class. 100% were in the top quarter, and 100% were in the top tenth. You can apply online.

STUDENT LIFE Reviews

We asked, and students answered these important questions about student life at University of California-San Diego.

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  • How would you rate on-campus housing?

    300 Students rated on-campus housing 3.6 stars. 13 % gave the school a 5.0.

  • How would you rate off-campus housing?

    249 Students rated off-campus housing 3.3 stars. 0 % gave the school a 5.0.

  • How would you rate campus food?

    321 Students rated campus food 3.4 stars. 14 % gave the school a 5.0.

  • How would you rate campus facilities?

    322 Students rated campus facilities 4.1 stars. 30 % gave the school a 5.0.

  • How would you rate class size?

    322 Students rated class size 3.2 stars. 11 % gave the school a 5.0.

  • How would you rate school activities?

    321 Students rated school activities 3.6 stars. 21 % gave the school a 5.0.

  • How would you rate local services?

    321 Students rated local services 4 stars. 36 % gave the school a 5.0.

  • How would you rate academics?

    323 Students rated academics 3.9 stars. 39 % gave the school a 5.0.

University of California-San Diego REVIEWS

What's your overall opinion of University of California-San Diego?

148 Students rated University of California-San Diego

Josephina - 11/18/2024

I attended University of California San Diego from 2018 to 2022 to earn my bachelor's degree in psychology, and my experience is something I will always be grateful for. As a psychology student, my professors were extremely knowledgeable in the field of psychology and inspired me to pursue psychology at the graduate level. Class sizes ranged from 50 to 200 students depending on the course. While this may seem intimidating, I still felt supported and was able to build connections with my professors despite the student to professor ratio. During my senior year of college, I had the opportunity to serve as an undergraduate instructional assistant for two courses, psychopharmacology and clinical psychology. This experience allowed me to collaborate with professors as part of the teaching team and help other students succeed in a course that I was successful in. It is truly incredible that University of California San Diego has so many opportunities to both learn and give back to other students by helping them on their educational journey. Outside of academics, University of California San Diego has several different organizations to get involved in and meet new people. I was a member of the Tri Delta sorority while I attended. It can be difficult to make friends at a university with over 30,000 students, and it is easy to feel lost in the crowd. However, my involvement in Greek life gave me lifelong friendships and a sisterhood of incredible women with similar goals and values. I also volunteered with an organization called StRIVE. With StRIVE, I was given the opportunity to create and lead different activities in classrooms for students ages 18-22 with developmental disorders. Both Tri Delta and StRIVE gave me the opportunity to build meaningful relationships and give back to my community. Regardless of what it is that interests you, there are many different organizations to help students find their sense of belonging and purpose.

Brian - 10/15/2024

I have been here for four years and am doing my graduate studies here now. Everything is made accessible to you as lectures are available online on a podcast website, or professors record them. Although you have to reach out a lot to make new friends, they can be some of the best people. You need a car to go around anywhere in San Diego, but it gives you an excuse to hang out with your housemates or friends. Everyone is really smart and the higher you go, the smarter they may get. It is a nice challenge, but for some people can be tough if you start to get behind and lose your balance.

Sabrina - 10/07/2024

My in-person experience was cut a bit short because of COVID years, but I ultimately enjoyed my time here. Social Life: With such a large campus, it *can* be socially isolating but it helps to make an effort by joining orgs and talking to your classmates. I made some close friends that I still keep in contact with 2 years out of my undergrad. We have Greek Life. I was in a co-ed frat. Although generally I do feel like it's less likely for random students to just start chatting you up. Perhaps we have a larger percentage of introverts haha Housing: On-campus, it honestly varies depending on which college you live in. Some are much newer/nicer than others. I was a Warren student and I found that they were acceptable. A bit far on the edges of campus but generally liked the people living there. I did the apartments for my first 2 years. Off-campus can be pretty costly, but I don't have extensive experience due to COVID. Campus: The campus itself is pretty nice with some interesting art installations and of course, Geisel Library itself. Our study lounges, campus center, and other facilities are nice. Dining hall food is about what you'd expect. There's many options but it's mid or below average. Nothing to write home about. I cooked better food. Student activities/surrounding area entertainment: We have Sun God, the spring music festival, that usually gets some big-name artists. With all the recent improvements done like Sixth College's building with Blue Bowl (yum, acai) and the blue line trolley, it's very convenient as well. I utilize the surrounding gorgeous beach views often. The Torrey Pines hike is easy and pretty too. I like going to Convoy St when I'm craving Asian-flavored cuisine. Classes: I'm speaking as a Liberal Arts major at a largely STEM school. Gen Ed class sizes were typical for a UC. I liked my major classes b/c I got some smaller sizes that allowed for more in-depth discussions and closer relations with my peers. I feel like maybe the academic rigor of the program could've been better but I had some great teachers and I feel like I came out of my major having fine-tuned my craft more and with greater technical knowledge than before.

