UCLA vs. UCSD

University of California Los Angeles and University of California San Diego side by side on admissions, cost, and outcomes, from public data.

University of California Los Angeles
University of California San Diego

At a glance

  • Harder to get into: UCLA (9% admitted vs 26.7%). Typical SAT 1420 vs 1380.
  • Cheaper after aid: about even. Average net price is $14,512 at UCLA vs $14,047 at UCSD. UCSD in-state tuition is about $1,555 more per year.
  • Graduation: UCLA 90% vs UCSD 85%.
  • Earnings 10 years out: UCLA $70,700 vs UCSD $67,900 (median).
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Key differences

University of California Los Angeles University of California San Diego
Acceptance rate
UCLA more selective
UCLA9%
UCSD26.7%
SAT range (middle 50%)
UCLA higher
UCLA1300-1530
UCSD1270-1480
Average net price
About even
UCLA$14,512
UCSD$14,047
In-state tuition
UCLA $1,555 less
UCLA$15,203
UCSD$16,758
Out-of-state tuition
UCLA $1,555 less
UCLA$49,403
UCSD$50,958
Graduation rate
UCLA +5 pts
UCLA90%
UCSD85%
Median earnings (10 years)
UCLA +$2,800
UCLA$70,700
UCSD$67,900

Sources: IPEDS and College Scorecard.

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  • Applied
  • UCLA 146,272
  • UCSD 134,450
  • Admitted
  • UCLA 13,114
  • UCSD 35,917
  • Acceptance rate
  • UCLA 9%
  • UCSD 26.7%
  • Yield (share of admitted who enroll)
  • UCLA 50.4%
  • UCSD 20.4%
  • Typical SAT score
  • UCLA 1420
  • UCSD 1380
  • Typical ACT score
  • UCLA 32
  • UCSD 31
  • Average high school GPA
  • UCLA 3.92
  • UCSD 3.82
  • Typical high school grades
  • UCLA A
  • UCSD A-
  • Admissions standards
  • UCLA Elite
  • UCSD Exceptional
  • Applicant competition
  • UCLA Extreme
  • UCSD High
  • SAT range
  • UCLA 1300-1530
  • UCSD 1270-1480
  • ACT range
  • UCLA 29-35
  • UCSD 28-34
  • Submit test scores
  • UCLA Test-free
  • UCSD Test-free
  • Application deadline
  • UCLA Nov 30, 2026
  • UCSD Nov 30, 2026
  • Tuition (in state)
  • UCLA $15,203
  • UCSD $16,758
  • Tuition (out of state)
  • UCLA $49,403
  • UCSD $50,958
  • Room & board
  • UCLA $18,369
  • UCSD $18,970
  • Average net price
  • UCLA $14,512
  • UCSD $14,047
  • Average grant aid
  • UCLA $25,627
  • UCSD $25,757
  • % receiving grant aid
  • UCLA 49%
  • UCSD 59%
  • Graduation rate
  • UCLA 90%
  • UCSD 85%
  • Median earnings (after 10 years)
  • UCLA $70,700
  • UCSD $67,900
  • Making student loan payments
  • UCLA 78%
  • UCSD 82%
  • Median student loan debt
  • UCLA $16,300
  • UCSD $18,500
  • Median loan payment
  • UCLA $168
  • UCSD $191
  • Student to faculty ratio
  • UCLA 20:1
  • UCSD 19:1
  • Popular majors
  • UCLA
    • Social Sciences (27%)
    • Biology (14%)
    • Psychology (9%)
    • Engineering (9%)
    • History (7%)
  • UCSD
    • Biology (23%)
    • Social Sciences (21%)
    • Engineering (10%)
    • Psychology (8%)
    • General Studies (7%)
  • Location
  • UCLA Los Angeles, CA
  • UCSD La Jolla, CA
  • Setting
  • UCLA Large City
  • UCSD Large City
  • Total enrollment
  • UCLA 47,335
  • UCSD 44,256
  • Type
  • UCLA Public 4 Year
  • UCSD Public 4 Year
  • National ranking
  • UCLA #66
  • UCSD #87

Comparable Facts

Compare University of California Los Angeles in Los Angeles, CA with University of California San Diego in La Jolla, CA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the tables above.

University of California Los Angeles is larger than UCSD based on total student enrollment (47,335 students vs. 44,256 students).

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • University of California Los Angeles is located in Los Angeles, CA (Large City setting); University of California San Diego is in La Jolla, CA (Large City setting).
  • University of California Los Angeles is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. University of California San Diego is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: University of California Los Angeles 20:1; University of California San Diego 19:1.

Cost details

  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of California Los Angeles are 3.2% lower than at University of California San Diego ($18,369 vs. $18,970).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 3.1% higher at UCSD than at University of California Los Angeles (about $1,555 more per year; $50,958 vs. $49,403).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at University of California San Diego than at University of California Los Angeles (59% vs. 49%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by University of California San Diego students is 0.5% larger than aid received by University of California Los Angeles students ($25,757 vs. $25,627).

Admissions details

  • Typical ACT composite is 1 point higher at UCLA than at UCSD (32 vs. 31, midpoint estimate).
  • SAT or ACT scores are test-free at both UCLA and UCSD.
  • Typical fall application deadline: UCLA Nov 30, 2026; UCSD Nov 30, 2026.
  • Enrolled first-year students at UCLA average a 3.92 high school GPA, 0.1 higher than at UCSD (3.82).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 50.4% at UCLA vs. 20.4% at UCSD.

Loans and repayment

  • Among federal student loan borrowers, University of California Los Angeles graduates have a $2,200 lower median loan debt than UCSD graduates ($16,300 vs. $18,500).
  • Among borrowers, UCLA graduates have an estimated $23 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than UCSD graduates ($168 vs. $191).
  • More UCSD graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former UCLA students, three years after graduation (82% vs. 78%).

Sources: U.S. Department of Education, IPEDS and College Scorecard. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.

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