Chances of getting into University of California San Diego
Acceptance Rate
How hard is it to get into UCSD and can I get accepted?
The acceptance rate at UCSD is 37%. It ranks #15 in California and #124 in the nation for lowest rate of acceptance. UCSD is a highly competitive school to get into with a lesser chance of acceptance for qualifying applicants. Last year, 36,634 out of 100,062 applicants were admitted.
The school has extremely high admission requirements for SAT and ACT scores, generally admitting students who score in the top 14 percent (SAT 1270/1480 ACT 28/34). University of California San Diego typically accepts and attracts "A/A+" average high school students with an average weighted GPA around 4.09. Most incoming freshmen graduate in the top ten percent of their high school class. 18% of those admitted chose to enroll in the school.
The UCSD application fee is $70 and applications are due by Nov 30.
Testing Requirements
You are required to submit admission test scores with your application. University of California San Diego is not a test optional school. Note: Please consult the school directly to confirm the most up to date testing requirements.
UCSD SAT Scores
SAT Requirements & Average SAT Score
| SAT Test | 25th Percentile Score |
|---|---|
| SAT Reading 25th | 620 |
| SAT Math 25th | 650 |
| SAT Composite 25th | 1270 |
| SAT Test | 25th Percentile Score |
|---|---|
| SAT Reading 75th | 710 |
| SAT Math 75th | 770 |
| SAT Composite 75th | 1480 |
| Average SAT Score | 1380
|
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 prefers applicants to be in the top 15 percent of SAT test takers. The school consistently takes SAT composite scores down to 1270 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 1160. The average SAT composite for admitted freshman is 1380 out of 1600. UCSD ranks #9 in California and #65 in the nation for highest average SAT composite score. A competitive SAT score is critical as 88 percent of applicants submit SAT scores to the school.
Find other colleges with similar SAT score requirements
Data Sources, IPEDS for Fall 2020 starting classEstimated Chance of Acceptance by SAT Score
UCSD ACT Scores
ACT Requirements & Average ACT Score
| ACT Test | 25th Percentile Score |
|---|---|
| ACT Reading 25th | 26 |
| ACT Math 25th | 27 |
| ACT Composite 25th | 28 |
| ACT Test | 75th Percentile Score |
|---|---|
| ACT Reading 75th | 35 |
| ACT Math 75th | 33 |
| ACT Composite 75th | 34 |
| Average ACT Score | 31
|
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 28 and above. Successful applicants typically send ACT scores in the top 12 percent nationally. We estimate the school accepting minimum ACT composite scores around 25 in some instances. Prospective students submitting an ACT composite of 31 or higher should be in the upper half of applicants - and students with a 34 and above have very competitive chances. The school ranks #8 in California and #57 in the U.S. for highest average ACT composite score. 43 percent of applicants submit ACT scores to University of California San Diego.
Find other colleges with similar ACT score requirements
Data Sources, IPEDS for Fall 2020 starting classEstimated Chance of Acceptance by ACT Score
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UCSD GPA
Estimated GPA Requirements & Average GPA
What GPA do you need to get into University of California San Diego?
Applicants require exceptionally good grades to get into UCSD. The average high school GPA of the admitted freshman class at University of California San Diego was 4.09 on the 4.0 scale indicating that primarily A/A+ students are accepted and ultimately attend. The school ranks #3 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.
GPA Data Source, Peterson's Data 2021
Other Colleges to Consider
High School Class Rank
100% of University of California San Diego freshman were in the top ten percent of their high school graduating class.
| High School Class Rank | Freshmen Within Range |
|---|---|
| Top 10% of class | 100% |
| Top 25% of class | 100% |
| Top 50% of class | 100% |
Applying
Admission Statistics
| Women | Men | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Applied | 54,045 | 46,017 | 100,062 |
| Accepted | 19,987 | 16,647 | 36,634 |
| Acceptance Rate | 37% | 36% | 37% |
| Enrolled | 3,362 | 3,085 | 6,447 |
| Percent of Admitted Who Enrolled (Admission Yield) | 17% | 19% | 18% |
Fall 2022 Application Deadline
Applications are Due
Days left to Apply
Applicants have 0 days left until the Fall 2022 term applications are due on Nov 30, 2022.
Application Fee
The cost for prospective students to apply to University of California San Diego is $70.
Application Requirements
What are the requirements for admission to University of California San Diego and what student information is used for 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.
FAQs
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?
37% 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 1270 and 1480. 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 28 and 34. 43% of students submit ACT scores when applying. See if your ACT score is good enough for admission.