UCSD vs. Rutgers

Deciding between University of California San Diego and Rutgers University New Brunswick? 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
Rutgers University New Brunswick

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • UCSD La Jolla, CA
  • Rutgers New Brunswick, NJ
  • Setting
  • UCSD Large City
  • Rutgers Small City
  • Total enrollment
  • UCSD 44,256
  • Rutgers 52,269
  • Type
  • UCSD Public 4 Year
  • Rutgers Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • UCSD #87
  • Rutgers #114
  • Religious Affiliation
  • UCSD -
  • Rutgers -
  • Status
  • UCSD Non-profit
  • Rutgers Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • UCSD
  • Rutgers

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • UCSD $16,758
  • Rutgers $17,929
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • UCSD $50,958
  • Rutgers $37,441
  • Room & Board
  • UCSD $18,970
  • Rutgers $15,714
  • Average Net Price
  • UCSD $14,047
  • Rutgers $20,522
  • Average Grant Aid
  • UCSD $25,757
  • Rutgers $16,742
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • UCSD 59%
  • Rutgers 50%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • UCSD 134,450
  • Rutgers 68,614
  • Admitted
  • UCSD 35,917
  • Rutgers 39,899
  • Acceptance Rate
  • UCSD 26.7%
  • Rutgers 58.1%
  • Enrolled
  • UCSD 20.4%
  • Rutgers 20.5%
  • Typical SAT score
  • UCSD 1380
  • Rutgers 1410
  • Typical ACT score
  • UCSD 31
  • Rutgers 30
  • Average High School GPA
  • UCSD 3.82
  • Rutgers 3.3
  • Typical High School Grades
  • UCSD A-
  • Rutgers B+
  • Admissions Standards
  • UCSD Exceptional
  • Rutgers Exceptional
  • Applicant Competition
  • UCSD High
  • Rutgers Low
  • ACT Range
  • UCSD 28/34
  • Rutgers 28/33
  • SAT Range
  • UCSD 1270/1480
  • Rutgers 1310/1500
  • Submit Test Scores
  • UCSD Test-free
  • Rutgers Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • UCSD Nov 30, 2026
  • Rutgers

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • UCSD 19:1
  • Rutgers 16:1
  • Popular Majors
  • UCSD
    • Biology (23%)
    • Social Sciences (21%)
    • Engineering (10%)
    • Psychology (8%)
    • General Studies (7%)
  • Rutgers
    • Social Sciences (16%)
    • Communication (10%)
    • Psychology (10%)
    • Biology (10%)
    • Engineering (8%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • UCSD 85%
  • Rutgers 77%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • UCSD $67,900
  • Rutgers $66,200
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • UCSD 82%
  • Rutgers 68%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • UCSD $18,500
  • Rutgers $22,215
  • Median Loan Payment
  • UCSD $191
  • Rutgers $229

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • UCSD 47%
  • Rutgers 46%
  • % Women
  • UCSD 53%
  • Rutgers 54%
  • Racial Diversity
  • UCSD Very High
  • Rutgers Very High
  • HBCU
  • UCSD No
  • Rutgers No
  • % White
  • UCSD 21%
  • Rutgers 42%
  • % Asian
  • UCSD 37%
  • Rutgers 26%
  • % Black
  • UCSD 1%
  • Rutgers 7%
  • % Hispanic
  • UCSD 16%
  • Rutgers 13%
  • % Native American
  • UCSD 0%
  • Rutgers 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • UCSD 0%
  • Rutgers 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • UCSD 5%
  • Rutgers 3%
  • % International
  • UCSD 17%
  • Rutgers 7%
  • % Unknown Race
  • UCSD 2%
  • Rutgers 2%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • UCSD 78%
  • Rutgers 75%
  • % Out-of-State
  • UCSD 9%
  • Rutgers 13%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare University of California San Diego in La Jolla, CA with Rutgers University New Brunswick in New Brunswick, NJ on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Rutgers University New Brunswick is larger than UCSD based on total student enrollment (52,269 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); Rutgers University New Brunswick is in New Brunswick, NJ (Small City setting).
  • University of California San Diego is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Rutgers University New Brunswick is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: University of California San Diego 19:1; Rutgers University New Brunswick 16:1.

UCSD vs. Rutgers Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, UCSD or Rutgers? 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 Rutgers ($14,047 vs. $20,522).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Rutgers University New Brunswick are 17.2% lower than at University of California San Diego ($15,714 vs. $18,970).
  • Rutgers University New Brunswick is 7% more expensive for in-state tuition than UCSD (about $1,171 more per year; $17,929.00 vs. $16,758.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 36.1% higher at UCSD than at Rutgers University New Brunswick (about $13,517 more per year; $50,958.00 vs. $37,441.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at University of California San Diego than at Rutgers University New Brunswick (59% vs. 50%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by University of California San Diego students is 53.8% larger than aid received by Rutgers University New Brunswick students ($25,757 vs. $16,742).

UCSD vs. Rutgers Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, UCSD or Rutgers? 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 Rutgers and UCSD.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Rutgers University New Brunswick (1410) is 30 points higher than at UCSD (1380).
  • Incoming UCSD students have a 1 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (31 vs. 30 at Rutgers).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of California San Diego 1270/1480; Rutgers University New Brunswick 1310/1500.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of California San Diego 28/34; Rutgers University New Brunswick 28/33.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: UCSD - Test-free; Rutgers - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: UCSD Nov 30, 2026.
  • Accepted freshman UCSD students have a 0.52 point higher average high school GPA (3.82) than students at Rutgers (3.3).
  • Rutgers has a higher acceptance rate (58.1%) than UCSD (26.7%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 20.4% at UCSD vs. 20.5% at Rutgers.

UCSD vs. Rutgers Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for UCSD and Rutgers? 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).

  • University of California San Diego's six-year graduation rate (85%) is higher than Rutgers University New Brunswick's (77%).
  • Graduates from University of California San Diego earn a median of about $1,700 more per year than Rutgers graduates about ten years after starting college ($67,900 vs. $66,200), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, University of California San Diego graduates have a $3,715 lower median loan debt than Rutgers graduates ($18,500 vs. $22,215).
  • Among borrowers, UCSD graduates have an estimated $38 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Rutgers graduates ($191 vs. $229).
  • More UCSD graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Rutgers students, three years after graduation. (82% vs. 68%)

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.