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© 2025 Tuition Covered. All Rights Reserved.
OverviewTuition & CostsReturn on EducationAdmissionsMajors & DegreesStudentsReviews
  1. Colleges
  2. Catalog
  3. University of California-San Diego

Estimated Net Cost
Average for college across all majors
 

(per year)
$14k

Estimated Post Grad Salary
Average for college across all majors
 

(per year)
$70k

Return on Education

(post 4-year graduation)
Excellent

Pros

  • Strong research programs

  • Diverse student body

  • Beautiful campus and location

  • Renowned faculty

Cons

  • High cost of living

  • Competitive admissions process

  • Large class sizes

  • Limited housing availability

Tuition and Costs

Understanding Tuition Costs at University of California-San Diego: Navigating college expenses doesn't have to be complicated. Our comprehensive guide to tuition, fees, and other associated costs breaks down everything you need to know about financing your education at University of California-San Diego. Find out how we make higher education affordable and what financial options are available to you.

Most Recent Tuition Costs

Understanding Tuition Costs at University of California-San Diego: Navigating college expenses doesn't have to be complicated. Our comprehensive guide to tuition, fees, and other associated costs breaks down everything you need to know about financing your education at University of California-San Diego. Find out how we make higher education affordable and what financial options are available to you.

Yearly4 years
Tuition and Fees
Average Tuition, including fees before grants and scholarships.
 
$15,265$61,060
Room and Board
This is the average, based on staying on-campus
 
$17,198$68,792
Books and Supplies
The expenditure on books and supplies for an average student at University of California-San Diego
 
$1,307$5,228
Other expenses
The amount of money (estimated by the financial aid office at University of California-San Diego) needed by a student to cover expenses such as laundry, transportation, entertainment, and furnishings.
 
$4,735$22,184
Sticker Price$38,505$157,264

Historical Tuition Costs

Based on historical data, in-state tuition is expected to rise by approximately $540 per year over the next three years, reaching $17,169 in 2024, and $17,709 in 2025, and $18,249 in 2026.

Return On Education

Admissions

University of California-San Diego admissions is selective with an acceptance rate of 24%. The application deadline can be found on the institution's website.
24%Admission Rate
89%Graduation Rate

Admissions Requirements

SAT Range
ACT Range -
High School GPA

N/A

Key dates

Application DeadlineSee college website
Early Decision DateSee college website
Early Action DateSee college website

Majors & Degrees

Explore the range of academic programs offered at this institution.
SciencesDoctoral Degree – Research, Doctoral Degree – Professional
⌄
Cellular Biology•Bachelor's Degree
Microbiology•Bachelor's Degree
Zoology•Bachelor's Degree
Pathology•Master's Degree, Doctoral Degree – Research
Neurobiology•Bachelor's Degree, Master's Degree, Doctoral Degree – Research
Cognitive Science•Bachelor's Degree, Master's Degree, Doctoral Degree – Research
Economics•Bachelor's Degree, Master's Degree, Doctoral Degree – Research
Atmospheric Sciences•Bachelor's Degree
Geology•Bachelor's Degree, Master's Degree, Doctoral Degree – Research
Material Sciences•Master's Degree, Doctoral Degree – Research
Psychology•Bachelor's Degree, Master's Degree, Doctoral Degree – Research
Social Sciences•Bachelor's Degree
Urban Studies•Bachelor's Degree
EngineeringBachelor's Degree, Master's Degree, Doctoral Degree – Research
⌄
Aerospace•Bachelor's Degree, Master's Degree, Doctoral Degree – Research
Chemical Engineering•Bachelor's Degree, Master's Degree, Doctoral Degree – Research
Civil Engineering•Bachelor's Degree, Master's Degree, Doctoral Degree – Research
Computer Engineering•Bachelor's Degree, Master's Degree, Doctoral Degree – Research
Electrical Engineering•Bachelor's Degree, Master's Degree, Doctoral Degree – Research
Mechanical Engineering•Bachelor's Degree, Master's Degree, Doctoral Degree – Research
Physics Engineering•Bachelor's Degree, Master's Degree, Doctoral Degree – Research
Science Engineering•Bachelor's Degree, Master's Degree, Doctoral Degree – Research
Environmental Engineering•Bachelor's Degree
Material Engineering•Master's Degree, Doctoral Degree – Research
Systems Engineering•Master's Degree, Doctoral Degree – Research
Biological Engineering•Bachelor's Degree
HistoryBachelor's Degree, Master's Degree, Doctoral Degree – Research
⌄
Political Science•Bachelor's Degree, Master's Degree, Doctoral Degree – Research
LinguisticsBachelor's Degree, Master's Degree, Doctoral Degree – Research
⌄
Slavic Languages, Literatures & Linguistics•Bachelor's Degree
Romance Languages, Literatures & Linguistics•Bachelor's Degree
Classic Languages, Literatures & Linguisitics•Bachelor's Degree
EducationBachelor's Degree, Master's Degree, Doctoral Degree – Research
⌄
Teaching•Bachelor's Degree
HealthBachelor's Degree, Master's Degree, Doctoral Degree – Research
⌄
Adminstrative Services•Master's Degree
LiteratureDoctoral Degree – Research
Liberal ArtsBachelor's Degree, Doctoral Degree – Research
BiologyBachelor's Degree, Master's Degree, Doctoral Degree – Research
⌄
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology•Bachelor's Degree, Doctoral Degree – Research
Biomathematics•Bachelor's Degree, Master's Degree, Doctoral Degree – Research
Ecology•Bachelor's Degree, Master's Degree, Doctoral Degree – Research
MathematicsBachelor's Degree, Master's Degree, Doctoral Degree – Research
⌄
Applied Mathematics•Bachelor's Degree, Master's Degree, Doctoral Degree – Research
Statistics•Bachelor's Degree, Master's Degree
AccountingMaster's Degree
ChemistryBachelor's Degree, Master's Degree, Doctoral Degree – Research
PhysicsBachelor's Degree, Master's Degree, Doctoral Degree – Research
⌄
Physical Sceinces•Bachelor's Degree, Doctoral Degree – Research
AnthropologyBachelor's Degree, Master's Degree, Doctoral Degree – Research
SociologyBachelor's Degree, Master's Degree, Doctoral Degree – Research
BusinessMaster's Degree, Doctoral Degree – Research
⌄
Finance•Master's Degree
ManagementBachelor's Degree, Master's Degree, Doctoral Degree – Research

Student Life

Learn about the community, campus culture, and experiences that shape student life at this college.

Student Breakdown

Total Enrollment7,005
Full-time Students6,986
Part-time Students19

Faculty

Faculty-Student Ratio:19:1
Full-Time FacultyN/A
Part-Time FacultyN/A

Reviews and Ratings

For complete transparency we combine scores from across the web to give you a true picture of what students think about University of California-San Diego. Additionally, we have our own score which can be used alongside these external sources.

Tuition Covered Rating
(4.5)
Niche
(3.7)
US News
(4.9)

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Investing in higher education is a pivotal step towards future prosperity. It's essential to weigh the upfront costs against the potential for increased lifetime earnings and career opportunities. Our ROEdu score aims to help you understand tuition, living expenses, and financial aid, alongside the long-term benefits of earning a degree. By making informed decisions about where and what you study, you can maximize the return on your educational investment, turning the cost of your degree into a foundation for future success and financial security.

RoEDU
999
University of California-San Diego stands in the premier league, positioned within the top institutions for return on education, delivering unparalleled value and setting its graduates on a path to remarkable success.

University of California-San Diego

Public
La Jolla, CA
City