UCSD vs. Penn State

Deciding between University of California San Diego and Penn State Main Campus? The table below shows tuition, aid, admissions, and outcomes side by side. Data comes from public sources across more than 3,000 U.S. colleges and universities. No account is required.

University of California San Diego
Penn State Main Campus

Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison. 

  • Overview

  • Location
  • UCSD La Jolla, CA
  • Penn State University Park, PA
  • Setting
  • UCSD Large City
  • Penn State Small City
  • Total enrollment
  • UCSD 44,256
  • Penn State 50,737
  • Type
  • UCSD Public 4 Year
  • Penn State Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • UCSD #87
  • Penn State #185
  • Religious Affiliation
  • UCSD -
  • Penn State -
  • Status
  • UCSD Non-profit
  • Penn State Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • UCSD
  • Penn State

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • UCSD $16,758
  • Penn State $20,644
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • UCSD $50,958
  • Penn State $41,790
  • Room & Board
  • UCSD $18,970
  • Penn State $14,474
  • Average Net Price
  • UCSD $14,047
  • Penn State $27,889
  • Average Grant Aid
  • UCSD $25,757
  • Penn State $11,336
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • UCSD 59%
  • Penn State 37%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • UCSD 134,450
  • Penn State 88,478
  • Admitted
  • UCSD 35,917
  • Penn State 53,579
  • Acceptance Rate
  • UCSD 26.7%
  • Penn State 60.6%
  • Enrolled
  • UCSD 20.4%
  • Penn State 17.1%
  • Typical SAT score
  • UCSD 1380
  • Penn State 1330
  • Typical ACT score
  • UCSD 31
  • Penn State 29
  • Average High School GPA
  • UCSD 3.82
  • Penn State -
  • Typical High School Grades
  • UCSD A-
  • Penn State -
  • Admissions Standards
  • UCSD Exceptional
  • Penn State Very High
  • Applicant Competition
  • UCSD High
  • Penn State Low
  • ACT Range
  • UCSD 28/34
  • Penn State 27/32
  • SAT Range
  • UCSD 1270/1480
  • Penn State 1240/1420
  • Submit Test Scores
  • UCSD Test-free
  • Penn State Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • UCSD Nov 30, 2026
  • Penn State

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • UCSD 19:1
  • Penn State 16:1
  • Popular Majors
  • UCSD
    • Biology (23%)
    • Social Sciences (21%)
    • Engineering (10%)
    • Psychology (8%)
    • General Studies (7%)
  • Penn State
    • Business (16%)
    • Engineering (12%)
    • Communication (9%)
    • Computer and Information Sciences (7%)
    • Social Sciences (7%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • UCSD 85%
  • Penn State 87%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • UCSD $67,900
  • Penn State $55,300
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • UCSD 82%
  • Penn State 69%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • UCSD $18,500
  • Penn State $26,818
  • Median Loan Payment
  • UCSD $191
  • Penn State $277

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • UCSD 47%
  • Penn State 52%
  • % Women
  • UCSD 53%
  • Penn State 48%
  • Racial Diversity
  • UCSD Very High
  • Penn State Medium
  • HBCU
  • UCSD No
  • Penn State No
  • % White
  • UCSD 21%
  • Penn State 69%
  • % Asian
  • UCSD 37%
  • Penn State 6%
  • % Black
  • UCSD 1%
  • Penn State 4%
  • % Hispanic
  • UCSD 16%
  • Penn State 6%
  • % Native American
  • UCSD 0%
  • Penn State 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • UCSD 0%
  • Penn State 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • UCSD 5%
  • Penn State 3%
  • % International
  • UCSD 17%
  • Penn State 11%
  • % Unknown Race
  • UCSD 2%
  • Penn State 2%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • UCSD 78%
  • Penn State 53%
  • % Out-of-State
  • UCSD 9%
  • Penn State 40%

  • Campus

  • Campus Housing
  • UCSD Yes
  • Penn State Yes
  • Freshman Dorm Required
  • UCSD No
  • Penn State Yes
  • Meal Plan
  • UCSD Yes
  • Penn State Yes
  • Weekend/Evening Classes
  • UCSD No
  • Penn State Yes
  • Daycare Facility
  • UCSD Yes
  • Penn State Yes

Comparable Facts

Compare University of California San Diego in La Jolla, CA with Penn State Main Campus in University Park, PA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Penn State Main Campus is larger than UCSD based on total student enrollment (50,737 students vs. 44,256 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • University of California San Diego is located in La Jolla, CA (Large City setting); Penn State Main Campus is in University Park, PA (Small City setting).
  • University of California San Diego is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Penn State Main Campus is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: University of California San Diego 19:1; Penn State Main Campus 16:1.

UCSD vs. Penn State Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, UCSD or Penn State? Published tuition is the sticker price; many students pay less after aid (see average net price below).

  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at University of California San Diego than Penn State ($14,047 vs. $27,889).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Penn State Main Campus are 23.7% lower than at University of California San Diego ($14,474 vs. $18,970).
  • Penn State Main Campus is 23.2% more expensive for in-state tuition than UCSD (about $3,886 more per year; $20,644.00 vs. $16,758.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 21.9% higher at UCSD than at Penn State Main Campus (about $9,168 more per year; $50,958.00 vs. $41,790.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at University of California San Diego than at Penn State Main Campus (59% vs. 37%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by University of California San Diego students is 127.2% larger than aid received by Penn State Main Campus students ($25,757 vs. $11,336).

UCSD vs. Penn State Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, UCSD or Penn State? Typical SAT and ACT scores (same estimates as in the table above), middle 50% test ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between Penn State and UCSD.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at University of California San Diego (1380) is 50 points higher than at Penn State (1330).
  • Incoming UCSD students have a 2 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (31 vs. 29 at Penn State).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of California San Diego 1270/1480; Penn State Main Campus 1240/1420.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of California San Diego 28/34; Penn State Main Campus 27/32.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: UCSD - Test-free; Penn State - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: UCSD Nov 30, 2026.
  • Penn State has a higher acceptance rate (60.6%) than UCSD (26.7%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 20.4% at UCSD vs. 17.1% at Penn State.

UCSD vs. Penn State Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for UCSD and Penn State? Graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt are common indicators. The bullets below summarize the same federal outcomes fields as the comparison table (College Scorecard / IPEDS where applicable).

  • Penn State Main Campus's six-year graduation rate (87%) is higher than University of California San Diego's (85%).
  • Graduates from University of California San Diego earn a median of about $12,600 more per year than Penn State graduates about ten years after starting college ($67,900 vs. $55,300), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, University of California San Diego graduates have a $8,318 lower median loan debt than Penn State graduates ($18,500 vs. $26,818).
  • Among borrowers, UCSD graduates have an estimated $86 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Penn State graduates ($191 vs. $277).
  • More UCSD graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Penn State students, three years after graduation. (82% vs. 69%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.