UCSD vs. Northeastern University Oakland

Comparable Facts

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

University of California San Diego is larger than Northeastern University Oakland based on total student enrollment (44,256 students vs. 640 students).

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• University of California San Diego is located in La Jolla, CA (Large City setting); Northeastern University Oakland is in Oakland, CA (Large City setting).
• University of California San Diego is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Northeastern University Oakland is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: University of California San Diego 19:1; Northeastern University Oakland 7:1.

Cost details

• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of California San Diego are 3.1% lower than at Northeastern University Oakland ($18,970 vs. $19,580).
• Out-of-state tuition is 33% higher at Northeastern University Oakland than at University of California San Diego (about $16,820 more per year; $67,778 vs. $50,958).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Northeastern University Oakland than at University of California San Diego (67% vs. 59%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Northeastern University Oakland students is 125% larger than aid received by University of California San Diego students ($57,948 vs. $25,757).

Admissions details

• Typical ACT composite is 1 point higher at Northeastern University Oakland than at UCSD (32 vs. 31, midpoint estimate).
• SAT or ACT scores are test-free at UCSD, test optional at Northeastern University Oakland.
• Typical fall application deadline: UCSD Nov 30, 2026.
• Enrolled first-year students at UCSD average a 3.82 high school GPA, 0.25 higher than at Northeastern University Oakland (3.57).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 20.4% at UCSD vs. 14.9% at Northeastern University Oakland.

Loans and repayment

• Among federal student loan borrowers, University of California San Diego graduates have a $5,000 lower median loan debt than Northeastern University Oakland graduates ($18,500 vs. $23,500).
• Among borrowers, UCSD graduates have an estimated $51 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Northeastern University Oakland graduates ($191 vs. $242).
• More UCSD graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Northeastern University Oakland students, three years after graduation (82% vs. 66%).

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