At a glance
Average net price
$12,470
In-state, after aid
6-year graduation rate
86.1%
Admission rate
27%
Undergrad size
34,948
In-state tuition
$16,758
Out-of-state tuition
$50,958
Cost of attendance
$38,701
Median earnings (10y)
$84,943
Admissions
- SAT average
- Not available
- ACT midpoint
- Not available
- Retention
- 94.0%
- Locale
- City
Programs breakdown
22 program areas reported · Academic mix is led by stem (47%), humanities & arts (24%), social sciences (20%).
- STEM47%
- Health4%
- Business5%
- Humanities & arts24%
- Social sciences20%
- Biological sciences20.6%~7,213 students/yr · STEMCompare schools
- Interdisciplinary16.6%~5,808 students/yr · Humanities & artsCompare schools
- Engineering11.6%~4,047 students/yr · STEMCompare schools
- Social sciences9.4%~3,299 students/yr · Social sciencesCompare schools
- Psychology9.1%~3,173 students/yr · Social sciencesCompare schools
- Computer science7.3%~2,541 students/yr · STEMCompare schools
- Business4.8%~1,681 students/yr · BusinessCompare schools
- Mathematics3.9%~1,377 students/yr · STEMCompare schools
- ~1,241 students/yr · HealthCompare schools
- ~1,048 students/yr · STEMCompare schools
- ~895 students/yr · Humanities & artsCompare schools
- Communication2.5%~863 students/yr · Humanities & artsCompare schools
- ~311 students/yr · STEMCompare schools
- English0.8%~269 students/yr · Humanities & artsCompare schools
- History0.7%~255 students/yr · Humanities & artsCompare schools
- Architecture0.7%~252 students/yr · Humanities & artsCompare schools
- Education0.7%~231 students/yr · Social sciencesCompare schools
- ~203 students/yr · Social sciencesCompare schools
- ~119 students/yr · Social sciencesCompare schools
- ~73 students/yr · Humanities & artsCompare schools
- Liberal arts0.1%~28 students/yr · Humanities & artsCompare schools
- ~24 students/yr · Humanities & artsCompare schools
Share of all degrees and certificates awarded in each broad CIP-2 program area (U.S. Department of Education, latest reporting year). Estimated students/yr = share × undergrad size.
Specific majors offered
40 specific majors with reported completions. Earnings shown are median annual earnings 1 year after graduation; debt is median student-loan debt at graduation.
| Major | Credential | Grads | Median earnings | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cell/Cellular Biology and Anatomical Sciences. | Bachelor's | 1,518 | — | — |
| Cognitive Science. | Bachelor's | 1,481 | $39,060 | $17,481 |
| Computer Science. | Bachelor's | 1,109 | $87,738 | $16,550 |
| International/Globalization Studies. | Bachelor's | 1,048 | $41,542 | $16,500 |
| Economics. | Bachelor's | 794 | $42,370 | $15,000 |
| Political Science and Government. | Bachelor's | 749 | $28,579 | $16,030 |
| Computer Science. | Master's | 684 | $127,768 | — |
| Public Health. | Bachelor's | 683 | $30,159 | $15,280 |
| Psychology, General. | Bachelor's | 670 | $28,185 | $16,124 |
| Biology, General. | Bachelor's | 638 | $26,086 | $17,667 |
| Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods. | Master's | 625 | — | — |
| Chemistry. | Bachelor's | 573 | $38,643 | $16,100 |
| Mathematics and Computer Science. | Bachelor's | 568 | $64,863 | $18,887 |
| Communication and Media Studies. | Bachelor's | 522 | $34,173 | $14,568 |
| Mathematics. | Bachelor's | 466 | $40,222 | $16,250 |
| Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods. | Bachelor's | 434 | $47,472 | $17,500 |
| Clinical, Counseling and Applied Psychology. | Bachelor's | 418 | $29,313 | $15,000 |
| Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering. | Bachelor's | 407 | $71,127 | $20,342 |
| Computer and Information Sciences, General. | Bachelor's | 375 | — | — |
| Neurobiology and Neurosciences. | Bachelor's | 356 | $29,415 | $19,000 |
| Computer Engineering. | Bachelor's | 341 | $79,476 | $18,497 |
| Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering. | Master's | 341 | $97,196 | — |
| Applied Mathematics. | Master's | 304 | — | — |
| Biomedical/Medical Engineering. | Master's | 298 | $78,610 | — |
| Mechanical Engineering. | Bachelor's | 293 | $62,687 | $20,000 |
| Sociology. | Bachelor's | 281 | $29,964 | $14,413 |
| Applied Mathematics. | Bachelor's | 278 | $54,802 | $15,516 |
| Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology. | Bachelor's | 269 | $33,915 | $17,500 |
| Ecology, Evolution, Systematics, and Population Biology. | Bachelor's | 262 | $24,033 | $18,834 |
| International Relations and National Security Studies. | Master's | 244 | $63,539 | — |
