Payback
EarningsPlus
Economic score
University of California, San Diego is a public national university located in La Jolla, California. UC San Diego is selective in their admissions.
Return on educational investment at UC San Diego is in the top 5% of all ranked schools. The median student earns $74,771 10 years after enrolling, 15th in California, and in the top 10% nationally. When adjusted for earning differences by major, UC San Diego bachelor students earn 3% more than the national average. UC San Diego is ranked 14th in California.
University of California, San Diego’s median net annual cost of $15,240 and average years to graduate of 4.4 are reported only at the school level. We assume these same costs and graduation time for all programs.
The top 6 programs at UC San Diego sorted by number of graduates - Cognitive Science, International studies, Computer Science, Poli Sci/Government, Economics, Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology - are shown below. To see more programs, click on "see additional programs".
Annual net cost
$15,240
Average years to graduate
4.4
Electrical Engineering
Rank: #55
Economic score: 1.17
Mechanical Engineering
Rank: #50
Economic score: 1.26
Mathematics and Computer Science.
Rank: #6
Economic score: 2.02
Mathematics
Rank: #74
Economic score: 2.24
Chemistry
Rank: #48
Economic score: 2.63
Comms & Media Studies
Rank: #61
Economic score: 3.12
Neurobiology & Neurosciences
Rank: #8
Economic score: 3.59
Public Health
Rank: #33
Economic score: 3.64
Psychology
Rank: #91
Economic score: 4.4
Biology
Rank: #197
Economic score: 4.9
EarningPlus compares the three-year post graduate earnings to the median earnings of the same graduating class, with the same graduate degree. These 2 metrics, debt-to-earnings and EarningsPlus, are combined into an economic score. The lower the economic score the better.
The most popular 6 graduate programs at UC San Diego - Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, Biomedical/Medical Engineering, Biology, Mechanical Engineering, International Relations - are shown below. To see more programs, click on "see additional programs".
Computer science
Rank: #2
Economic score: 0.2
Engineering, Other
Rank: #1
Economic score: 0.22
Civil Engineering
Rank: #8
Economic score: 0.24
Health Administrative Services
Rank: #17
Economic score: 0.3
Education
Rank: #91
Economic score: 0.54
Ecology & Evolution
Rank: #5
Economic score: 0.66
Drama
Rank: #6
Economic score: 0.71
Visual & Performing Arts
Rank: #1
Economic score: 0.77
Geosciences
Rank: #13
Economic score: 1.11
Medical Clinical Sciences/Graduate Medical Studies.
Rank: #4
Economic score: 2.13
The average full-time graduate completes their degree in 4.4 years. 89% of all students graduate within 8 years including part-time students. The graduation rate at UC San Diego is 22% higher than the state average, and 22% above the average for all national universities in the country.
At UC San Diego, Pell Grant recipients represent 33% of the measured graduating class, 2% lower than the national average of 35%. The average Pell Grant recipient at UC San Diego graduates within 4.5 years.
UC San Diego is in the top 10% of schools for graduating Pell recipients.
We calculate this performance by adjusting the graduation rate of Pell students by their percentage of the student body. This adjustment is made to prevent schools with large numbers of Pell students from underperforming in comparison to schools with few Pell students but high graduation rates.
University of California, San Diego’s economic mobility score of 31.21 is calculated by adjusting the 0.69 economic score of lower-income students by the 33% pell grant recipients within the student body. UC San Diego’s EMS of 31.21 ranks in the top 10% nationally.false
Economic Mobility
To calculate economic mobility of low-income (household earnings below $30,000) students, we adjust each institution’s economic score by their percentage of Pell Grant students. The logic of this Pell-adjusted calculation is derived from Third Way’s Economic Mobility Index (EMI).
Top 10%
The average Title IV recipient at University of California, San Diego pays $15,240 a year, $20,071 less than the $35,311 advertised. See below the cost breakdown for students who receive Title IV grants, broken down by income level.
Average net price
The average net price shown by income level for all students that receive Title IV aid. Calculated by deducting the average grant and scholarship aid from tuition, fees, books, and room and board. Limited to first-time, full-time students. Public institution figures are calculated using in-state tuition figures.
Median net price $15,240
Much of the gap between net price and sticker price is filled by institutional and government grants. At UC San Diego, 48% of students receive some grants and scholarships, compared to the national average of 87% for all colleges and universities. The average amount of federal, state, and institutional grants that students receive is shown on the right.
This leaves a total of $15,240 on average to be covered by the student – be it through loans or out of pocket. In total, 22% of students take out loans, federal or private, at an average amount of $5,933. This is 32% less than the national average.
Federal grants
$4,545
Pell grants
$5,505
State grants
$10,575
Institutional grants
$9,875
University of California, San Diego's selective admissions are indicated by their 34% acceptance rate. In 2021, the school had 118,386 applicants, of which 40,493 were admitted and 7,544 enrolled. UC San Diego doesn't have a rolling admissions policy, which means applications are reviewed after a hard admissions deadline.
Full time
99%
83%
Female
52%
59%
First time
66%
59%
In-state
75%
68%
1st generation
40%
35%
White
19%
52%
Black
2%
14%
Hispanic
22%
15%
Asian
33%
5%
American Indian
N/A
1.6%
Pacific Islander
N/A
0.3%
Other
24%
12%