Chances of getting into University of California San Diego
Acceptance Rate
Acceptance Rate
30.1%| Measure | Difficulty | |
|---|---|---|
| Admission Standards | Exceptional | |
| Applicant Competition | High |
How hard is it to get into UCSD and can I get accepted? The school has a 30% acceptance rate ranking it #17 in California for lowest rate of acceptance. Last year, 29,428 out of 97,894 applicants were admitted making UCSD a highly competitive school to get into with a lesser chance of acceptance for qualifying applicants. Academically, it has extremely high requirements for admission test scores, generally admitting students who score in the top 16 percent. University of California San Diego typically accepts and attracts "A-" average high school students. Only 23% of those admitted chose to enroll in the school.
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Find out which students are getting accepted at UCSD, which are not, and how your GPA, SAT, or ACT scores compare.
Calculate My ChancesUCSD SAT Scores
SAT Requirements & Average SAT Score
SAT Range
1260-1470Applicants Submitting SAT
88%| SAT Test | 25th Percentile Score |
|---|---|
| SAT Reading 25th | 620 |
| SAT Math 25th | 640 |
| SAT Composite 25th | 1260 |
| SAT Test | 25th Percentile Score |
|---|---|
| SAT Reading 75th | 700 |
| SAT Math 75th | 770 |
| SAT Composite 75th | 1470 |
| Average SAT Score | 1370 |
SAT Scores you need to get in
What are the SAT requirements for students to be admitted to University of California San Diego?
University of California San Diego typically requires applicants to be in the top 17 percent of SAT test takers. The school consistently takes SAT composite scores down to 1260 on a 1600 scale, below which admission should be considered a reach. We estimate some students could be accepted with SAT's as low as 1150. The estimated average SAT composite for admitted freshman is 1370 out of 1600. The school ranks #10 in California for highest average SAT composite score. A competitive SAT score is critical as 88 percent of applicants submit SAT scores to the school. Note: SAT scores presented on this page have been adjusted upwards per the College Board's concordance tables for test takers after March 2016.
Estimated Chance of Acceptance by SAT Score
| SAT Score (1600 scale) | Competitiveness | Admission Chances |
|---|---|---|
| 1470 and Above | Good | >42% |
| 1365 to 1470 | Avg + | 30%-42% |
| 1260 to 1365 | Avg - | 20%-30% |
| 1155 to 1260 | Reach | 13%-20% |
| Less than 1155 | Low | <13% |
UCSD ACT Scores
ACT Requirements & Average ACT Score
ACT Range
27-33Applicants Submitting ACT
43%| ACT Test | 25th Percentile Score |
|---|---|
| ACT Reading 25th | 25 |
| ACT Math 25th | 26 |
| ACT Composite 25th | 27 |
| ACT Test | 75th Percentile Score |
|---|---|
| ACT Reading 75th | 34 |
| ACT Math 75th | 33 |
| ACT Composite 75th | 33 |
| Average ACT Score | 30 |
ACT Scores needed to get accepted
What are the ACT requirements for prospective students to get into UCSD?
Admission data indicates that UCSD regularly accepts students with ACT's of 27 and above. Successful applicants typically send ACT scores in the top 15 percent nationally. We estimate the school accepting minimum ACT composite scores around 24 in some instances. Prospective students submitting an ACT composite of 30 or higher should be in the upper half of applicants - and students with a 33 and above have very competitive chances. The school ranks #10 in California for highest average ACT composite score. 43 percent of applicants submit ACT scores to University of California San Diego.
Estimated Chance of Acceptance by ACT Score
| ACT Score | Competitiveness | Admission Chances |
|---|---|---|
| 33 and Above | Good | >42% |
| 30 to 33 | Avg + | 30%-42% |
| 27 to 30 | Avg - | 20%-30% |
| 24 to 27 | Reach | 13%-20% |
| Less than 24 | Low | <13% |
Estimated GPA Requirements & Average GPA
Avg. High School GPA
3.82*Typical High School Grades
A-You will need exceptionally good grades to get into University of California San Diego. The average high school GPA of the admitted freshman class at University of California San Diego was 3.82 on the 4.0 scale indicating that primarily A- students are accepted and ultimately attend. The school ranks #16 in California for highest average GPA. Even with a competitive GPA, admission to UCSD will be challenging as the school denies more applicants than it admits.
Admission Statistics
| Women | Men | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Applied | 53,210 | 44,684 | 97,894 |
| Accepted | 16,091 | 13,337 | 29,428 |
| Acceptance Rate | 30% | 30% | 30% |
| Enrolled | 3,474 | 3,233 | 6,707 |
| Percent of Admitted Who Enrolled (Admission Yield) | 22% | 24% | 23% |
Fall 2020 Application Deadline
Applications were Due
Nov 30, 2019Days left to Apply
NoneThe application deadline for Fall 2020 has passed. Applications were due on Nov 30, 2019.
Admission Requirements
What are the requirements for admission to University of California San Diego and what considerations affect admission decisions?
| Test Scores | Required |
| High School GPA | Required |
| High School Class Rank | Neither required nor recommended |
| Completion of College Preparatory Program | Required |
| Recommendations | Neither required nor recommended |
| Demonstration of Competencies | Neither required nor recommended |
Credits Accepted
| AP Credit | Yes |
| Dual Credit | No |
| Credit for Life Experiences | No |
Primary data source, U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov/collegenavigator/?id=110680 IPEDS survey data for University of California San Diego.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does University of California San Diego prefer SAT or ACT?
88% of students submit their SAT scores to UCSD. 43% of applicants send their ACT scores when applying.
What is my chance of getting into University of California San Diego?
30% of those who apply are granted admission to UCSD. Admission competition is high and the college has exceptional admission standards. See if your grades and scores are good enough for admission.
What SAT score is required for University of California San Diego?
The middle 50% of addmitted applicants have SAT scores between 1260 and 1470. 88% of students submit SAT scores when applying. See if your SAT score is good enough for admission.
What ACT score is required for University of California San Diego?
The middle 50% of addmitted applicants have ACT scores between 27 and 33. 43% of students submit ACT scores when applying. See if your ACT score is good enough for admission.