| Chemical Engineering. | Bachelor's | 230 | $53,711 | $18,157 |
| Psychology, Other. | Bachelor's | 222 | — | $18,200 |
| Biology, General. | Master's | 217 | $31,122 | — |
| Research and Experimental Psychology. | Bachelor's | 216 | $29,604 | $15,500 |
| Civil Engineering. | Bachelor's | 203 | $60,478 | $16,400 |
| Mechanical Engineering. | Master's | 193 | $87,102 | — |
| Biomedical/Medical Engineering. | Bachelor's | 184 | $45,324 | $20,000 |
| Medicine. | First professional | 177 | — | — |
| Aerospace, Aeronautical, and Astronautical/Space Engineering. | Bachelor's | 170 | $60,511 | $21,305 |
| Natural Resources Conservation and Research. | Bachelor's | 153 | $29,140 | $18,000 |
Source: U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard Field of Study. Earnings cover graduates who received federal financial aid and are working / not enrolled. Cells marked "—" are not reported or were suppressed for privacy.
About University of California-San Diego
University of California-San Diego is a very large institution located in La Jolla, California, primarily awarding the bachelor's degree. It enrolls roughly 34,948 undergraduate students in a city setting. The most popular fields of study include Biological sciences, Interdisciplinary, Engineering.
Cost & tuition
The average net price at University of California-San Diego — what a typical student actually pays after grants and scholarships — is $12,470 per year, which is moderately priced compared to other U.S. institutions. Sticker tuition runs $16,758 for in-state students and $50,958 for out-of-state students before aid. Total cost of attendance, including housing, books, and living expenses, comes to about $38,701 annually.
Graduation & earnings outcomes
The 6-year graduation rate is 86.1%, a strong completion outcome. 94.0% of first-time students return for a second year, a useful proxy for student satisfaction and academic fit. Ten years after enrolling, the median graduate earns $84,943 per year according to U.S. Department of Education earnings tracking.
Programs & majors
University of California-San Diego confers degrees and certificates across 22 broad program areas, with the largest concentrations of completions in Biological sciences, Interdisciplinary, Engineering. Grouped into wider academic categories, the mix is led by stem (47% of credentials), humanities & arts (24% of credentials), social sciences (20% of credentials), which gives a quick read on the school's overall academic profile. Use the programs breakdown below to see every reported area, an estimated number of students per program per year, and links to compare other U.S. colleges in the same field.
Admissions
University of California-San Diego accepts 27% of applicants, making it selective.
Location & campus
Set in La Jolla, California (city), University of California-San Diego draws students from across California and beyond. Prospective students often weigh proximity, cost of living, and local industry demand when choosing between schools in this area.
Frequently asked questions about University of California-San Diego
Q.How much does University of California-San Diego cost?
The average net price at University of California-San Diego is $12,470 per year after grants and scholarships, with total cost of attendance around $38,701.
Q.What is the graduation rate at University of California-San Diego?
University of California-San Diego has a 6-year graduation rate of 86.1% according to the latest U.S. Department of Education data.
Q.How hard is it to get into University of California-San Diego?
University of California-San Diego admits 27% of applicants, which is considered selective.
Q.How much do University of California-San Diego graduates earn?
Ten years after enrolling, the median University of California-San Diego graduate earns $84,943 per year.
Q.What is tuition at University of California-San Diego?
Published tuition is $16,758 in-state and $50,958 out-of-state. Most students pay less than the sticker price after financial aid.
Q.Where is University of California-San Diego located?
University of California-San Diego is located in La Jolla, California (ZIP 92093).
Data on this page comes from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard and IPEDS, the federal sources colleges are required to report to. Net price, graduation rate, and earnings figures reflect the latest available federal release. Always verify current tuition and program availability directly with University of California-San Diego at their official website.