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 34%. It ranks #15 in California and #110 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, 40,493 out of 118,386 applicants were admitted.
The school has extremely high admission requirements, generally admitting students who can score in the top 14 percent on standardized admission tests. University of California San Diego typically accepts and attracts "A-" average high school students with an average GPA around 3.82. Most incoming freshmen graduate in the top ten percent of their high school class. 19% of those admitted chose to enroll in the school.
The UCSD application fee is $70 and applications are due by Nov 30.
Test Optional
Submission of SAT or ACT scores is not required or recommended by University of California San Diego.
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 is a test optional school meaning applicants are not required to submit SAT scores with their application. The position on SAT scores from the school is "neither required nor recommended".
Students who get into University of California San Diego score in the top 15 percent of all SAT test takers.. The SAT composite score range for the middle 50% of students is 1270-1480.
Find other colleges with similar SAT score requirements
Data Sources, IPEDS for Fall 2021 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?
University of California San Diego is test optional. Students are not required to submit ACT scores with their application. The policy on ACT scores is "neither required nor recommended".
UCSD regularly accepts students who score 28 and above on the ACT. These students typically score in the top 12 percent nationally. The ACT composite score range for the middle 50% of students is 28-34.
Find other colleges with similar ACT score requirements
Data Sources, IPEDS for Fall 2021 starting classEstimated Chance of Acceptance by ACT Score
Explore University of California San Diego
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 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.
Explore more colleges with similar GPA requirements
*This school has not released high school GPA data for its incoming freshmen. In these cases, CollegeSimply employs an artificial intelligence (AI) process to predict GPA based on this school's test scores and a large sample of other colleges' data. 3.82 is an estimate of the school's average incoming freshman GPA.
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 | 62,243 | 56,143 | 118,386 |
| Accepted | 22,483 | 18,010 | 40,493 |
| Acceptance Rate | 36% | 32% | 34% |
| Enrolled | 4,188 | 3,356 | 7,544 |
| Percent of Admitted Who Enrolled (Admission Yield) | 19% | 19% | 19% |
Fall 2023 Application Deadline
Applications were Due
Days left to Apply
The application deadline for Fall 2023 has passed. Applications were 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 | Neither required nor recommended |
| 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 |
Other Colleges to Consider
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?
34% 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.