UCSD vs. Florida

Deciding between University of California San Diego and University of Florida? 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
University of Florida

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • UCSD La Jolla, CA
  • Florida Gainesville, FL
  • Setting
  • UCSD Large City
  • Florida Midsize City
  • Total enrollment
  • UCSD 44,256
  • Florida 56,311
  • Type
  • UCSD Public 4 Year
  • Florida Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • UCSD #87
  • Florida #74
  • Religious Affiliation
  • UCSD -
  • Florida -
  • Status
  • UCSD Non-profit
  • Florida Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • UCSD
  • Florida

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • UCSD $16,758
  • Florida $6,381
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • UCSD $50,958
  • Florida $28,659
  • Room & Board
  • UCSD $18,970
  • Florida $12,120
  • Average Net Price
  • UCSD $14,047
  • Florida $11,936
  • Average Grant Aid
  • UCSD $25,757
  • Florida $10,846
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • UCSD 59%
  • Florida 91%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • UCSD 134,450
  • Florida 73,557
  • Admitted
  • UCSD 35,917
  • Florida 17,804
  • Acceptance Rate
  • UCSD 26.7%
  • Florida 24.2%
  • Enrolled
  • UCSD 20.4%
  • Florida 42.2%
  • Typical SAT score
  • UCSD 1380
  • Florida 1400
  • Typical ACT score
  • UCSD 31
  • Florida 31
  • Average High School GPA
  • UCSD 3.82
  • Florida 3.9
  • Typical High School Grades
  • UCSD A-
  • Florida A
  • Admissions Standards
  • UCSD Exceptional
  • Florida Exceptional
  • Applicant Competition
  • UCSD High
  • Florida Very High
  • ACT Range
  • UCSD 28/34
  • Florida 29/33
  • SAT Range
  • UCSD 1270/1480
  • Florida 1320/1480
  • Submit Test Scores
  • UCSD Test-free
  • Florida Required
  • Application Deadline
  • UCSD Nov 30, 2026
  • Florida Mar 1, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • UCSD 19:1
  • Florida 16:1
  • Popular Majors
  • UCSD
    • Biology (23%)
    • Social Sciences (21%)
    • Engineering (10%)
    • Psychology (8%)
    • General Studies (7%)
  • Florida
    • Social Sciences (14%)
    • Business (12%)
    • Engineering (11%)
    • Health Professions (7%)
    • Biology (7%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • UCSD 85%
  • Florida 84%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • UCSD $67,900
  • Florida $62,600
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • UCSD 82%
  • Florida 68%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • UCSD $18,500
  • Florida $15,815
  • Median Loan Payment
  • UCSD $191
  • Florida $163

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • UCSD 47%
  • Florida 44%
  • % Women
  • UCSD 53%
  • Florida 56%
  • Racial Diversity
  • UCSD Very High
  • Florida High
  • HBCU
  • UCSD No
  • Florida No
  • % White
  • UCSD 21%
  • Florida 57%
  • % Asian
  • UCSD 37%
  • Florida 8%
  • % Black
  • UCSD 1%
  • Florida 6%
  • % Hispanic
  • UCSD 16%
  • Florida 21%
  • % Native American
  • UCSD 0%
  • Florida 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • UCSD 0%
  • Florida 1%
  • % Two or More Races
  • UCSD 5%
  • Florida 3%
  • % International
  • UCSD 17%
  • Florida 1%
  • % Unknown Race
  • UCSD 2%
  • Florida 3%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • UCSD 78%
  • Florida 73%
  • % Out-of-State
  • UCSD 9%
  • Florida 19%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare University of California San Diego in La Jolla, CA with University of Florida in Gainesville, FL on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

University of Florida is larger than UCSD based on total student enrollment (56,311 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); University of Florida is in Gainesville, FL (Midsize City setting).
  • University of California San Diego is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. University of Florida is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: University of California San Diego 19:1; University of Florida 16:1.

UCSD vs. Florida Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, UCSD or Florida? 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 Florida than UCSD ($11,936 vs. $14,047).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of Florida are 36.1% lower than at University of California San Diego ($12,120 vs. $18,970).
  • University of California San Diego is 162.6% more expensive for in-state tuition than Florida (about $10,377 more per year; $16,758.00 vs. $6,381.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 77.8% higher at UCSD than at University of Florida (about $22,299 more per year; $50,958.00 vs. $28,659.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at University of Florida than at University of California San Diego (91% vs. 59%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by University of California San Diego students is 137.5% larger than aid received by University of Florida students ($25,757 vs. $10,846).

UCSD vs. Florida Admissions comparison

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

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at University of Florida (1400) is 20 points higher than at UCSD (1380).
  • Incoming UCSD students have the same typical ACT composite (median estimate; 31) as students at Florida (31).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of California San Diego 1270/1480; University of Florida 1320/1480.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of California San Diego 28/34; University of Florida 29/33.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: UCSD - Test-free; Florida - Required.
  • Typical fall application deadline: UCSD Nov 30, 2026; Florida Mar 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Florida students have a 0.08 point higher average high school GPA (3.9) than students at UCSD (3.82).
  • UCSD has a higher acceptance rate (26.7%) than Florida (24.2%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 20.4% at UCSD vs. 42.2% at Florida.

UCSD vs. Florida Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for UCSD and Florida? 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 University of Florida's (84%).
  • Graduates from University of California San Diego earn a median of about $5,300 more per year than Florida graduates about ten years after starting college ($67,900 vs. $62,600), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, University of Florida graduates have a $2,685 lower median loan debt than UCSD graduates ($15,815 vs. $18,500).
  • Among borrowers, Florida graduates have an estimated $28 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than UCSD graduates ($163 vs. $191).
  • More UCSD graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Florida 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.