Aiden - 09/18/2024

The Univeristy of California, San Diego is a school that excels in academics, that is not a question. We are a R1 university and the professors we are taught by are some of the leading researchers in their fields. When attending this school you cannot help but feel the academia from the numerous buildings dedicated to research alone. The campus facilities as a whole are beautiful, the university partners with art donors from around the world to decorate the vast amount of land their reside on with art. The campus is beautiful, when it is not under construction. UCSD is constantly innovating and constantly adding to it large number of building and facilities that it sometimes feels overwhelming. When the projects are done they add a lot to the space but in the two years before then it leaves something to be desired from the attending cohorts. Socially, the school is more commonly knows and UC Socially Dead. While this can be the case for some students who drown themselves in their studies, even studious attendants are able to find some type of social atmosphere with very little leg work. No, there is hardly a party culture, but there is a social culture. With a number of things to do on campus alone, students can be assured to find their own nest within the campus. On top of that, the campus is located to numerous shopping plazas and for the students who are lucky enough to have a car in their time there, most everything is within driving distance. The university, being one of the of the top three public universities in California, could be far more cliquish and closed off, but as competitive as the students are, most will welcome you with open arms. Overall, I loved my time at UCSD and would highly recommend the university to anyone seeking to apply.

University of California-San Diego FAQS

  1. What is the Acceptance Rate at University of California-San Diego?

    The fall 2020 acceptance rate for University of California-San Diego is 35%. That means, out of _____ applications received in 2020 , _____ students were offered admission. The number of males who applied was _____ vs the number of females which was _____.

  2. What should every freshman at your school know before they start?

    I would definately look at more college choices , even if it meant going out-of-state. I would make sure to enroll in a college-transition program, so that I'd be well prepared at the beginning of school. I would try to sit through a lecture to get a sense of what I was going to get into. Search the school for their extra-curricular activities they offer. What sports are offered there? Is their carreer center helpful/convenient? Talk to students already enrolled and get some honest answers from them; ask if they enjoy that campus. Make sure you like the location. For ex: Are you into cold/hot weather. Do you like the beach or the snow? Do you see yourself graduating from that college in particular? Do you know what you want to major/minor in? Check out the dorm-living life. Are there convenient ways of getting thorugh and out of campus? Do you like the fast-food places on campus? What type of work-study jobs are available for students? Is the college aiming to GO-GREEN? How are the students giving back to the community in general? What kind of attractions are around?

    Read all 269 answers

  3. Describe the students at your school.

    Young, inexperienced, academically smart and socially ignorant

    Read all 129 answers

  4. What is your overall opinion of this school?

    This school is a good bang for your buck.

    Read all 105 answers

  5. What are the academics like at your school?

    The academics are ridiculously competitive, overly stressful, and unnecessarily intense. Some professors are great, some are terrible, and some are in the middle.

    Read all 103 answers

  6. What is the stereotype of students at your school?

    The biggest stereotype at UCSD is that it is socially dead and that all the students are really big nerds.

    Read all 92 answers

  7. What are the most popular student activities/groups?

    Associated Students, the Student Foundation, and intervarsity are popular on campus. Our sports are not popular at all. AT ALL. Our theater department and plays are great.

    Read all 92 answers

  8. Is the stereotype of students at your school accurate?

    unfortunately, yes.

    Read all 91 answers

  9. Describe how your school looks to someone who's never seen it.

    University of California San Diego is a wonderful place to learn with its calm, breezy atmosphere due to its close beaches while at the same time is challenging in its academics.

    Read all 71 answers

  10. Here's your chance: Say anything about your college!

    UC San Diego is a great balance being an academically and athletically competitive school. It is the only NCAA Division II school in the nation that does not offer scholarships to athletes because the school wants to maintain its high academic standard. UC San Diego is the best fit for me in between an extremely competitive Division I athletic school and an extremely competitive Division III academic school.

    Read all 70 answers

  11. What do you consider the worst thing about your school? Why?

    There's so much focus on "chasing the grade" that learning often gets overlooked.

