UCSD Description:
One of the "Public Ivies," UCSD consistently ranks in top ten lists of best public universities. The school is particularly strong in the sciences, social sciences and engineering. With its coastal location in La Jolla, California, and with the Scripps Institute of Oceanography, UCSD gets top marks for oceanography and the biological sciences. The school has a system of six undergraduate residential colleges modeled after Oxford and Cambridge, and each college has its own curricular focus. On the athletic front, the UCSD Tritons compete in the NCAA Division II California Collegiate Athletic Association.
Explore the Campus:
UCSD Photo TourAdmissions Data (2012):
- Percent of Applicants Admitted: 35%
- What Are Your Chances? (from Cappex.com)
- UCSD GPA and Test Score Graph
- Test Scores -- 25th / 75th Percentile
- SAT Critical Reading: 520 / 650
- SAT Math: 590 / 710
- SAT Writing: 550 / 670
- ACT Composite: 23 /30
- ACT English: 22 / 30
- ACT Math: 25 / 32
Enrollment (2011):
- Total Enrollment: 28,593 (23,046 undergraduates)
- Gender Breakdown: 49% Male / 51% Female
- 97% Full-time
Costs (2012 - 13):
- Tuition and Fees: $13,217 (in-state); $36,095 (out-of-state)
- Books: $1,474 (why so much?)
- Room and Board: $11,923
- Other Expenses: $3,414
- Total Cost: $30,028 (in-state); $52,906 (out-of-state)
UCSD Financial Aid (2010 - 11):
- Percentage of New Students Receiving Aid: 75%
- Percentage of New Students Receiving Types of Aid
- Grants: 68%
- Loans: 53%
- Average Amount of Aid
- Grants: $15,325
- Loans: $5,003
Scholarships for UCSD (powered by Cappex.com)
Most Popular Majors:
Anatomy, Biochemistry, Biology, Biomedical Engineering, Chemistry, Communications Studies, Economics, Management Science, Political Science, Psychology
Graduation and Retention Rates:
- First Year Student Retention (full-time students): 96%
- 4-Year Graduation Rate: 56%
- 6-Year Graduation Rate: 85%
Data Source
National Center for Educational StatisticsAdmissions Profiles for Other UC Campuses:
Berkeley | Davis | Irvine | Los Angeles | Merced | Riverside | San Diego | Santa Barbara | Santa Cruz


