UCSD vs. USAFA

Deciding between University of California San Diego and United States Air Force Academy? 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
United States Air Force Academy

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  • Overview

  • Location
  • UCSD La Jolla, CA
  • USAFA USAF Academy, Colorado
  • Setting
  • UCSD Large City
  • USAFA Large City
  • Total enrollment
  • UCSD 44,256
  • USAFA 4,114
  • Type
  • UCSD Public 4 Year
  • USAFA Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • UCSD #87
  • USAFA
  • Religious Affiliation
  • UCSD -
  • USAFA -
  • Status
  • UCSD Non-profit
  • USAFA Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • UCSD
  • USAFA

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • UCSD $16,758
  • USAFA $0
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • UCSD $50,958
  • USAFA $0
  • Room & Board
  • UCSD $18,970
  • USAFA $0
  • Average Net Price
  • UCSD $14,047
  • USAFA -
  • Average Grant Aid
  • UCSD $25,757
  • USAFA $0
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • UCSD 59%
  • USAFA 0%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • UCSD 134,450
  • USAFA 10,187
  • Admitted
  • UCSD 35,917
  • USAFA 1,435
  • Acceptance Rate
  • UCSD 26.7%
  • USAFA 14.1%
  • Enrolled
  • UCSD 20.4%
  • USAFA 78.5%
  • Typical SAT score
  • UCSD 1380
  • USAFA 1340
  • Typical ACT score
  • UCSD 31
  • USAFA 29
  • Average High School GPA
  • UCSD 3.82
  • USAFA 3.81
  • Typical High School Grades
  • UCSD A-
  • USAFA A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • UCSD Exceptional
  • USAFA Very High
  • Applicant Competition
  • UCSD High
  • USAFA Very High
  • ACT Range
  • UCSD 28/34
  • USAFA 26/33
  • SAT Range
  • UCSD 1270/1480
  • USAFA 1230/1440
  • Submit Test Scores
  • UCSD Test-free
  • USAFA Required
  • Application Deadline
  • UCSD Nov 30, 2026
  • USAFA Dec 31, 2026

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • UCSD 19:1
  • USAFA 7:1
  • Popular Majors
  • UCSD
    • Biology (23%)
    • Social Sciences (21%)
    • Engineering (10%)
    • Psychology (8%)
    • General Studies (7%)
  • USAFA
    • Engineering (35%)
    • Social Sciences (18%)
    • General Studies (14%)
    • Business (12%)
    • Biology (6%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • UCSD 85%
  • USAFA -
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • UCSD $67,900
  • USAFA N/A
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • UCSD 82%
  • USAFA -
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • UCSD $18,500
  • USAFA N/A
  • Median Loan Payment
  • UCSD $191
  • USAFA N/A

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • UCSD 47%
  • USAFA 70%
  • % Women
  • UCSD 53%
  • USAFA 30%
  • Racial Diversity
  • UCSD Very High
  • USAFA -
  • HBCU
  • UCSD No
  • USAFA No
  • % White
  • UCSD 21%
  • USAFA 0%
  • % Asian
  • UCSD 37%
  • USAFA 0%
  • % Black
  • UCSD 1%
  • USAFA 0%
  • % Hispanic
  • UCSD 16%
  • USAFA 0%
  • % Native American
  • UCSD 0%
  • USAFA 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • UCSD 0%
  • USAFA 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • UCSD 5%
  • USAFA 0%
  • % International
  • UCSD 17%
  • USAFA 0%
  • % Unknown Race
  • UCSD 2%
  • USAFA 0%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • UCSD 78%
  • USAFA 6%
  • % Out-of-State
  • UCSD 9%
  • USAFA 91%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare University of California San Diego in La Jolla, CA with United States Air Force Academy in USAF Academy, Colorado on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

University of California San Diego is larger than USAFA based on total student enrollment (44,256 students vs. 4,114 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • University of California San Diego is located in La Jolla, CA (Large City setting); United States Air Force Academy is in USAF Academy, Colorado (Large City setting).
  • University of California San Diego is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. United States Air Force Academy is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: University of California San Diego 19:1; United States Air Force Academy 7:1.

UCSD vs. USAFA Cost Comparison

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

  • In-state tuition differs between University of California San Diego and USAFA ($16,758.00 vs. $0.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition differs between UCSD and United States Air Force Academy ($50,958.00 vs. $0.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at University of California San Diego than at United States Air Force Academy (59% vs. 0%).

UCSD vs. USAFA Admissions comparison

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

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at University of California San Diego (1380) is 40 points higher than at USAFA (1340).
  • Incoming UCSD students have a 2 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (31 vs. 29 at USAFA).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of California San Diego 1270/1480; United States Air Force Academy 1230/1440.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of California San Diego 28/34; United States Air Force Academy 26/33.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: UCSD - Test-free; USAFA - Required.
  • Typical fall application deadline: UCSD Nov 30, 2026; USAFA Dec 31, 2026.
  • Accepted freshman UCSD students have a 0.01 point higher average high school GPA (3.82) than students at USAFA (3.81).
  • UCSD has a higher acceptance rate (26.7%) than USAFA (14.1%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 20.4% at UCSD vs. 78.5% at USAFA.

UCSD vs. USAFA Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for UCSD and USAFA? 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).

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.