    Read all 57 answers

  12. What's unique about your campus?

    The best thing about UCSD is the 6 college system. By splitting up this huge campus, more intricate relationships may form, as well as healthy competition and motivation inside the institution. There is a place for everybody.

    Read all 55 answers

  13. What kind of person should attend this school?

    Someone who is dedicated. If you think you can just sit around and do nothing because "that's what you did in high school" think again. This college is very demanding.

    Read all 51 answers

  14. What's the one thing you wish someone had told you about freshman year?

    How to find cheaper books, and where to find cheper books.

    Read all 51 answers

  15. Describe your favorite campus traditions.

    beach, socially dead, mexico, nice location, nice view, nice weather

    Read all 43 answers

  16. What kind of person should not attend this school?

    Students who do not like to work hard, read a very heavy load and write loads of papers. This is a tough school and you will have to focus on academics over a social life.

    Read all 36 answers

  17. What's the most frustrating thing about your school?

    My school lacks school spirit It is wonderful that we are so academically oriented, but students do not support other students doing different activities such as sports, acting, and clubs. By supporting different events around campus, it would create a more unified and encouraging environment. A large increase in school spirit and support for students representing the school would make my experience at UC San Diego so much better.

    Read all 32 answers

  18. What do you brag about most when you tell your friends about your school?

    It is a premier institution and located in a beautiful area.

    Read all 31 answers

  19. What is the stereotype of students at your school? Is this stereotype accurate?

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  20. Describe the dorms.

    The dorms differ depending on what college you're situated at. ERC - some of the newest dorms are here so they're the nicest. The rooms are nice and spacious probably 10x15 for most of them. Everything is a kind of cream color, furniture is pretty sufficient, and each floor has a common room. Depending on if you're in a school dorm or apartment, there's one kitchen per building and the latter one kitchen per apartment. The quad is oval shaped so everyone is facing each other and I think the set up of things makes ERC feel the most like a community because everyone leaves their doors open too. Transfer housing - it's the newest and the nicest. There's actually some color there - cream, green, and grey. They have a lot of really high tech stuff, too. The rest I can't really say much about because I've never been there, but I can give you the typical opinions. Marshall - the most realistic apartment housing Muir - best known for it's view and themed housing Revelle - worst housing because it's super small, but they're building new dorms so they should be REALLY nice from what I've seen Warren - normal? Sixth - if you like camping, then you should hopefully like these dorms because they're fashioned after log cabins.

    Read all 12 answers

  21. Why did you decide to go to this school?

    UCSD is an excellent school, academically (especially for Aerospace, my major, for which there are many companies nearby), has plenty to do outside of the classroom, has a thriving automotive club (Formula SAE) that I participate in, and my older brother is studying for his MBA here and my sister in law is finishing her undergraduate studies as well.

    Read all 11 answers

Student Body

Students

48%

female

52%

male

28,127

Total Undergrad Enrollment

6,852

Total Grad Students

7%

Out-Of-State

74%

In-State

19%

International

Organizations

405

Student Organizations

19

Fraternities

14

Sororities

Housing

Yes

On-Campus Housing

43%

of students living on campus

Student Diversity

% American Indian/Alaskan Native
N/A
% Asian/Pacific Islander
36%
% Black or African-American
1%
% Hispanic/Latino
17%
% White or Caucasian
20%

TUITION & AID

All students must apply yearly for financial aid. This process starts with the FAFSA. Though financial aid deadlines vary by school, it is a good idea to apply as soon as possible. For the upcoming school year, you can apply as early as October 1 for the FAFSA. Additional school aid will be dependent on the FAFSA results.

56% of students attending University of California-San Diego receive some sort of financial aid. 26% were awarded federal grants. While 32% received federal loans. Many students do also need to apply for additional private student loans.

Cost Out of State

$40,327

Tuition and fees(Out of state)

$1,541

Books and Supplies

$12,545

Room and Board

54,413

Total On Campus

Actual Cost By Income Level(W/Financial Aid)

Family Income
Cost
$0 - $30K
$8,585
$30 - $48K
$9,541
$48 - $75K
$13,367
$75 - $110K
$20,277
$110K & UP
$27,866

We use student reviews and the most current publicly available data on our school pages. As such, we don't typically remove or edit college information. Sources for school statistics and data include the U.S. Department of Education's National Center for Education Statistics and the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System. Portions of college data include copyrighted material, which is reproduced on this website by permission of Wintergreen Orchard House, a division of Carnegie Communications. © 2009-2016 by Wintergreen Orchard House. All rights reserved.

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